What Could Be the Next Game-Changing Technological Advance?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around speculating potential future technological advances that could significantly impact society. Participants explore various ideas, including mobile electricity generation, wireless computing, nanotechnology, and advancements in transportation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests mobile electricity generation units that could create power from air, proposing that this could revolutionize energy production.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the feasibility of such generators, mentioning that hydrogen fuel cells might be a more realistic advancement.
  • There is a suggestion that wireless computing could transform the world, with the potential for carrying the internet in one's pocket being highlighted as revolutionary.
  • Improvements in transportation, such as auto-pilot systems and more efficient vehicles, are also proposed as significant advancements.
  • Nanotechnology is mentioned as having massive potential benefits, though concerns are raised about its accessibility and implications for wealth disparity.
  • A later reply questions the current development status of mobile electricity generation units, likening them to perpetual motion concepts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions, with some ideas being met with enthusiasm while others face skepticism. There is no clear consensus on which technological advance may be the next game-changer, and multiple competing views remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about technological feasibility are based on assumptions that may not be universally accepted, and the discussion reflects varying levels of optimism and skepticism regarding the proposed advancements.

Jack
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Every once in a while a technological advance is made that changes our lives such as electricity, telephones, the internet, mobile phones, cars etc.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what the next big technological advance may be like?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
mobile electricity generation units - capable of creating wattage! of power using something like air!

that would revolutionise everything! and keep them pesky "oh nucklear power stations are bad" people at bay!
 
Well, it is difficult to say. I think with enough time, wireless computing will revolutionize the world.

And while a portable and efficient generator would be nice, it doesn't seem realistic. Perhaps when hydrogen fuel cells advance enough, but I don't think you'd be able to generate enough power from air to power a fan, much less any kind of large appliance.

Ya, I'd definitely say being able to carry PF and the rest of the internet in your pocket anywhere you go would be revolutionary.

Perhaps improvements in transportation, such as auto-pilot on major highways, more efficient vehicles, less SUVs and less cops.

And maybe the quantum researchers can surprise us with something too.
 
Originally posted by Bunting
mobile electricity generation units - capable of creating wattage! of power using something like air!

that would revolutionise everything! and keep them pesky "oh nucklear power stations are bad" people at bay!

They sound cool. How close are we to this at the moment or is it just a thought?
 
i think nanotechnology has the potential to benifit mankind in a massive way, and it's not very far off at all, but it's the sort of tehnology for the rich that might never be of real consequence to the rest of the world unless we make sure it doesn't go the same way as a lot of modern medicine, straight to the bank
 
Originally posted by steppenwolf
i think nanotechnology has the potential to benifit mankind in a massive way, and it's not very far off at all, but it's the sort of tehnology for the rich that might never be of real consequence to the rest of the world unless we make sure it doesn't go the same way as a lot of modern medicine, straight to the bank

ah good i don't have to say anything. kudos.
 
Originally posted by Jack
They sound cool. How close are we to this at the moment or is it just a thought?
There at about the same level of development as every other perpetual motion hoax...
 

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