By jvoliver, Section Commentary Posted on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 06:36:33 AM PST
At this year's AAAS meeting in Boston, a panel of eighteen thinkers was charged with creating a technological to-do list for the twenty-first century. They came up with 14 items that could have been drawn from any student essay. Some of us think they should have done better. ;-)
Engineering better medicines
Harnessing of leech `anaesthetic' to make for painless injections coupled with High potency pharmaceutical products which only require ug or ng amounts, making the above quite feasible. Personally tailored.
Advancing health informatics
Widespread use of personal `wellness stations'. See www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/ rpsepicdiagtest.pdf p27 for example. Used to tailor requirements. Will also contribute to genuine cure of cancer (as opposed to a `rescue', needing bits removed, etc!).
Providing access to clean water
Efficient, mini-recycling stations. Again, a technology transfer from space research.
Providing energy from fusion
A novel form of the `stellarator' produced, meaning very small systems possible. A boon for space travel.
Making solar energy economical
Probably redundant, except in space where solar proximity is within the programme.
Restoring and improving urban infrastructure
Revolutionary `compact' living units designed, with multi-use rooms. Again, spin off from developments towards long distance space travel. Sociological and ergonometric values taken into consideration, with numerous larger units for social functions. Travel facilitated by improved non-combustion engined vehicles - largely electric, possibly auto-driven or robotic for preset routes.
Enhancing virtual reality
Environmental synthesizers, stimulating ALL the senses, regarded as essential in long-trip space travel. Modest versions available for high-density, compact living unit complexes as above. Link to personal education stations.
Reverse engineering the brain
Advances in fMRI of the brain, and other imaging / exploratory methods.
Exploring natural frontiers
Nanotechnology makes a breakthrough in novel thin but durable fabrics / composites [already in progress] Development of viable artificial gill for divers
Advancing personalized learning
Virtual reality units for all children (and adults), connected to their computer (which may or may not be MS! Likely a new player on the scene). Personal learning driven by an expert system and artificial
intelligence.
Developing carbon sequestration methods
Already here. (eg http://www.c8s.co.uk/) May become less required with a bold project to achieve permanent global dimming.
Managing the nitrogen cycle
Increase in knowledge of ecological balance techniques. Again a spin-off from research for long-haul space station / travel. An improved Biosphere experiment
succeeds.
Securing cyberspace
Severe loss of freedom of the `Net, but wide availability of certain services, particularly `educational material'
Preventing nuclear terror
An emergent world power obviates need. Linked with curtailment of cyberspace freedom.
The Future: Associated abuses and unintended consequences
Powerful, but imperceptible, drug application gives power for a huge `Litvinenko-effect' in the wrong hands. Not just homicide, but widespread abuse such as mind-control and a sophisticated version of `date-rape'.
Genetic engineering produces an array of chimera, such as a human/sea mammal, used as a water `horse', the rider with artificial gill, for leisure use. Original intention: submarine espionage / sabotage.
Nanotechnology.
A limited version of the `grey goo' is indeed generated, but controlled by a nucleus. Once taken out, the goo disperses. Control based upon results of the `reverse engineering of the brain' and studies of single celled life such as the amoeba. Also recent studies (now) of the swarming phenomena contribute to its development. Unfortunate side effect - can `swallow' larger life-forms, rendering them in `suspended animation' for a short period, but ultimately causing death by asphyxiation. Original intention: sterilisation of inaccessible parts of aircraft / spacecraft.
Understanding of the brain functions misappropriated by the eventual world power to control populace.
Water availability used in power balance like oil today.
Not so far off:
Breakthrough in cost-effective methods of producing artificial fibres with tailor-made optically active surfaces, rendering use of dyes obsolete, and permitting numerous cycles of use of the material (eg digestion and re-spinning) ='structural colour', see newton.ex.ac.uk/research/emag/butterflies for example of biomimetic research by Vukusic et al.
Tailor-(or robot) made/spun garments for the individual, colouring programmed as above.
Effectively `welded' rather than sewn. Client measured optically, then garment programmed. Capability of edit to give `corset' or other retentive qualities, as well as fullness as in a skirt or shirt.
Tissue culture and stem-cell research will increase the scope and availability of re-growth of parts of limbs, organs, etc. Spinal cord re-joins become regularly feasible.
Too way off for serious mention? But I think it will happen....
A new force is discovered / gravity better understood, allowing completely new craft, large and small, even a version of `flying boots'. Control of these last would be facilitated by the advances in understanding of the brain and
effectively `thought controlled' (or just by body balancing adjustments). Power for the larger craft coming from the fusion breakthrough. Hydrocarbons reserved for chemical feedstocks only.
Bookmark this story with del.icio.us
Digg this story
Furl this item
Have you Reddit?