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"In five years, doctors will use your DNA to keep you well. Cities will be smarter and use social feedback to make residents part of decision-making processes, and retailers will leverage the power of mobile devices to upgrade in-store buying to the point where it will be a better experience than buying online. \nOr so says IBM in its annual \"5 in 5\" predictions report, which considers five ways technology will change the way we live within five years.\nSee also: 14 Google Tools You Didn't Know Existed\n\"A new era in computing will lead to breakthroughs that will amplify human abilities, assist us in making good choices, look out for us and help us navigate our world in powerful new ways,\" the IBM report predicts.\nHere\u2019s a breakdown of its five top predictions for the years ahead.\nThe classroom will learn you\n\nWith the help of e-learning platforms and cloud analytics, teachers will learn more about each student and her learning styles. \n\u201CThe classroom of the future will give educators the tools to learn about every student, providing them with a tailored curriculum from kindergarten to high school and on to employment,\u201D the report reads. \u201CIn the next five years, the classroom will learn about each student using longitudinal data such as test scores, attendance and student\u2019s behavior on e-learning platforms, not just aptitude tests.\u201D\nCloud analytics will also predict which students need more help and then suggest measures to overcome challenges based on how they learn best.\n\nIn some cases, this is already happening. At Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, the 14th largest U.S. school district is using big data and learning technologies in the classroom. \nBuying local will beat online\n\nRetail associates will become experts about every product in stores and place more emphasis on blending digital with the physical store shopping experience. \n\u201CAs mobile devices supported by cloud computing enable individuals to share what makes them tick, their health or nutritional needs, virtual closets, social networks, retailers will soon be able to anticipate with incredible accuracy the products a shopper most wants and needs,\u201D IBM's report read. \u201CAs a result, stores will transform into immersive destinations with experiences customized for each individual.\u201D\nLocal stores will also be able to ramp up fast pickup or delivery options: \"Two day shipping will feel like snail mail,\u201D IBM added.\nDoctors will use your DNA to keep you well\n\nTreatment from doctors could be more specific and precise. \n\u201CIn five years, advances in big data analytics and emerging cloud-based cognitive systems coupled with breakthroughs in genomic research and testing could help doctors to accurately diagnose cancer and create personalized cancer treatment plans for millions of patients around the world,\u201D the IBM report said. \u201CSmart machines will take the output of full genome sequencing and scour vast repositories of medical records and publications to learn and quickly provide specific and actionable insights on treatment options for oncologists.\u201D\nA digital guardian will protect you online\n\nBy learning about your behavior on various devices, security systems \u2014 or a digital guardian, according to IBM \u2014 will detect patterns that could lead to a cyberattack and intervene on your behalf.\n\u201CEach of us could be protected with our own digital guardian that will become trained to focus on the people and items it is entrusted with, offering a new level of identity theft protection,\" IBM's report continued. \u201CLearning about users, a digital guardian can make inferences about what\u2019s normal or reasonable activity and what\u2019s not, acting as an advisor when they want it to.\nThe city will help you live there\n\nMobile devices and social engagement will encourage citizens to build relationships with city leaders.\n\u201CSoon it will be possible for cities and their leaders to understand and digest new information freely provided by citizens, knowing which city resources are needed, where and when, so the city can dynamically optimize around the needs of the citizens,\u201D the report read.\nIn Brazil, researchers are already using a crowdsourcing tool that allows users to report accessibility problems, while in Uganda, UNICEF has a social engagement tool that lets users communicate with their government and community leaders on various issues. \nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.\nImage: Flickr, MasonDan"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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