What will happen between now and 2020?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion revolves around predictions for global changes by 2020, highlighting various socio-political and technological shifts. Key predictions include the collapse of major currencies such as the US dollar and Euro, the privatization of highways, and a significant evolution in cell phone technology integrating "speech to text" and "text to speech" functionalities. Additionally, there are humorous yet pointed remarks about societal trends, including the rise of new snack foods and the potential for a police state in the US.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of socio-political dynamics and economic trends
  • Familiarity with technological advancements in communication
  • Knowledge of environmental issues related to peak oil
  • Awareness of historical political events and their implications
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of peak oil on global economies and societies
  • Explore advancements in mobile technology, particularly in speech recognition
  • Investigate the effects of privatization on public infrastructure
  • Analyze historical patterns of currency collapse and their socio-economic impacts
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for economists, political analysts, technology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in forecasting future societal trends and their implications.

Phrak
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What Are Your Real-World Predictions of how the world will change between today and 2020 in the Global Eco-Social Domain?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A LOT. :biggrin:
 
It wont.
 
A strategy for the closing of Gitmo will be debated?
 
Phrak said:
What Are Your Real-World Predictions of how the world will change between today and 2020 in the Global Eco-Social Domain?

A significant number of new calendars will be printed and consumed. Many of them will be made from post-consumer content. Almost all calendars will have month names printed on each page, and the number 3 will appear repeatedly.

Okay, I'm totally going to post again... I have lots of ideas!
 
Little of this, little of that.
 
  • Touch screens will be replaced by smell screens; developers will tout their informational density
  • Apple will release the new iTampon. People will make fun of the name at first, but eventually it will be "no big deal"
  • Someone will claim "voting fraud" at some election somewhere in the world
  • Japan will drift further out to sea in response to more weird stuff coming out of the Koreas
  • People will complain about things they don't understand
  • USB 3.0 will resist widespread adoption for a while, but Skynet will fix that
  • Brown will be the new orange, and orange will be the new Apple
  • Dogs will invent a sport in which they pit ravenous quarterbacks against each other in battle on a large field; it will be denounced by the masses as "entertaining"
  • McDonald's will get rid of the McRib again only to bring it back after the fire-bombings start
  • Barack Obama will become the second president (after Cleveland) to serve two non-consecutive terms
  • Surprisingly, history will actually vindicate G.W. Bush; unfortunately, he will be insulted by the idea of "being vindicated"
  • Noobs will be appreciably pwned
  • A method for taking the indefinite integral of a function but not having a constant-of-integration left over will be discovered
  • NASA, with nothing better to do, will simply start littering the surface of moons and planets with rovers
  • Highways will be privatized. The resulting competition will lead to a large range or roads of different qualities which the consumer can pick from by paying different amounts. Private security will be hired to patrol the new private highways and people will avoid driving on roads with overly intrusive security.
  • The RIAA will simply start assaulting people at random
  • Much to the surprise of no one at all, Jack Thompson will say something stupid
  • Flex will hijack some more threads
 
Last edited:
The Browns will almost make it to the Super Bowl.
 
The US dollar will collapse, the Euro will collapse, the Pound will collapse, China will cash in their debt, the US will become a police state, and all American newspapers will be shut down.
 
  • #10
Char. Limit said:
The US dollar will collapse, the Euro will collapse, the Pound will collapse, China will cash in their debt, the US will become a police state, and all American newspapers will be shut down.

...and the Cleveland Browns?
 
  • #11
You mean between today and 2012, right ?
 
  • #12
WhoWee said:
...and the Cleveland Browns?

They will also become a police state. After the dollar collapses, the Cleveland Browns will use their influence to take over Southwest Ohio.
 
  • #13
A single currency worldwide.
 
  • #14
Cell phone technology will undergo a revolution when "speech to text", "text to speech" and "real time texting" combine to make it seem like you are actually talking to someone directly.
 
  • #15
Janus said:
Cell phone technology will undergo a revolution when "speech to text", "text to speech" and "real time texting" combine to make it seem like you are actually talking to someone directly.
:smile:
 
  • #16
at 2020, Julian Assange might run out of secrets...
 
  • #17
How about checking the Y2K predictions over the decade 2000-2010?
 
  • #18
Char. Limit said:
They will also become a police state. After the dollar collapses, the Cleveland Browns will use their influence to take over Southwest Ohio.

.. the browns would be lucky if they could 'influence' cleveland, let alone any of ohio..
 
  • #19
FlexGunship said:
  • Flex will hijack some more threads

There are some sweet gems in there.
 
  • #20
If peak oil doesn't occur in 2015 to 2017 the way claimed, then in 2020, peak oilers will be saying 2025 is when the crap hits the fan.
 
  • #21
Confidence in the Asian markets will be eroded after a series of adjustments.
 
  • #22
Miley Cyrus will decline, Lindsy Lohan will die, and I won't care at all.. not. at. all.

Oh, probably a few elections and a war or two... maybe some genocide. I think it's going to be a brisk century for the human race.
 
  • #23
CAC1001 said:
If peak oil doesn't occur in 2015 to 2017 the way claimed, then in 2020, peak oilers will be saying 2025 is when the crap hits the fan.

Ideologues will be sterilized in accordance with their dystopian fantasies of leftist euthanasia plots.
 
  • #24
nismaratwork said:
Ideologues will be sterilized in accordance with their dystopian fantasies of leftist euthanasia plots.

Will it be blamed on "climate change"?
 
  • #25
WhoWee said:
Will it be blamed on "climate change"?

Nah, death panels, Jan Brewer, and gay people in the military. :smile:

EDIT: truth time... I also touched myself in an impure manner back in '98, so I think that does it too...
 
  • #26
One or more US states will default on their debts before 2015.
 
  • #27
mheslep said:
One or more US states will default on their debts before 2015.

California or Arizona or Michigan... who'llitbe who'llitbe...
 
  • #28
2012.

2013.

2014.

2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020.

In a freak LHC accident, the year 2018 will be skipped entirely
 
  • #29
Office_Shredder said:
2012.

2013.

2014.

2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020.

In a freak LHC accident, the year 2018 will be skipped entirely

:smile:
 
  • #30
Newai said:
There are some sweet gems in there.

Any favorites? I have a million more, but thought the list was too long already.

  • Continuing the current trend: laptops will replace desktops, netbooks will replace laptops, tablets will replace netbooks, and punch-card mainframes will replace tablets.
  • Someone will add a third wheel to the Segway reducing the cost by 70% and making it considerably easier to produce
  • The internet will be replaced...
 

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