A computer program can predict the future for a couple of minutes, said computer scientists from the University of Bonn. The program first learns the typical sequence of actions, such as cooking, from video sequences. Based on this knowledge, it can then accurately predict what the chef will do at which point in time. According to the German news agency, this program can predict the ingredients that will be needed during the cooking process, and pre-heat the oven in time. Robots used for help in kitchens are among the applications of these programs. The Science Daily website quoted Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gall, who said: “We want to predict the timing and duration of activities minutes or even hours before they happen.” As part of the new program’s trial, the scientists included 40 videos in which performers prepare different salads. Each of the recordings was around six minutes long and contained an average of 20 different actions. The videos also contained precise details of what time the action started and how long it took. The computer "watched" these salad videos totaling around four hours. Gall explained: “Accuracy was over 40 percent for short forecast periods.” He said he wanted the study to be understood only as a first step into the new field of activity prediction.