How incredible could your life be in 10 years’ time?
How incredible could your life be in 10 years’ time?
Just think – 10 years ago, no one had Facebook, phones were as sexy as microwave ovens, and the Kardashians hadn’t even mastered the selfie yet. The point is, a lot can happen in a decade. So if today’s inventions leave you amazed, just imagine what the next 10 years could bring.
Will my car drive for me?
Driverless cars feel too Minority Report for right now, but consider this: Google’s much-hyped autonomous car has covered more than 1.1 million km in “live” road testing without so much as a scratch. And your current ride is already part robot; many new models already park for the driver or have computerised safety systems that are programmed to activate just in case you forget road bends. But Volkswagen’s Kurt McGuiness says while technology is a step towards self-thinking Beetles, the jury’s out on driver-free cars. “Safety systems will develop over time, but the need for drivers will still exist in 2025. The legal responsibility will be with the driver to have control over her car.” Bummer.
How will technology affect my beauty routine?
Three words: 3D makeup printers. Swedish brand FOREO – the makers of the Luna facial brush – already debuted a “digital makeup artist” that scans your features then uses triple layer 3D printing to create any makeup look you want.
Will I be eating insects for lunch?
You may have to get your head around stir-fried insects as a lunch option. After all, 80 percent of the global population already indulge in them regularly. “With a growing world population, it’s not going to be possible to produce enough animal protein through fishing or farming to feed everyone,” says Dr Alan Yen, a biologist from LaTrobe University. “Many insects provide the required protein with a much smaller ecological footprint.”
Will contraception be easier?
The invention of the pill basically changed history, and the woman of 2025 looks like she’s going to have even more control over her body than we do now. Bill Gates has put his wallet behind a US biotech company hoping to pioneer an implantable wireless contraceptive device that women can turn on and off without having to go to a doctor. Even more sci-fi is the theoretical “career pill” that’s in the early stages of research in the US. The idea behind it is that women can delay ovulation in their twenties so they can resume it later in life when they’re ready to start a family. “The big question would be whether the eggs, which have been preserved, would be of sufficient quality to be fertile,” admits Dr Roger Gosden, the man who came up with this biological pause button.
What will technology do to our bodies?
One thing that could happen is that getting fit would be a lot less confusing. Rather than feel your way through a minefield of exercise fads, you’ll be able see a “personal geneticist” who will examine your DNA and give you an analysis of what you really should be doing to enhance your fitness.
How will the future me take holidays?
First, your body will be your passport (so you can never leave it at home). Eye and facial scanners will identify you at security. Even your unique body odour could be used as ID. Next, it will only take five hours to get to New York (direct!), thanks to a new breed of supersonic jets.
