AI far superior to human intelligence? Teleportation? Brain downloads? Smart clothing? Time travel? Genetic adaptations combined with breakthroughs in nanotechnology that could allow humans to live indefinitely? Scientists and futurists back in the early 2000s were making forecasts about these possibilities and many more. This timeline of predicted inventions, adaptations, developments and discoveries offers a briefing that includes major statements made in 2000 through 2006 by futurists, technologists, scientists and other experts about what they expected to be (at that time) the highly likely changes to come over the following 100 years-plus. Click on one or more links below and judge how accurate these old turn-of-millennium predictions look today.
2010-2014
Ubiquitous RFID tied to GPS. Super supercomputers. Intelligent materials.
2015
Genetic profiling. Human cloning. Autopilot vehicles. Adaptable materials.
2016-2025
VR immersion. Ubiquitous robots. Emotion-control devices. Paint-on power.
2026-2045
Biostasis in space. Space elevator. Moon base. A “singularity” due to accelerating change.
2046-2150
Mars colony. Time travel. Brain downloading.
Humans assimilated into the internet.
Forward 150 Resources
Links to more information about these topics.
The initial years in the development of early forms of networked communication – the telegraph, radio, the telephone, television, and the internet – can teach us a great deal about reliable patterns and help us envision where we could go next. Each section includes information about the inventors of each device and predictions foretelling how each invention might change the world. These brief descriptions of the development of earlier technologies were written in 2006; they represent humans’ knowledge of these networks in the earliest years of this millennium.
1830s-1860s – Telegraph
The ability to send electric signals along wires was an epic breakthrough.
1890s-1930s – Radio
The first “electronic hearth,” it was the also the first extensive, real-time mass medium.
1870s-1940s – Telephone
The first instantaneous, long-distance personal communications.
1920s-1960s – Television
The transmission of images and sound opened up new worlds of communication.
1960s-1990s – Internet
Some say it will lead to the development of a “global mind” built of all human knowledge.
Back 150 Resources
Links to more information about these topics.