2. On the Technology Timeline:
- Confessions to artificial intelligence
"priests," 2004.
- Designer babies, 2005.
- Video tattoos, 2010.
- Insect-like robots used for crop
pollination, 2012.
- ID cards replaced by biometric scanning,
2015.
- Nanobots in toothpaste attack plaque,
2020.
- Thought recognition becomes everyday input
means, 2025.
- First Bionic Olympics, 2030.
- Emotion-control chips used to control
criminals, 2030.
- Moon base the size of a small village is
built, 2040.
3. Nanotech will be the new "new thing" for
venture capitalists. The tools for developing and commercializing
nanotechnologies are rapidly gaining power and sophistication, capturing
the imagination of investors seeking new growth opportunities following
the dot-com collapse.
4. Aquacultural veterinarian: Hot job for the
coming "eco-economy." A future economy that is environmentally
sustainable will be rich with new career opportunities: ecological
economists, wind meteorologists, recycling engineers, geothermal
geologists, wind-turbine engineers, and environmental architects, to
name a few.
5. Good news, bad news for water in
Africa. Enormous amounts of pure water exist below the deserts of
Africa, which could help avert a future water crisis. But the
underground aquifers cross international boundaries, raising the specter
of future water wars as populations increase and competition for water
resources heats up.
6. Animals will gain more human rights.
Activists for the humane treatment of animals are increasingly insisting
on human rights for at least some animals. Researchers working
with gorillas, dolphins, elephants, and other highly developed species
recognize hierarchies of animal autonomy, communication skills, and
self-awareness that could be used to determine which animals should be
granted rights--or even legal personhood.
7. Future homes will be healthier
habitats. New technologies will improve indoor air and water quality
by filtering out particulates, allergens, and contaminants.
Bacteria-killing devices will make food safer, and future foods may be
bioengineered to prevent diseases. And home security cameras and sensors
will give vacationing home owners peace of mind.
8. Hydrogen may supplant fossil fuels in the
near future. Automakers such as DaimlerChrysler and Toyota are
developing fuel-cell-powered cars that convert hydrogen and oxygen into
electricity, with plans to put them on roads by 2010.
9. Eco-workers of the world, unite!
Creating a sustainable "eco-economy" that meets the needs of future
generations will mean new career and investment opportunities in such
areas as fish farming, wind-farm construction and turbine manufacturing,
hydrogen generation, fuel-cell and solar-cell manufacturing, light-rail
construction, bicycle manufacturing, and tree planting.
10. Supersoldiers on the march. New
materials for uniforms will give soldiers superhuman capabilities. MIT's
new Institute for Nanotechnologies is developing fabrics that could
change properties as needed, such as becoming rigid to serve as a cast
if the wearer breaks a leg. Shoes could store energy, allowing soldiers
to catapult themselves over 20-foot-high walls.
