On universal algorithms for classifying and predicting stationary processes

This is a survey of results on universal algorithms for classification and prediction of stationary processes. The classification problems include discovering the order of a k-step Markov chain, determining memory words in finitarily Markovian processes and estimating the entropy of an unknown process. The prediction problems cover both discrete and real valued processes in a variety of situations. Both the forward and the backward prediction problems are discussed with the emphasis being on pointwise results. This survey is just a teaser. The purpose is merely to call attention to results on classification and prediction. We will refer the interested reader to the sources. Throughout the paper we will give illuminating examples. AMS 2000 subject classifications: Primary 60G25, 60G10.