What Technology will the 21st century be known for?
- Thread starter Brent
- Start date
nanotechnology, artificial-intelligence, pervasive mass-surveillance technology
Twitter. 
I think two things:
1) It probably won't be known for any technology we've already developed
2) Whatever it is known for will be entirely unpredictable
Some of the most important technological advances of the 20th century would have been entirely unpredictable in 1910. Could anyone then have accurately predicated computers and their effect on communication and society? And as things continue to change faster, they become even more unpredictable over the same time scales. It's still fun to talk about of course, but the world was vastly different in 2000 then it was in 1900. Predicting what it will be like in 2100? Even harder!
1) It probably won't be known for any technology we've already developed
2) Whatever it is known for will be entirely unpredictable
Some of the most important technological advances of the 20th century would have been entirely unpredictable in 1910. Could anyone then have accurately predicated computers and their effect on communication and society? And as things continue to change faster, they become even more unpredictable over the same time scales. It's still fun to talk about of course, but the world was vastly different in 2000 then it was in 1900. Predicting what it will be like in 2100? Even harder!
I tend to agree... we think of cars as very much a 20th century invention, after all, but they first appeared at the end of the 19th century. The internet has actually followed a vaguely similar change in the pattern of use.
Re: What Technology
The actual technology will be DNA-gene-sequencing-based when looked back upon in 100 years.
A secondary major thing will be entertainment delivered in some sort of high resolution color holographic 3D projection into a room that can be seen in-the-round similar to the Princess Leia recording done in the 1977 Star Wars movie.
Imagine a boxing match delivered into your living room like this but scaled down to 2:1 size real life. No NOT like a holodeck, but just the characters against a limbo (black) non-projected background.
Imagine being able to play a videogame with this type of technology. A Real immersive interactive experience.
are the fields I agree with.
The actual technology will be DNA-gene-sequencing-based when looked back upon in 100 years.
A secondary major thing will be entertainment delivered in some sort of high resolution color holographic 3D projection into a room that can be seen in-the-round similar to the Princess Leia recording done in the 1977 Star Wars movie.
Imagine a boxing match delivered into your living room like this but scaled down to 2:1 size real life. No NOT like a holodeck, but just the characters against a limbo (black) non-projected background.
Imagine being able to play a videogame with this type of technology. A Real immersive interactive experience.
Killer robots, if there are survivors of course. Although I'm sure the robots will think rather highly of themselves.
<sarcastic answer>
Hang on; Let me check my touch-screen pocket computer that wireless connects to the internet...
</sarcastic answer>
but being serious:
In many ways I see the end of the 21st century as being the an instantiation of Asimov quote: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Weather control: everything from the end of drought to "it never snows on the sidewalk."
Forget Voice over IP; you'll have "thought over IP"
You want the new model flying car/shuttlecraft? Download it to your mind and your homes nano-tech factory will manufacture overnight.
speaking of your mind; it's now augmented by millions of nano-robots and remote information storage and retrieval. Every thought or memory, or sensation, everything you've ever seen and experienced is stored on the network; you can relive any moment of you're life at any time; simply by wishing to.
Or Arthur C. Clarke
The Fleshlight.
