In 5 years, computers will not only be able to look at images, but understand them. Computers will be trained to turn pictures and videos into features, identifying things like color distribution, texture patterns, edge information and motion information. A pixel will be worth a thousand words.

Every year IBM makes predictions about 5 technology innovations that stand to change the way we live within the next 5 years. See the other predictions at http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/ibm_predictions_for_future/ideas/