Technology spurs fearless forecasts - Your Life

According to the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md., here are the top 10 forecasts for 2003 and beyond:

1. Web-based control over transportation could eliminate drunk driving. Smart cars connected to public databases might automatically run a series of network checks on drivers before the automobiles will move. Sensors would collect and analyze the driver's breath for signs of alcohol, for instance.

2. On the technology timeline, here are some dates that new breakthroughs might be expected: confessions to artificial intelligence "priests" 2004; designer babies, 2005; video tattoos, 2010; insect-like robots used for crop pollination, 2012; ID cards replaced by biometric scanning, 2015; nanobots in toothpaste attack plaque, 2020; thought recognition becomes everyday input means, 2025; first Bionic Olympics, 2030; emotion-control chips used to control criminals, 2030; moon base the size of a small village is built, 2040.

3. Nanotech will be the new "new thing" for venture capitalists. Tools for developing and commercializing nanotechnologies are rapidly gaining power and sophistication, capturing the imagination of investors seeking new growth opportunities following the dot-com collapse.

4. Aquacultural veterinarian will be a hot job for the coming "eco-economy" A future economy that is environmentally sustainable will be rich with new career opportunities, including ecological economists, wind meteorologists, recycling engineers, geothermal geologists, wind-turbine engineers, and environmental architects.

5. Good news, bad news for water in Africa. Enormous amounts of pure water exist below the continent's deserts, which could help avert a future water crisis. However, underground aquifers cross international boundaries, raising the spec-ter of future wars as populations increase and competition for water resources heats up.

6. Animals will gain more human rights. Activists for humane treatment of animals are increasingly insisting on human rights for at least some animals. Researchers working with gorillas, dolphins, elephants, and other highly developed species recognize hierarchies of animal autonomy, communication skills, and self-awareness that could be used to determine which animals should be granted rights--or even legal personhood.

7. Future homes will be healthier habitats. New technologies will improve indoor air and water quality by filtering out particulates, allergens, and contaminants. Bacteria-killing devices will make food safer, and future foods may be bioengineered to prevent diseases. Moreover, home security cameras and sensors will give vacationing homeowners peace of mind.

8. Hydrogen may supplant fossil fuels in the near future. Automakers such as DaimlerChrysler and Toyota are developing fuel-cell-powered cars that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, with plans to put them on the road by 2010.

9. Eco-workers of the world, unite! Creating a sustainable "eco-economy" to meet the needs of future generations will mean new career and investment opportunities in such areas as fish farming, wind-farm construction, hydrogen generation, fuel- and solar-cell manufacturing, light-rail construction, bicycle manufacturing, and tree planting.

10. Supersoldiers on the march. New materials for uniforms will give soldiers superhuman capabilities. Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Institute for Nanotechnologies, Cambridge, Mass., is developing fabrics that could change properties as needed, such as becoming rigid to serve as a cast if the wearer breaks a leg. Shoes could store energy, allowing soldiers to catapult themselves over 20-foot-high walls.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Society for the Advancement of Education
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