Now that the election is over (go Obama!), we expect revolutionary changes perhaps in the near future...
Many believe that in 50 years we will no longer be using laptops, plasma TV, and many other high techs that we are lusting after today. So which direction is technology headed?
Futurama seems reasonable to me. Agree?
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You can be the first person to invent/set up a system of transportation based on tubes, which will suck us up and propel us to our destinations :D
We still have a long way to go before that happens. But then again, so much can happen tech-wise in 50 years, assuming that humanity can sustain its current progress and innovation.
Many parts of the world also have a long way to go before they even reach the conditions of the current "developed world," assuming of course, that they even want to become like us.
What can I say... all this technology and development arguably makes our lives better, though not necessarily happier. Some people would rather just live up in a mountain. It's just as good :P
sigh, remember what i was talking about with you wei?
More likely, I think, will be the change incurred by advancements made in nanotechnology. I think that, in the very near future (~10-20 yrs) we'll begin to see improvements in many sectors of the industry, commerce, and our everday lives (military and weapons research aside), brought on by (what I hope will be) vast R&D and capital invested in this field by big science corporations and, of course, the government. But don't get me wrong, I don't expect great discoveries to come to us as abruptly as we've seen in the past; rather, I believe that nanotech will quite possibly exhibit a 'compounded' effect on society. That is to say, discoveries will come to us in the shape of small miracles, every year, and steadily bring to us better alternatives to what we already have, whether that may be higher yield in semiconductor chips for our computers and cellphones, more effective drug transport to tumors in cancer patients, stronger fabrics and materials for commerce/industry, or even more fuel-efficient, hybrid cars running on an optimized, nano-manipulated lithium-ion battery. I think we'll see an overall increased competitiveness in our markets, and increased productivity and national GDP. Perhaps even, give or take another 20 yrs after that, we'll begin to see things we could
have never dreamed of.
I think the little scientist (the inquistive little kid, for that matter) in each of us has always wanted to believe that anything is possible. The beauty of it all, I think, is that everything seems so much more feasible, and more viable these days with the advent of nano. (of course, I speak with a heavy bias, as this my favorite topic and specialty, and certainly won't deny the possibility of something else bigger than nano to come)
Lastly, in the spirit of the post, congratulations to Barack Obama on his historic victory!!! Last night was truly magical for me, although somewhat anti-climactic, considering the countless months I'd been eagerly awaiting his win.
In light of all these recent developments, may I say that, truly, we live in interesting, not to mention fantastic, times.
Yes... we should aim for practical and realizable goals, especially in the short run. Keep those great fantastical goals in mind, but don't be too disappointed if they are not realized.
which idiot changed obama to mccain??!!
True, nano will be big as most people like their technology to be easy access and portable. Not all things will get smaller though, things like TV's and other viewing devices keep getting bigger and cost less as time passes. Viewing devices are one tech gadget that you actually don't want to be small. However, new technology will make these "large devices" physically small and portable. Some possibilities include folding LCD's or liquid screens that could be contained in a small container or tube. Screens which may be rolled into a tube are already in existence, but obviously more research will be required to make them marketable/feasible for use.
I think that the merger of the cell phone with all sorts of other technologies will continue for some time. We all want to be able to communicate with others at our own convenience, and for that device to be as small as possible so as to not to be a bulky burden. Integration is the theme here, and I think that it will continue as different technologies get mushed into singular devices.
Futurama (as in the TV show) sounds quite a bit farther off than 50 years from now. We'll need a true breakthrough to make flying cars efficient and affordable, like a personal reactor or portable energy generator that currently doesn't exist. However, we can still remain hopeful (or scared) of the new changes to come.
(changes such as a true genetically modified Obama Llama)
Anyone think that big changes are coming even sooner? If so, why?
Personal reactor do exist, they have been used since the voyager 1 program.
I think ashwin's got the right idea: nano is about building from the 'bottom', up, which means that the products we use will not necessarily become smaller.
What it does entail, however, is a transformation of the 'components' which we use to construct and assembly larger things. (i.e. semiconductor chips)
Yield on wafer chips per die is extremely low, especially as we strive to move towards smaller nodes. Let's say we figure out a chink in this system, let's say inspection and measurement could improve by 30%, thus improving yield and helping companies to save money, invest in smaller nodes, and move forward. With nano scanning instruments and techniques, this is very likely. What happens when we do this? We obtain greater functionality per chip, smaller chips (which leads to more functionality), and cheaper prices (imagine a fully-functional $100 laptop).
Anyways, I strongly believe (and to my distastes, very generically speaking) that nano implicates higher yield, lower prices, increased efficiency, and increased competition in multiple sectors.
Yea go nano! Expect to see 100 dollar laptops soon, maybe by 2009?
*laughs* I could only dream for such a thing, Jake.
To be honest, I can't say for sure. With a shaky economy, I wonder how much corporations will be willing to invest in a $100 laptop. Maybe they'll on get on board? We'll see where the money goes...
On a side note, I read a statistic somewhere that China is currently spending 10+ billion on nano.
Elsewhere, an article claimed that very recent market research suggests nano-enabled products will be a $263 billion market by 2012.
Let us hope Obama will put forth all he can into science research, like he said....
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/17/circuit-city-to-sell-100-compaq-laptop-on-black-friday/
I was wrong.. get it before xmas
o, one more
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/menq-international-lowers-the-bar-with-89-easypc-e760-laptop/
Oh I agree with the majority of the people concerning nano. nano is, like jimmy said, a bottom up process, but I think it'll be an explosive bottom up process that will render whether process started at the bottom or at the top trivial. what i mean is, the rate at which science and technology is both extravagant and frightening. such rapid growth in this technology will eventually override human capabilities to regulate technology in a safe manner. with the technology of nano blood cells creeping closer with every pushing year or arguably month, the physical merge between man and machine seems more realistic in place of fictional. i'm just afraid that we might reach a Matrix scenario sooner than we might have imagined. while some may disagree heavily with me on basis of my limited credibility in nano-technology, I'd like it if you'd watch this video and then reevaluate your position: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ray_kurzweil_on_how_technology_will_transform_us.html
this guy is a renowned figure in the technology industry, and i'm sure you'll see that technology is growing and a frightening, yet, exciting rate.
Ah, choe my dear friend, you've hit it right where it matters the most!
You always hear of scientists crying out that nano is safe, or the LHC won't destroy the world, but you begin to wonder, if and when there will be a day when the scales are finally tipped, and technology will finally go beyond the comprehension of man, when there will be so much 'stuff' out there that we won't have enough businessman (non-corrupt businessman, for that matter) to regulate the R&D of such research. A scary thought indeed, and very Matrix-like.
Which is why, I sorely hope, that more of our brightest minds will shift their attention to this matter. It is why I invest myself so in the study of management and the sciences.
We will need, in the near future, more than ever, smart, mature, and idyllically non-corrupt decision makers. I propose we start filling our children's and our library's bookshelves with scifi books and videos! =) (seriously, though)
nice find, jake!
although what i meant to say was that let's imagine an age in which all laptops fall around the $100. (as a market standard price)
I think we should start posting good deals on newegg and woot.com as the holiday season approaches, lol (waiting for that <$100 TB External HD...)
yes, well i'm glad i've got someone like zexi going into such a momentous field.
jimmy,
The normal market price for laptop will never be around 100. People will always want above standard item. In the future we will be making faster and faster processors. The fastest processor will not be cheap. While the slowest processors will make the price go down, few companies will make them because no one wants it. I can start a company today that sells 100 dollar laptops, but it will not be as fast or as nice. It might not even be usable. There will always be a demand for better products, thus keeping the price high. If you want 100 laptops you'll have to settle with a cheap product.
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