Speculating the Future

Advances in Nano and Bio technology are pointing towards a future which is.. unimaginable to say the least. Considering that technological progress is made exponentially i.e. if we have taken

10 steps in first 100 years then we will take
100 steps in next 100 years then
1000 steps in next 100 years then
10000 steps in next 100 years
..
..
After some initial centuries, difference between two centuries will become so huge that next century will see growth between first and the last century in the same growth phase. For example, it be difficult for generation living 100 years from now to distinguish between today's and medieval world or may be today's and prehistoric men. Just war mongering survivors creating colonies on a larger scale while inventing means to gather more natural resources...

How much credit do we give to prehistoric men for inventing fire and wheel?

Next 30 Years

Focus for at least next decade will be on green energy. Considering supply of oil is limited and destroyed the environment, governments around the world will start encouraging usage of green energy. Solar cells will become efficient and super cheap. Businesses will start embracing them as cost effective source of energy. But need for energy will simply keep on growing and soon everything from wind to sea water currents will become potential sources for electricity.

Advances in computers and robotics will be the next big changes. Virtual reality will keep on pacing with reality and soon the line will blur. Robots will be available for carrying out households to military tasks. Computers and machines will become part of being a human being. People will start integrating with machines i.e. they will be able to control them seamlessly and effortlessly as they control their body parts. Just by thoughts.

Depends on various factors but wars will become scarcer than ever.

Next 40 Years

There will be no diseases. There will be technologies to reverse and halt aging. There is good chance that most of the people living then will live *forever*. Let me explain the word forever here. Science will make it possible to live for next 1000 years. But things won't stop there. Considering the exponential growth perspective; more inventions will be made which will simply make natural death impossible.

Before everyone of my age rejoice. Scientists/Owners can very well come up with some stringent requirements for granting you immortality. I.Q., Money, Social Contribution. Before anyone go on rampage to fulfill the money part, probability for this being a factor is the least. What is money for an immortal? In other words, how bigger loan can such a person get? Bigger problem will be religious and political motivations, which can simply mar such a step.

At the same time, genetics will make it possible to create an entirely new species (don't think only human). I stop speculation on that here.

Nanotechnology will open unimaginable possibilities where complex machines can be made just by creating a very high level requirement for them. Everything will be possible and within reach.

Next 50 Years

Major colonization steps will be taken to make other planets habitable. Bioengineering will be an entirely new field. So much energy will be available that difference between sand and gold will blur. A philosopher's stone will start becoming a reality. There be no hunger and world will be closer than ever.

Can't really speculate beyond that in terms of advances.

I wonder if people will stop procreating somewhere in all these phases as sex and social factors will no longer be motivators for that. It won't stop the progress and simply translates into unimaginable powers in the hands of who live.

I just hope that all these advances do not get concentrated in the hands of small and selected group of people. But well, inventors made the world what it is today and they can chose to take it in whichever direction they want. It be their right.