Grandma, do you remember the last time you had come to Mumbai? We went to Murlidhar to buy your favorite sweets on our way back home after a long tiresome day. Looking into her mobile, mummy suggested that we should take the other road (L.M Road) instead of the one that passes through the shop (M.G Road). But you were adamant. We had to take the M.G Road. We reached home 2 hours later than we were supposed to reach. How come mummy predicted the traffic-congestion in M.G Road?
Based on the historical and real-time data like time, location, velocity, etc. Google Maps is able to predict the traffic congestion. Google Maps also give out the live traffic delays for buses. How does it work? Do you think a real person is coordinating with thousands and thousands of drivers and sending this information to Google? Would you believe me if I told you that no human is involved? The answer to all your doubts is ML I.e Machine Learning.
What is Machine Learning? ML gives systems the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. In simple terms, you don’t need manpower. You just have to train the system just like you have taught mummy and uncle how to read and write from scratch. From then on wards, the machine performs the required/ expected task on it’s own.
Ever heard of those self-driving cars? The main challenge here is the surrounding environment and obstacles. They will have to detect, recognize, classify and predict the movement of an object.You must be wondering how can a car or a machine mimic a human brain. Computer have many neural networks interlinked together. The input layer provide information from the outside world to the network.
This isn’t restricted to roads and vehicles. The applications of ML are quite vast. For example, ML is being used in ICUs to monitor and analyse the data of the patient. An app claims to be able to detect skin cancer with the help of ML. Search engines use ML to improve the search results for you according to your taste and requirement based on your previous searches.
It’s a huge accomplishment that we can have machines that think and act like humans. It is said that the successful implementation of ML methods can help the integration of computer-based systems into our normal lives providing opportunities to facilitate and enhance the work , improve the efficiency and quality of life.