How about email to the afterlife?

I don't think we need faster airplanes, but a faster way to get on those airplane (as opposed to 3 hours in the airport) would certainly be giant technological leap forward.

I'd like to see a skull-implanted cybernetic interface that enables you to access the Net directly from your brain, wirelessly of course. And powered by a 100 year battery the size of a Mento. Then be able to download Kung Fu abilities...

How about improvements in basics of life, like water filtration on the cheap (like LifeStraw) for developing countries, sustainable eco-business, cheap power (solar, wind, fusion), and of course, the bottom cleaning toilet... Your bottom, of course. Sure would be nice not to have to use the sandpaper they leave in the stalls at work.

A lie detector that cheap and reliable

This sounds more like a wish list, as in, "I wish I couild fly like a bird," than a future technology prediction. Universal Translator? Bill Gates has been saying, "We're really close" on voice recognition for 20 years, but it's never gonna happen. If you can't even understand what your spouse is saying across the dinner table because she mumbles, how in the world is a computer going to figure that out? The one technology that does sound feasible, that might actually occur in our lifetime, is a better storage battery. I couldn't agree more: we need them, NOW! Thanks for a glimpse of the technological nirvana.

Excellent list. Also, nice graphics. How about starting some discussion or a reference list for these topics?

I agree, this does sound more like a "Wish" list. Some of these are more dangerous that made to look. For example, the terabyte thumb drive. If you think it is somewhat easy for ID thieves to steal data by stealing laptops, what about these? Plus the amount of data would be enormous. As for the universal translator, I believe it was Ursula LeGuin who wrote once that it was something everyone wanted but would never be created.

Lots of good comments here already. Like I said in the intro, it varies from almost here to way out sci-fi though some of the almost here would have been in the way out category not too long ago (does anyone remember when Red Herring did an April Fools story on a mind-control interface in the 90's).

Hey;

For item 8 we had it and it disapeared. Remember the SS7. Half the time to Europe. What you need is a virtual cup of coffee that will help you remember things in the recent past.

The Technology to help FBI and USCIS for the broken US immigration system, such as NameCheck. People are waiting more than 5 to 6 years for their name to be cleared with FBI NameCheck.
It looks like it may take another 10-15 Years to complete the Name Check by FBI. Meantime the immigrant will die.

Thanks
who

If you want 100Tb of data, make sure you wish for transfer rates that make it usable. USB rates would really really (really) take a long time to fill it.

If technical "invisibility cloak" were possible, the "bad guys" would exploit it. It's kind of like wishing guns away for Joe Citizen, again the "bad guys" would love that.

Airliners still fly at the same speed as they did in the late '60s. This is unique in the history of transportation. Meanwhile getting in and out of the airline terminal has become much slower in the past years.

Is it too much to ask for a workable video conferencing system that would let us avoid the benefits of being there in person?

-David

Hello Dan,

Perhaps you recall the French/British Concorde and the Russian Tupolev TU-144; both had the capability to hustle you across the pond at about the speed you desire. Did you partake of the opportunity when they were flying? If not perhaps it was the $6000 one way and $10000 round trip ticket price back in the 90's when jet A1 probably cost the airlines less than $1/ gallon. As I recall both were pulled from service subsequent to catastrophic accidents the Russian long before the French/British.

Thinking about it... 4 cancels 7.
If I have a really good (Matrix quality) virtual world... Hell, I'll just have meetings there and stay at home. No planes at all.

My desired future technologies are less computer oriented and maybe not quite as fun as some of these others:
- Large scale desalinization capabilities so that we can process sea water for human and agricultural purposes. Deserts are growing, fresh water sources are shrinking, and there are more and more hungry humans and animals every day.
- Wearable, hands free phones. Maybe permanent phone implants. Would require voice recognition at a level that one of your other commenters identified.
- Autos that drive themselves and/or have the capability to avoid collisions.
- A really nice depillatory that makes shaving unnecessary.

-

Computers smarter? Not the one I use. How about just being smart with user interaction. Like having Word track your usage patterns and automatically adjust preferences to match. This isn't smarter, just a better interface. I hate forever disabling features some programmer thought I just had to have but really just forever gets in the way until you can finally figure out how to turn it off.

Faster travel would be nice. Not necessarily planes though, and convenience must be there - no long waits.

Laptops with no external power source would be truly awesome. Then a display that can be read in the brightest sunlight. I'd settle for a battery with a 3 year lifespan though. I'd replace the computer well before then anyway.

When you talk about things like better desalination and eco-business, this is to a large degree where nanotechnology comes in. There are many ideas for these issues using nanotech.

Well -- there are really only a couple of things on this list that would be nice, most of them are creepy and wouldn't really make my life easier or better. Faster, cleaner air travel and a better battery and the nanotech improvements would be the best. Personally I'd be happy with simple advances like electronic remote control house windows so I wouldn't keep breaking my fingernails -- or an internet browser without bugs.... Maybe even a GPS with accurate map data....

My most wanted item would be to have the majority or, dare I wish, all IT people become competent in their chosen field instead of the 1 in 10 who are now.

what makes you so great?

Most of the items on this wish list seem to involve the waving of some sort of magic wand in order to create.
As has already been pointed out, 'faster travel' was already realized...but I think it was the SST, not the SS7 (super sonic transport).
Of the remaining items on the list, "Battery replacement", "100 TB thumb drive" and "Real AI" seem to all have possibilities. But all of them would require a revolution of some type to be realized.

Here's another possibility: Some way to manage large software projects (target: get them done on time and under budget). You cannot convince me that this is already done - saying it is one thing, doing it is another.

I don't think the universal translator is as far off as you think. There's a company in LA (Language Weaver) that has already developed (for the government) statistical translation that works with voice recognition for monitoring of Arabic TV and web broadcasts, and they also did a laptop based program so the English-speaking military can communicate with Iraqis at check-points. Now they have done a news bookmarking site (Kontrib.com) that allows users to input the news in any of 4 languages (English, French, Spanish and Arabic) and automatically translate it into all of those other languages. It's not perfect but it is pretty cool, you definitely get the gist of the text. So I'm hoping we'll have that universal translator sooner rather than later.

Batteries Not Included. They aren't needed! Yesterday, on foxnews.com, there was an article about researchers lighting up a 60 watt bulb from about 7 feet away and no wires (www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,279153,00.html).

As for nano-technology, the bots will need artificial intelligence in order to make adjustments in how they carry out their missions when they encounter conditions that are outside the scope of their programming. This is potentially dangerous. I remember reading an interview of a professor who worked at the University of Chicago (I think the interview was in Byte magazine)who said about AI "...if it works, it isn't artificial".

No, not a 100 TB thumbdrive. I want a 100TB PDA, wafer-thin (or foldable, or rollable) with all the knowledge/information at my fingertips, with wireless updates.
Add that to feasible commercial fusion energy (clean and safe, of course), and efficient biofuels if we cannot have Star Trek's transporters ("Beam me up, Scotty!").

As Someone else stated, " A really nice depillatory that makes shaving unnecessary". For men... I have been waiting Years for this. I really hate shaving...

The needed universal solution to deliver the Universal Translator, as well as The EchoLogical Machines, as in my invention - will take the world into the future, or be lost - only by the foolishness and greed plus jealous and envy - of less nobel people and corporations.

The ultimate Human Machine link, has been developed, but is yet a trade secret.

I would like to watch TV differently. In the same way sound became a 3D experience with the home theater, I would love to see 3-D images without the need of 3D glasses and without the current flat screen, tube or projection paradigm. That would be amazing and would affect other sciences strongly and have many application in other areas.

Leopoldo - a flat-panel 3D TV that doesn't require special eyeware was demonstrated by LG at CES 2006 (1.5 years ago). The problem for that will be content... it may take many years for producers, software, games, to leverage this.

Unfortunately, as with many cool technologies, it may be such a niche market (such as multi-channel high-end audio) that commercialization takes decades.

Careful what you ask for...you just might get it...

where are the flying cars?! and time travel?

It would be good just to get back to travel as fast as it was in the 1950's, yes 50 years ago. The original Boeing 707 could do 700 mph, sometimes exceeding the speed of sound with a good tailwind (ground speed, not air speed). They easily got from NY to LA arriving at an earlier hour than they left. Noise, high fuel costs etc have eliminated that performance. Sure, they are safe, quieter, and more efficient, but hey, air travel is about speed. If I want safe, quiet and efficient, I'll take an electric train.

JonL mentioned that wireless power story. That is pretty cool but doesn't really remove the need for a good battery replacement. That won't work much in situations where you aren't close to a power source. Plus, right now I doubt the airlines would implement that kind of technology.

what about Business Intelligence and knowledge management tools, we are still missing lots of information on our fingertips to take decision on the spot.

Here is my take on these items, from my own personal perspective:

The 100 Tb thumb drive I am drooling over... Finally, something that can hold my full data collection - on only 3 drives...

The Universal Translator wont come out into the real world until all the patents regarding speech generation and speech translation and speech recognition technology expire. The technology is already here and being used by various hardware hackers, but with the heavy handed lawsuits and the ridiculous licensing fees wanting to be charged by the companies that own all the patents, it would cost $50 to make the device, and $100,000 in licensing fees just to make one of them - so its not worth it yet.

I have the mystical hamsters right here next to me... They run my house right now...

I'll pass on the matrix technology stuff for now - dont want something like the premise behind Total Recall to happen to me - I can see the government making sure everyone is hooked into these machines and dream their lives away...

I already made a mind control user interface years ago - nobody bought it - I guess it never got to you...

Teleportation devices are being worked on right now - dont worry, its coming someday - I bet that UPS will be the first to use it too - instant transport for $1000 a package

Plenty of semi-real AI's out there - probably a few totaly real AIs out there in military establishments already - this is on the verge of a breakthrough, but is the public really ready for it?

Once again - I will pass on the nanotechs - dont want my genes changed by a programming glitch just to have someone say "oops, I forgot to put a comma here"...

The tech invisibility stuff wont move from the military to the private market anytime soon - so dont hold your breath on that one. The last thing we need is criminals starting to use that to commit crimes - watching survelience videos that look like people are being assualted by invisible ghosts and other nonsense like that.

Thanks for the great comment Kokuryu. On the tech invisibility what I really want is the ability to stop RFID, GPS and other tracking stuff like that. There actually are a few personal size RFID jammers being worked on.
Oh yeah, if your mystical hamsters have babies can you send a couple my way? ;-)

Renewable energy. Crystals, something. For crying out loud.

I would like to see:
1) A device that will actually open a shrink-wrapped package.
2) A karaoke machine that actually make the singer-wannabe sound good.

Maybe we should be working on nanotech "bees" to replace the real ones that seem to be mysteriously expiring. A nanotech swarm to cross pollenate plants may be needed very quickly.

I agree that all of these itrems are nice ideas. I also agree that we've already seen many of them come to fruition in some variation or another. The quality of the accomkplishments is somewhat in question. I grow nostalgic when I think of yesteryear, when men were men and women were women; where some dreamed of, and took great risks to accomplish things that made life better instead of getting by without risking too much. We do not have these things today because we've become bogged down by politics & greed. Whatever happened to making something available to the public for the sake of a better life for all, instead of having to make a ton of money we'll never use?

I agree that all of these items are nice ideas. I also agree that we've already seen many of them come to fruition in some variation or another. The quality of the accomkplishments is somewhat in question. I grow nostalgic when I think of yesteryear, when men were men and women were women; where some dreamed of, and took great risks to accomplish things that made life better instead of getting by without risking too much. We do not have these things today because we've become bogged down by politics & greed. Whatever happened to making something available to the public for the sake of a better life for all, instead of having to make a ton of money we'll never use? Even the volkswagen waqs intended for the masses, even though it was a scam to get money for the nazi war machine.

I know it is mundane but a real personal computer that goes with the 100TB thumb drive, links to monitors and printers, is voice activated and fits in your pocket and has the Mult-Master data replication system Startrek's ships use to know every thing known.

From a linguistic perspective a universal translator is basically impossible. Technology develops quickly, but still not fast enough to keep pace with trends in language use. Not to mention that most languages have countless variations depending on region, social status, and culture. A better innovation would be a system which allows one to learn the worlds' languages extremely quickly, or at leas download a lexicon and grammar in to one's mind Matrix-style. Due to the complexity of semantics the best translator will always be a well-educated and cultured human being, at least until AI has become advanced enough to mimic human intelligence and sensitivities to subtlety.

That's a great point Brittany. At best a translator would probably work in a very basic way with both parties speaking slowly. I hate to pull another sci-fi comparison but in Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat books they had a drug that made it possible to learn a language in a very short time. This actually isn't that far fetched as there has been some work in creating heightened "learning" states.

Some of these I wholeheartedly agree with. Others, no so much. I think there a number of technologies that would make more "most wanted" lists. Several of the items on this list seem more likely to cause problems than solve any.
Faster travel: Get to Europe twice as fast? How about for 1/4 of the cost at the current speed?
Universal Translator: Just imagine how bad our kids' language will become if they can tell us we'd understand if we just turned on the translator....
Real AI: Okay, you know how bad humans can be at making decisions. Do you REALLY want to have a computer that is many times faster than any human, and thinks it knows the better way for things to be, to get access to our increasingly interconnected systems? Now that would be a virus.
Others:
Display overlays: Forget monitors, let's just get an overlay in our vision.
Flexible monitors: They've been working this for a while, without anything reaching consumers. Let's get a full color, high resolution display that we can fold up or rollup and take with us.
Efficient, Low Cost Power: Whether it's high efficiency solar cells, orbital power stations, fusion, high efficiency fission (current plants are very inefficient), or whatever.

How about to develop a technology where one can find, judge and measure Infidelity? what about something that eliminates class differences between masses and create human equality? I believe that Technology and Knowledge is the foremost answer to the elites from those who have brain.I believe you may agree with me on this fact that does Technology brings peace and security in all the aspects? if thats for what its for then rest are all secondary meaning in life!

Hello

I can't be bothered with anything these days, but shrug. I just don't have anything to say recently.


Bye

I was expecting 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 for a long time.

Actually, 2 and 5 is part of "8. Real AI"
No.8 is the killer technology human being can imagine.

10 is interesting. Maybe virtual/electronical invisibility is more important than physical invisibility.

No. 7 and 9 are nothing about IT.

If Not Redirect Automatically click here to Redirect Manually!!!

tuscan italian furniture style
macintosh arts and crafts furniture
treasure kay furniture
sharps furniture store
den furniture
furniture leavitt
discounted garden furniture
furniture barn flagstaff az
sm d'italica furniture
everything furniture coupons
metal furniture designer
galleria furniture houston
bel furniture texas
furniture stores altamonte springs florida
patio furniture and upscale
televisionfurniture
tuscaderos mexican furniture
city dealersnew furniture modular office york
berlin ohio furniture
imperial loyalist furniture
oak furniture sacramento
domain furniture game table
freight liquidators furniture stores
unfinished pine furniture ontario
desk furniture
kingstown furniture ltd
debors furniture
raymour and flanagan furniture website
bocagrandefurniture.com
casa bella furniture
asian furniture sales mississippi
discount furniture new york
office furniture companies
mar stans unfinished furniture
value city furniture hagerstown maryland
furniture making school tech
boyd furniture john
furniture hotel sale used
hawaiian furniture store
strawbridge clothier furniture
burdines furniture outlet
timberline furniture canberra
telescope casual outdoor furniture
furniture+toronto
ww.riveredgefurniture.com
antique furniture importer from india
bels furniture
www.hickoryhillfurniture.com
furniture jacksonville liberty
progressive furniture manufacturer

rtyrtyerwerqwet
eryhryuretgwer
sryjrtwertgrteye