Whether it's the special effects in a Hollywood blockbuster, or the order taken at a fast food restaurant, computer software has become an integral part of our daily lives. Newer technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence software may still be in the early stages of development, but someday they will be as much a part of our lives as the Internet browsers and e-mail programs we use every day.
Virtual reality programs create entire simulated environments. With special hardware, typically a pair of goggles and gloves, you can be immersed in a computer-generated world which you can move through and interact with.
Artificial intelligence programs are designed to perform tasks for which there may not be a single proscribed reaction. Artificial intelligence systems are designed to emulate human decision making, deciding which action to take in a logical manner. There are two main types of artificial intelligence—expert systems and robotics. Expert systems are programmed to answer inexact questions and to solve problems. Robotics apply artificial intelligence technology to machines, which can then perform tasks based on their programming.