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As we eagerly anticipate the announcement by Apple of their latest device, we look forward to the future. And as we eagerly anticipate Facebook’s introduction of their Timeline feature, we look forward to sharing our past (well, at least some people are).
One of the most exciting aspects of personal technology is that you feel as if you are entering into a future world when a new gadget is introduced. In fact that’s true. When you get your first smartphone, eReader or computer, you are taking a step into the future.
Technology is a big part of our future. We may think we know what’s ahead for technology, but then a new product is introduced that changes our perceptions 180°.
Does anyone really know what the future holds? Futurists study the past trends to predict the future. Beyond satisfying curiosity, futurists can warn us of impending doom if our actions are not changed. Traffic patterns, land use codes, global warming, energy usage and medical breakthroughs will all have an impact on our future. By planning ahead we may be able to avert disastrous consequences in our and our children’s future.
Futurist Will Fox of London has developed a Future Timeline based upon predictions of futurists and anyone else interested in participating in this collaborative project. His interactive website, Future Timeline, is a fascinating compilation of past and future events. Future Timeline begins in the year 2000 and continues year by year, then decade by decade, and on and on until the year 10100 AD.
This is a website you can easily explore and ponder for days as you consider all of the possible outcomes of the predictions made on this site. Complete with pictures, interactive graphics, and charts to show where we are headed, this website combines the exciting with the sobering. A cure for the common cold, high speed rail lines, regenerated limbs and teeth for accident victims, and texts from your thoughts could all be around the corner. But so could economic disasters, widespread energy crises and the disappearance of habitable land.
The site’s predictions about personal technology range from the “can’t wait to have it” gadgets to warnings that Big Brother (as in George Orwell’s novel 1984, not the tv reality show) will become an increasing factor in our lives.
Will the Internet continue to expand or will it overload and crash? Will microchips reach their capacity in processing power and miniaturization? Will our wallets be completely replaced by our smartphones?
So what does the future hold? As we speculate about the next device that will become the “must have” tech of the year, check out the Future Timeline’s predictions for 2012. What happens when the Mayan calendar ends? Will there be a cure for baldness? What new gaming device will be launched?
You can check out predictions at Future Timeline for future years and decades to see what major events will affect the world. What are the predictions for the years your children will reach 25 years of age? When you turn 100? When you retire at 65?
Are these authors harbingers of doom or sage prophets? Are they warning us of the consequences of our actions or causing unnecessary worry? Reading a news report about the London Olympics in 2012 as if it has already happened is entertaining. Reading about the massive displacement of residents of Bangladesh due to flooding seems more like a science fiction disaster novel.
Do we care about predictions of the future? Do we want to know? Check out Future Timeline for some promising and scary predictions. Then check out this fun video for an exciting view of what is in store for us:
Do you think we can predict the future? Are you more exited or afraid of what the future holds? Are you curious about what awaits us or do you want to wait and see what happens? Let us know in the Comments section below!
* Image by Trey Ratcliff
I think technology is less exciting than it used to be. I particularly liked the 1980’s programming a Commodore and the games were better than today. I liked MS DOS too and with Windows a lot of control went fro user to software professional. I think in the future, so called cloud computers will run most applications with minimal software on computers and smart phones. I also see the price of Smart phones coming down and they can be integrated with smart TV’s and possibly replace tablet computers.
It’s all a far cry from when I made my first radio in 1957! I picked up India! That was exciting! 🙂
Hi Mike, I have to respectfully and adamantly disagree with you. What excites me about technology today is that the general public is using it. Devices like GPS’s (sat navs), smartphones, iPads, dvr’s, iPods, computers, etc. are all being widely used by nearly everyone..They are easy to use and getting cheaper.
There is so much new tech coming out that I am constantly finding new topics to write about for everyday people. That wouldn’t have happened 20 years ago.
That’s very cool that you built a radio that received signals from India! You were definitely ahead of your time. 🙂
Awesome post, there is always something new happening in this day and age, thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
Hi Jade, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right, every day there seem to be new exciting tech developments. It’s fun to see how we might live in the near future. 10 years ago who would have predicted the tech that we are using today?
Yes I definitely agree with you Carolyn, I would love to see what the world will be like a few years from now. It’s mind blowing to think that we live in such a fast pace world, where things are ever changing. Very excited for the near future technologies. 🙂
I’m really looking forward to Apple’s event today. As for technology and the future, the only thing I know for sure is that relationships become even more important. To me, it seems that no matter what we’re doing online or with various gadgets, everything we do is about relationships and we try to get back to the old days when the bond between people were a lot stronger than it is today (at least that’s what I think) 🙂
Hi Jens, I agree, I’m very excited about the event too. Less than 2 hours away now!
I agree with you about relationships. Tech can be a very effective way of strengthening relationships by connecting people over the miles and forging new friendships with people you might not have otherwise met!
Let me know what you think after today’s Apple announcement. One of the good things about Apple’s announcements will be that finally the rumors about Apple’s next phone will be over. At least for about 5 minutes before people start speculating about the next iPhone! 😀
Awesome Post Carolyn.
I love the picture, Video and about the future Timeline concept. Many thanks for sharing the Corning clip!. No doubt, Thinking about future discovery always fascinates. Only question, how far we can bring it to real world. That’s fun part. Any invention get into the planet only by passionate people through seamless creativity.
I expect more from Nanotechnology, Lazer techniques, Artificial intelligence for medical and engineering domain and of course Green planet. Need to originate novel techniques to handle e-waste or need to start auto shuttle service to some worthless planet to dump our e-waste (If worth and make sense) to keep the planet earth clean and safe. As we know, creativity is a endless journey. Let’s try to make it as possible we can 🙂
Thanks for sharing the wonderful article.
Hi Manickam, I’m so glad you watched that video. It really is cool technology and it’s amazing to imagine that all of those developments could be part of our everyday lives soon!
You’re right, dealing with environmental issues will be a big part of technology in the future. We have got to get a handle on how we deal with waste and having a tech solution would be a great way of dealing with the issue.
Thanks so much, Manickam, for your visit and awesome comment! 🙂
I guess you’re going to have to keep me informed Carolyn about what the heck is going on with technology. I know I will always be able to count on you keeping me up to date.
I saw that video a few weeks ago and thought that was so amazing. I also saw one where they are growing human parts so that people will never have to worry about being on a transplant list in the future. I think that some of the things they come up with is truly amazing.
That website is fascinating as well. May have to go through that one when I can find some spare time. But I would be curious to see what they predict when my nieces and nephews reach a certain age. I’m sure they might be a little curious about that as well.
You always share such cool information over here. I love stopping by your place to see what you are going to share with us today.
Hope you are having a wonderful day so far and a really good week. Speak soon!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, I’m delighted to keep you up to date with what is happening in the world of personal technology. That’s just what this blog is all about. For those who don’t have the time and/or the inclination to keep up with the latest and the greatest, all they need to do is check out The Wonder of Tech!
That’s wonderful about growing limbs. If they use the recipient’s DNA, they may be able to avoid the patient having to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of their lives. The advances in repairing spinal cord injuries are amazing as well!
I love the video too. I wonder how long it will be before that demonstration is a reality!
Thanks so much, Adrienne, for taking the time to visit, tweet and leave your awesome comment. I hope your day is going well too! 🙂
What a great thought you have and I’m really looking forward to Apple’s event today. As for technology and the future evolves, the only thing I know for sure is that relationships become even more important. I agree too that it seems that no matter what we’re doing online or with various gadgets, everything we do is about relationships and we try to get back to the old days when the bond between people were a lot stronger than it is today. I am really inspired. Promised!
Hi Kris, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right, it’s all about relationships, but I hope that tech will strengthen bonds between people. Email, Facebook and Skype allow people to keep connections across the miles.
Thanks so much for your visit and awesome comment, Kris!
The history of mankind has shown that, despite some horrific setbacks, the overall human standard of living, freedom, and longevity have increased. Along with technology for its own sake, which is admittedly very cool, our responsibilities will increase as stewards of the planet and one another. People who are hungry make bad decisions. Technologies that empower some and not others polarize us. Technology now empowers flash mobs. What the world needs now is love, sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone, The goodness in people will be tested as they are given more power.
Hi AstroGremlin, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Wow, what a profound comment. You’re right, technology can be a double-edged sword. It would be great if all developments were positive for humankind, but we know that isn’t the case. I hope that the future holds innovations for the social and environmental good for the world.
Thanks for your visit and amazing comment, AstroGremlin! 🙂
Wow what an amazing post! Beautiful pictures and the video is amazing. I’m excited to what the future holds. I think technology will keep growing and the internet will start to get even bigger and bigger. Seems that technology will go no where. It will only grow, expand and improve. Thanks for sharing this amazing post especially for the video. Would be so cool to have a house like that. LOL Keep it up! 😀
Hi Pj, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I agree, I would love to live in that house too, though my daughter wisely wondered how you turn the stove off!
You’re right, innovation won’t stop, but hopefully improvements won’t either.
I wonder if our grandchildren someday will see this video and think how old fashioned the house looks!
Thanks so much, Pj, for your visit and awesome comment!
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately because Reinaldo Dos Santos, the so-called Prophet of the Americas, visited Peru recently. He made some sobering predictions about the country and the world. I really wonder if it’s possible to tell the future at all. I went through a week of fear because of the earthquake that happened in Peru last month. I imagined all that could possibly happen if Reinaldo’s prediction came true: that Peru would have the most devastating earthquake of all time within the next thirty years.
There was a recent tragic earthquake on the coast of Peru in 2007 and watching videos of it sure did freak me out. But in the end, I think it’s not worth worrying or being afraid. These are things that we can’t really control and I would rather take it as a reminder for me to live life more fully. =)
That website sure if addictive though. =P
Hi Samantha, You’re right, that website is very addictive. I thought of your post on Reinaldo Dos Santos and his predictions when I wrote this post. Will the futurists or the psychics better predict what’s ahead of us?
We can’t help but wonder what the future holds. Whether anyone can tell us accurately remains to be seen.
Thanks so much for your visit and comment and helping to inspire this post, Samantha! 🙂
Predicting the future makes me both excited and afraid. I have always thought about what the future holds. I sometimes think about weird things. In days gone by, I thought about how traveling will be in the future. I was talking to a close friend of mine and she was in another country. I really wanted to see her and I asked the question what if I can travel in minutes just to see her and then come back. I am talking about transferring a human body to another place in seconds. 😀 I don’t know if this is possible in the future. It is both exciting and scary.. I mean you’d be looking for your kids and someone will tell you “own, they went to Asia and they’ll come back at lunch time”. 😀
I just hope everything we do and achieve is for the best. 🙂
Hi Mouh, My mind works like that too, sometimes, takes me to places of complete imagination. Your idea is a fascinating one, though I would be afraid that prisoners could escape that way. They might escape their cells and never return. Or what if you messed up and you ended up in a prison cell? See, I think of these things too!
Thanks so much for sharing your fascinating thoughts with us, Mouh! 🙂
Thought provoking post and ongoing converstions. Regarding whether technology is getting more or less exciting, I think we’re just getting used to anything being possible with technology, so it ceases to surprise it.
Hi Tom, I respectfully disagree. Innovation will always continue to surprise and impress. That’s what makes the future exciting! 🙂
I hope you didn’t misunderstand me. I meant “we” as a society, not “we” as individuals. Innovation in technology really excites me, but I think many people don’t appreciate (or notice) it. Apologies for going off on a tangent.
Hi Tom no apologies necessary. Excellent point. Now I understand what you mean. You’re absolutely right, what is exciting today is taken for granted in the world of tech. Telephones, electricity, light bulbs and cars used to be exciting tech. But now we definitely take them for granted. People get upset when they can’t use their BlackBerries for a couple of days but ten years ago there weren’t any BlackBerry phones (I would have been upset too if I couldn’t use my iPhone for a few days!).
Thanks so much for coming back to help me understand your insights! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
There was an article on the BBC about “Supercomputer predicts revolution” which comes pretty close to predicting the future. I worked for tech companies and it always amazes me what people come up with and I am sure things will keep evolving.
Furthermore the use of technology will not only expand horizontally but also vertically as younger and older people embrace it.
Nik
Hi Nick, that sounds like an excellent article. Was it recent? I would appreciate a link to the article if it’s still available. The article sounds fascinating.
You’re right, technology seems to have a ripple effect and expands horizontally and vertically. Some people take longer than others to embrace technology, but with popular technology, eventually almost everyone comes around to it. I haven’t met many people lately who have never been on the internet (I know one and she seems to do just fine without it).
I hadn’t thought about technology spreading vertically and horizontally before. Thanks for sharing that idea with us. I’m looking at this in a new light now.
Hi Carolyn,
Here is the link to the BBC article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14841018
Nik
The article was absolutely fascinating. To be able to track news stories and use algorithms to predict future events is almost spooky. I wonder whether they will release information about future predictions. The power of this is mind-boggling. Imagine a newspaper reporting that a leader would soon have to step down or be overthrown based upon this analysis. The prediction could be a self–fulfilling prophecy. And what if the results were manipulated somehow to affect history? I see the makings of a screenplay. 🙂
I will be thinking about this article for a while. I appreciate your sharing this with us, Nick!