Ten Top Futurist Predictions For 2013 And Beyond

This is interesting, via https://www.wfs.org/

THE FUTURIST Magazine Releases Its Top 10 Forecasts for 2013 and Beyond



1. Neuroscientists may soon be able to predict what you’ll do before you do it.

The intention to do something, such as grasp a cup, produces blood flow to specific areas of the brain, so studying blood-flow patterns through neuroimaging could give researchers a better idea of what people have in mind. One potential application is improved prosthetic devices that respond to signals from the brain more like actual limbs do, according to researchers at the University of Western Ontario.

2. Future cars will become producers of power rather than merely consumers.

A scheme envisioned at the Technology University of Delft would use fuel cells of parked electric vehicles to convert biogas or hydrogen into more electricity. And the owners would be paid for the energy their vehicles produce.

3. An aquaponic recycling system in every kitchen?

Future "farmers" may consist of householders recycling their food waste in their own aquariums. An aquaponic system being developed by SUNY ecological engineers would use leftover foods to feed a tank of tilapia or other fish, and then the fish waste would be used for growing vegetables. The goal is to reduce food waste and lower the cost of raising fish.

4. The economy may become increasingly jobless, but there will be plenty of Work

Many recently lost jobs may never come back. Rather than worry about unemployment, however, tomorrow’s workers will focus on developing a variety of skills that could keep them working productively and continuously, whether they have jobs or not. It’ll be about finding out what other people need done, and doing it, suggests financial advisor James H. Lee.

5. The next space age will launch after 2020, driven by competition and "adventure capitalists."

While the U.S. space shuttle program is put to rest, entrepreneurs like Paul Allen, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos are planning commercial launches to access low-Earth orbit and to ferry passengers to transcontinental destinations within hours. Challenges include perfecting new technologies, developing global operations, building new infrastructure, and gaining regulatory approval.
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6. The "cloud" will become more intelligent, not just a place to store data.

Cloud intelligence will evolve into becoming an active resource in our daily lives, providing analysis and contextual advice. Virtual agents could, for example, design your family’s weekly menu based on everyone’s health profiles, fitness goals, and taste preferences, predict futurist consultants Chris Carbone and Kristin Nauth.

7. Corporate reputations will be even more important to maintain, due to the transparency that will come with augmented reality.

In a "Rateocracy" as envisioned by management consultant Robert Moran, organizations’ reputations are quantified, and data could be included in geographically based information systems. You might choose one restaurant over another when your mobile augmented-reality app flashes warnings about health-department citations or poor customer reviews.

8. Robots will become gentler caregivers in the next 10 years.

Lifting and transferring frail patients may be easier for robots than for human caregivers, but their strong arms typically lack sensitivity. Japanese researchers are improving the functionality of the RIBA II (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance), lining its arms and chest with sensors so it can lift its patients more gently.

9. We’ll harness noise vibrations and other "junk" energy from the environment to power our gadgets.

Researchers at Georgia Tech are developing techniques for converting ambient microwave energy into DC power, which could be used for small devices like wireless sensors. And University of Buffalo physicist Surajit Sen is studying ways to use vibrations produced on roads and airport runways as energy sources.

10. A handheld "breathalyzer" will offer early detection of infections microbes and even chemical attacks.

The Single Breath Disease Diagnostics Breathalyzer under development at Stony Brook University would use sensor chips coated with nanowires to detect chemical compounds that may indicate the presence of diseases or infectious microbes. In the future, a handheld device could let you detect a range of risks, from lung cancer to anthrax exposure.

 

11. None of the above will actually happen because the global economy will collapse and people won't know their ass from a hole in the ground...




Sorry, I just had to say it. :leaving:

 

:smilielol5:

 

In the year 4242 , Im a smoke a big fat doob .. :ssmokeit:

 

I predict that within the next half-hour, I will roll a blunt.

 

and I won't...

 

If we were neighbors I would share with you!!

 

Man, my boss will be angry when he finds out the world doesn't end next month!

 

No 1 is probably most exciting, and I dont think too far off. Watching eye movements only a step or two above Kinect type tech. And some big developments with figuring out brain patterns. We will be able to make things move by thinking of it or moving our eyes.

So it will look like we have the Force. Waving your hand and making the patio door close, not really that far different from what you do with your X box or Wii U


As for 5, though, I just dont see us really going into space until we need to. Whn mining Mars is just as cost effective as earth. Or people really are going to want to spend a week on a hotel on the moon rather than Las Vegas

 

You are of course presuming that we all won't bite the big one come December 21st 2012....

 

Number 9 sounds really interesting.

 

I sure don't know why people would store info in a cloud and think it would be safe.
The internet has to be the most unsafe thing in existence so far as information goes.

 

Meh... Isn't that how "Terminator" originally started? They had an AI looking after the well being of humanity?

Oh... That'll be fun... That is of course assuming that everything is still hunky dory come the end of next month...

Here's a prediction for you:

NOTHING will happen on December 21st 2012... The day after people will get up and nurse their hangovers, same as every other year....

Or... Project Bluebeam comes to Fruition, and things get really interesting... Smart money is on the first prediction...

 

I predict a lot of huge parties on December 20th 2012. I also predict a lot of people taking advantage of those who believe it and offering to take a lot of their worldly possessions, like they have in past 'end of the world' scenarios.