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My last week’s article: “Talking computers could spell doom for reading, writing,” described a changing technology that promises by as early as 2050 or before, that all nations could come together technologically and linguistically to participate in our “magical future.” Every human on Earth will be empowered to access information regardless of their ability to read or write.
And the Internet will give everyone access to this information. A UN “State of the Future Report” says currently, 13% of the world accesses the Internet; by 2020 half the world’s population will be on the net, and by 2030 nearly everyone will be connected to a terabyte-speed Internet. The report also describes the potential to erase the division between 1st world and 3rd world countries.
The only part of our future I see as negative is the slow speed in converting our science and technology dreams into reality.
For example this year, 55 million humans are predicted to die – most of whom could be saved with 2030s technologies, many with 2020s technologies; and some even with 2010 breakthroughs in nano-medicines and stem cell therapies.
Why doesn’t our world wake up and recognize that millions of people will die needlessly because of slow development of projected medical breakthroughs.
Technology will prevail though and death rates could fall on the following schedule:
• 2005, 55 million deaths
• 2020, 35 million deaths
• 2025, 20 million deaths
• 2030, 5 million deaths, most from accidents
• 2035, ½ million accident deaths
• 2040, 0 deaths
Some time between 2035 and 2040, the last human will suffer an unwanted death.
We don’t need to worry about overpopulation as nanotech experts predict this wonder technology could support more than 100 billion humans.
Our “magical future” will prevail, but sooner is better than later. Think of the millions of lives that could be saved.
This is my opinion, comments welcome. Dick
Earth 2075 – Moon, Mars colonies; alien life discovered
By Futuretalk
What will life be like in 2075? Of course nobody can accurately predict that far in advance, but by examining present-day knowledge, we can come up with plausible scenarios of how our future could unfold.
We begin with technologies that radically changed our lives and re-defined what it meant to be human. Biotech, nanotech, and infotech advances quickly led to development of powerful bodies and minds resistant to disease and aging. By 2040, indefinite lifespan became the norm. Robots, artificial intelligence and a terabyte-speed Internet provided breathtaking excitement that kept us forever active in our extended lives.
With concerns over health and dying eliminated, environmental issues took center stage. Nanotech replicators, appearing in mid-2020s, supply most of our food, clothing, and gadgets. By mid-century, researchers began using this wonder science to terraform Earth by converting greenhouse gasses to oxygen and creating an abundance of clean water from hydrogen and oxygen.
Space exploration took on added importance early in the 21st century. Military budgets racing upwards, diverted to a more promising area to achieve world peace – creation of other worlds that promised new experiences for the bold-at-heart and would lessen conflicts between war-minded neighbors.
Moon trips resumed in 2020 and the first colony with safe habitats for permanent living was established in 2030. Centuries-old humans-to-Mars dreams finally became reality. In 2030, astronauts made the first Mars landing and began construction of a permanent base. Trips initially taking 10 months one-way take only 10 hours in 2075 by utilizing a powerful new fuel, “Americuim,” and by jumping off planets via nano-built space elevators instead of using old-fashioned launch vehicles.
Terraforming also began on Moon and Mars by mid-century. Today, people enjoy Earth-like atmosphere on these remote worlds, with lots of lakes, rivers and forests. Moon population has reached 10,000, Mars 50,000, and by the end of the century, experts predict a growth to 2 million and 10 million respectively. “Territorial” governments are now claiming “independent” status and efforts are underway to form an alliance of world governments similar to Star Trek’s “Federation.”
However, the biggest shocker happened recently when astronomers detected radiation rising from a star system at the far end of our Milky Way galaxy, indicating the existence of an alien world powerful enough to control the entire energy output of their sun.
This “type 2 civilization,” rated by Nikolai Kardashev in his advanced civilizations’ scenarios, may already be colonizing planets, and could soon harness wormholes which would enable instant travel to anywhere in the galaxy, including our three worlds.
Discovery of superior aliens have brought our peoples together, minimizing religious and ethnic differences, but issues are huge. Are these aliens friendly or hostile? Do we attempt to contact this advanced civilization, or should we conceal our presence until we develop abilities to protect ourselves? World leaders believe solutions to this debate will not come easy. (I ask you, the reader, which course humanity should take. Confrontation or concealment – please email your vote)
Every scenario mentioned in this article is consistent with known laws and theories of physics and biology, and are within the capabilities of human accomplishment. Get ready to enjoy this bold “magical future.”
This article will appear in various publications and selected blog sites. Comments welcome.
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