What the Future Holds: In 10, 20, 50 Years

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores speculative predictions about future advancements and societal changes over the next 10, 20, and 50 years, touching on various topics including technology, medical research, and social issues. Participants share their views on what may improve or decline in quality of life, technology, and societal norms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that medical research will advance significantly, leading to earlier cancer detection and treatment.
  • There is a recurring mention of higher quality internet pornography, with varying opinions on its accessibility and societal implications.
  • Concerns are raised about aspects that may not improve, such as air quality and taxation.
  • Some participants speculate on the future of technology, envisioning advancements like digital walls that change color and the integration of circuits into everyday objects.
  • Others express whimsical desires for capabilities like invisibility and flying, with humorous exchanges about the implications of such abilities.
  • There are references to the rapid evolution of technology, comparing past devices to current innovations and predicting further advancements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features multiple competing views, particularly regarding what will improve or decline in the future. There is no consensus on the overall trajectory of societal changes or technological advancements.

Contextual Notes

Participants express a range of assumptions about future developments, including the impact of technology on daily life and societal norms, without resolving the uncertainties or implications of these changes.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in speculative discussions about the future of technology, societal changes, and cultural trends may find this thread engaging.

wolram
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In 10, 20 , 50 etc years, at least for the majority of people?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Higher quality internet porn.
 
Things that will get better.

I guess a lot of medical research would be relatively advanced.
 
Earlier cancer detection and treatment.
 
russ_watters said:
What won't get better?

Air quality.
 
mattmns said:
Higher quality internet porn.

most likely with more laws to get rid of it too:cool:
 
mattmns said:
Higher quality internet porn.

With easier access so the whole world, from poor to rich, can enjoy porn. No horny person should be left behind.
 
mattmns said:
Higher quality internet porn.

You're Dammmmmmmn right.
 
  • #10
Ki Man said:
most likely with more laws to get rid of it too:cool:

:confused: Eh, what? If you don't like it, don't watch it. Its just like guns. Dont own one if you don't like it. No ones forcing you to.
 
  • #11
russ_watters said:
What won't get better?


Taxation, or the £ in your pocket :smile:
 
  • #12
What will get better? I believe that the free flow of information on the internet will help to make the world a community. This will change everything.

What will get worse? The free flow of information will come with many problems such as privacy issues, online terrorist training, information overload, and perhaps most of all it poses great problems re inaccurate information - make-up a good lie today and it's global tomorrow.
 
  • #13
mattmns said:
Higher quality internet porn.

hahaha, internet porn? that is sooo 2007... think sex-o-bots! or orgasm chambers like in that woody allen movie.
 
  • #14
In all honesty though, I think the jump in technology will be staggering. I mean hell, look at the freaking Iphone.

Its a touch screen phone, with internet, with an OS, with an Ipod. And it has amazing resolution and quality, all in the palm on your hand. It blows anything and everything out of the water in the phone industry.

Now imaging that being an old big piece of junk 10 years down the line.

It would be nice to have everything digital, and I mean everything. Like, how about the walls of your house are impregnated with circuits so that you can change the color of it by imputing a voltage. I want EVERYTHING electrical, and sleek.
 
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  • #15
moe darklight said:
hahaha, internet porn? that is sooo 2007... think sex-o-bots! or orgasm chambers like in that woody allen movie.

The things folk think up for 5 seconds of joy?
 
  • #16
cyrusabdollahi said:
Now imaging that being an old big piece of junk 10 years down the line.

that's so true, look through some magazines from 1997, check out some computer ads and it's truly amazing how far computers have come.. my Ipod has 20 GB's of memory... that's more than any home computer would have dreamed of a decade ago... and my ipod is from 2 years ago... the new ones hold many times that plus videos and video games and 5 hours more of battery time.


moe darklight said:
hahaha, internet porn? that is sooo 2007... think sex-o-bots! or orgasm chambers like in that woody allen movie.

wolram said:
The things folk think up for 5 seconds of joy?

you're right! what we need is a time machine to slow down time!
 
  • #17
cyrusabdollahi said:
Like, how about the walls of your house are impregnated with circuits so that you can change the color of it by imputing a voltage.

LCD paint licked

Walls and curtains could sport liquid-crystal digital displays.

Homes of the future could change their wallpaper from cream to cornflower blue at the touch of a button, says Dirk Broer. His team has developed paint-on liquid crystal displays (LCDs) that offer the technology.[continued]
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/materialwissenschaften/bericht-9687.html

Next?
 
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  • #18
I want to be invisible...and fly.
 
  • #19
cyrusabdollahi said:
I want to be invisible...and fly.

Okay, you're invisible. Trust me.

http://www.aa.com/index_us.jhtml
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #21
okay really, you can fly here
http://www.jet-man.com/index_eng.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #22
invisibility-cloak-combo.jpg


Oh man, whered he go? :rolleyes:
 
  • #23
cyrusabdollahi said:
invisibility-cloak-combo.jpg


Oh man, whered he go? :rolleyes:

Do you see the guy standing next to the guy in the coat?
 
  • #24
funny enough, look what was on the CtoC main page today
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2270686.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #25
How's that not reinventing the wheel?
 
  • #26
cyrusabdollahi said:
How's that not reinventing the wheel?

For sale to the general public.
 
  • #27
Every moron needs a way to kill himself I suppose. At 130k, that's one rich dead moron.
 
  • #28
cyrusabdollahi said:
I want to be invisible...and fly.

Apart from enhancing your already above average allure, how could this be anything better? to have an invisible ultra egotistic flying Cyrus would be scary and worst for most :smile:
 
  • #29
Laugh it up, those arent bird droppings.
 
  • #30
cyrusabdollahi said:
Laugh it up, those arent bird droppings.

Well at the very least, please do not wear a superman type costume when
on your travels, those Lycra clothes reveal to much (shudder).
 

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