[Tyler]

Spotting Robots on Time Traveler Transit Map
     


It's a new year and time for futurists everywhere to start cranking
out predictions. Mike Treder,
over at IEET, pointed out what has to be one of the most intriguing
formats for futurist predictions yet. Richard Watson of nowandnext.com with the help of
Benjamin Frazer have created a massive set of predictions for the years
2010 through 2050 in the form of a trend
transit map for time travelers (PDF format). The map is a mix of
reasonable and obvious predictions along with the crazy and outlandish
stuff futurists are known for. And you know if we're talking about it
here, there are some robots to found. The map is part of a report the
creators claim is:
a trends report offering clear, concise and
non-sensationalist commentary on trends in society, business, science &
technology, government and the environment. Each issue covers trends
across twelve sectors and speculates about future risks and opportunities.

Load up the map and see if you can
spot the shopping mall robocops, self-driving cars, the point of the
robot population surpassing human population, childcare robots, aged
care robots, quantum computing, AI, and other fun things. Use your shape
shifting technology and invisibility cloak to avoid identify theft,
ocean dead zones, and lawsuits by animals. Try not to trigger the
malicious intent detectors when you visit the brain gym. And despite
organ farm grown artificial livers that enable massive binge drinking,
it appears we'll have so much healthcare rationing that medical tourism
will become popular. Towards the end of the map we also get pulse bombs,
financial meltdowns, and epidemics of mental disorders that send people
offworld to the Moon Hotel. No mention of the Zombie Apocalypse or Robot
Overlords though.
   

http://robots.net/article/2971.html