Flying Cars...

[xthread]

Some predictions for the next thirty years.

1. We will identify an extrasolar object that is almost certainly life-bearing, as evidenced by being within the habitable zone of some other star, and has high concentrations of O2 in it's atmosphere. No, I have no idea whatsoever what telescopy advancements will allow us to determine that the atmosphere of an extrasolar object has large amounts of free oxygen. I am not an astronomer.
   
2. We will find methods to cure type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There have been a lot of extremely exciting research results released in the last six months, I expect that we'll see those results pay off as we make the leap from lab to hospital.
   
3. We will still not have flying cars. Ok, that one's a cheap shot, we may actually have flying cars, there are running prototypes now, but they're ferociously expensive. I'm also tempted to make other snide predictions like 'we will not be using IPv6,' but that's also just an inflammatory cheap shot.
   
4. We will not see a global economic or environmental collapse of the first world. We will see significant environmental damage from global climate changes. We definitely will see a northern arctic freight passage, and I'll be surprised if we don't see human habitation of the Arctic. As zunger points out, this will be geopolitically... interesting. <cheap shot> especially when large petroleum reserves are discovered in the arctic</cheap shot>
   

Comments

[jeffpaulsen.livejournal.com]

Everything will continue to get cheaper, except for labor and health care.

Most cars will be smaller and plugin-only electric. When you need long range and/or big cargo, you will rent a trailer with a diesel genset in it. The trailer can pull its own weight and handle its own braking, so it's not even clear that you 're truly "towing" it.

Appliances will be increasingly durable.

What will people do with all the spare money these advance give them? People will buy larger and larger houses to store the pointless crap they will buy more and more of.

Very First World.

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

Small gas powered bikes will become endemic.
All organic garbage--yes, all--will be collected and fermented for the methane and ethanol, to fuel homes and vehicles.
Wars will again be fought over water. Terrorism over it will increase. "Wetbacks" will be eco-terrorists who blow up pumping plants so the water stays in the rivers.
A new major religion, arising from either Brazil or Indonesia, will sweep the world.
Atomic power will greatly increase. A reactor will blow, probably in India or Africa, but that won't obviate the need.
Terrorism across the world will increase. (No brainer.) Fascism will rise in response.
Brin's privacy concerns will become real.

Re: Very First World.

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

Terrorism across the world will increase. (No brainer.) Fascism will rise in response.

Yes but not the way you'd expect.

The "green zone" concept in Iraq is being replicated all over the world, but by corporations. A multinational corporation doing a little business in a small country and they "buy in" to a condo-ish green zone. These are heavily guarded by private security organizations.

They are guarded because they do get attacked. A lot.

My prediction is...

As droughts, famine or other disasters hit, those green zones are going to be attacked even more. People will want to get in. The companies (with help of the private militaries) will become the fascists you predict. Or they will use their economic power to demand that the government become increasingly brutal against the attackers. An escalation will occur and it will spin out of control.

And you thought gated communities in the 'burbs was a problem :-)