| Futurology is a very bizarre mixture of science, | | | | TOOTH REGENERATION |
| reportage, extrapolation, guesswork, conjecture, | | | | FILLINGS will become a thing of the past. Using |
| wishful thinking and PR. It does have its uses, | | | | gene therapy, lost or diseased teeth will be |
| though: it's a good hook for discussion to the | | | | regrown in the mouth from a few cells. Scientists |
| enlightenment of the morning millions. Sometimes | | | | have already successfully grown mouse teeth in a |
| it offers the opportunity to scare small children | | | | lab dish. |
| with some threat like that of a future monster or | | | | MICROCHIPS IN FOOD |
| grown ups with the next global crisis...A real art of | | | | INTELLIGENT microwave ovens will automatically |
| conjecture. | | | | read the information on a chip hidden in the |
| Take a look at a small fraction of what this art of | | | | packaging of food and cook it exactly according |
| conjecture has produced related to tomorrow's | | | | to the instructions. |
| market and consumers, including translation related | | | | 2013 - 2017 |
| services. | | | | ACTIVE MAKE-UP |
| Tomorrow's Marketplace | | | | The make-up is applied normally, but a small |
| Welcome to tomorrow's world... Here robots have | | | | control unit in a handbag sends out electronic |
| rights, planet Mars or the moon are just holiday | | | | pulses that change the colours. |
| destinations. CARS auto-drive themselves, artificial | | | | 2016 - 2020 |
| brains and human rights for robots are common... | | | | VIEWERS PLAY FILM ROLES |
| it's just a matter of time. A Technology Timeline | | | | Using computer-simulated versions of themselves, |
| compiled by researchers at BT's futurology | | | | viewers will be in the thick of the action by |
| department has come up with a list of advances | | | | introducing themselves into the movie. |
| it says will change tomorrow's world and markets | | | | EMOTION CONTROL DEVICES |
| globally. These guys should know what they're | | | | The most extreme use of emotion control |
| talking about - in the past they've correctly | | | | devices would be to put a stop to criminal activity. |
| predicted text messaging, email spam, internet | | | | It could suppress anger or stimulate feelings in |
| search engines. | | | | emotionless psychopaths by sending electronic |
| According to BT's experts, most of us will live to | | | | pulses to the brain. |
| 100 while obesity and the dentist's drill will be | | | | 2021 - 2025 |
| distant memories. But it's not all good news - an | | | | BRAIN DOWNLOADS |
| international financial collapse is on the horizon at | | | | EVERYTHING in your brain - thoughts, feelings |
| some time in the next 50 years (this sounds | | | | and memories - will be transferred to a computer, |
| really realistic!), and computers will eventually | | | | ensuring a form of digital immortality if eventually |
| outsmart humans. | | | | uploaded into a human brain later. |
| Here is their technology breakthrough schedule... | | | | E-TRANSLATION |
| 2006-2010 | | | | With computers automatically translating every |
| EMOTIONALLY RESPONSIVE TOYS | | | | language there will be less need for humans to |
| RESPONDING to the sound of its owner's voice, | | | | learn more than one. One universal language - |
| these toys will react with a variety of emotions. | | | | probably English - will dominate. Why not Chinese? |
| Sony's Aibo dog robot can already simulate anger | | | | Globalization isn't a linear, thoroughly universal |
| and fear, surprise, dislike, sadness and joy. | | | | process, but rather, a description of various |
| ELECTRONIC MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS | | | | interdependent global systems, where language |
| The doctor will enter his diagnosis into a handheld | | | | use depends upon a given situation, and any given |
| computer, prescribe treatment and send | | | | aspect of a permeated culture may be adapted |
| instructions directly to a pharmacist via a text | | | | at varying degrees by another. In short, our |
| message. | | | | tendency to see one language and/or culture killing |
| VIDEO TILES | | | | another is oversimplified. |
| These will provide news or entertainment in the | | | | Dear fellow translators, we have about 15 years |
| bath or shower. They can even change a scene | | | | before we disappear as a professional breed! |
| to let you bathe under an African sunset, for | | | | What do you think? |
| example | | | | Are the Internet and globalization going to turn all |
| 2008 - 2012 | | | | of humanity into a mono-cultural population, |
| MEDICINE DELIVERED VIA FRUIT | | | | speaking one and the same language, reading the |
| SCIENTISTS will be able to produce genetically | | | | same books, following the same pop and sports |
| modified fruit that carry medicines and extra | | | | icons? |
| vitamins. For example apples could contain the | | | | Or, do you think that the increase of user control |
| polio vaccine. | | | | over the content of the Internet in recent years, |
| 2011 - 2015 | | | | accompanied by more widespread Internet |
| SELF-DRIVING CAR | | | | access to the developing world, will stimulate a |
| CARS will steer themselves, using enhanced | | | | new world of different cultures and viewpoints, |
| satellite navigation and sensors to stop them | | | | and our world will be divided along more virtual |
| getting too close to the car in front. Mercedes has | | | | lines than geopolitical or political borders? |
| already carried out tests on a closed track. | | | | |