[Fergal]

The first moon landing was almost fifty years ago, on Jul 20 1969. Many people thought that between then and now we would have flying cars, personal robots and jetpacks to take us from place to place. Technology has not advanced to that level yet.

What do you think the next ten years holds in terms of technology development?

[bestwriter]

My only wish is that they think of some way to dispose of garbage which is the biggest issue we are facing the world over - more from discarded gadgets. .

[Fergal]

My only wish is that they think of some way to dispose of garbage

Good point bestwriter, we've had lots of recent controversy about the advantages and disadvantages of incineration, here in Ireland. The main aim should probably be to reduce the amount of waste that is created in the first place.

[peachpurple]

I wish that technology could reduce bad air pollution and eliminate plastic bags. Too bad gadgets bringing trash into the world

[bestwriter]

My only wish is that they think of some way to dispose of garbage

Good point bestwriter, we've had lots of recent controversy about the advantages and disadvantages of incineration, here in Ireland. The main aim should probably be to reduce the amount of waste that is created in the first place.

I have written a post elsewhere about disposal of sanitary napkins a carrier of germs. They are not biodegradable and garbage handlers are put to great inconvenience as they have to segregate them from other garbage. Here in India it is a hot topic and there are suggestions to get back to reusable pads

You are right. We must reduce garbage in every area possible.

[cmoneyspinner]

* * I read an article that said that by 2021, technology will help the paralyzed be able to walk. There were lots of things they predicted. But the one about helping paralyzed I remember the most.

[DudeThatsErin]

There is going to be so much change in technology it will be ridiculous. I can't wait to see what it brings.

[Fergal]

by 2021, technology will help the paralyzed be able to walk

Sounds great, anything that helps people with disabilities to improve the quality of their lives would be most welcome.

There is going to be so much change in technology it will be ridiculous

Do you have any ideas or even hopes as to what that change will bring?

[thisnthat]

The ideas mentioned so far sound good. I love that they are working on ways to help people walk again. How great is that?

My contribution might be seen as more of a negative. I think many more processes will be automated. In one sense, that's a good thing. In another sense, it means people will lose jobs. Specifically, automated processes for self-service like ordering in restaurants, self-checkout, and the like.

By the way, I'd love a jet-pack.

[Fergal]

By the way, I'd love a jet-pack.

Wouldn't it be great, it would certainly be a cool way of avoiding the traffic when going to work

many more processes will be automated. In one sense, that's a good thing. In another sense, it means people will lose jobs

That is a significant concern and it is difficult to foresee who it will work in reality. This concern lead Bill Gates to make the seemingly bizarre suggestion that robots should pay tax, more at http://fortune.com/2017/02/22/bill-gate ... robot-tax/

[DudeThatsErin]

There is going to be so much change in technology it will be ridiculous

Do you have any ideas or even hopes as to what that change will bring?

I hope that it brings a Google phone with a lot of the same features of the S8+... like with waterproofing, SD Card slot, and a bigger screen with smaller bezzels. I guess I'm looking more for the LG G6 instead of the S8+

[chikitta]

Garbage and plastics is a major problem in my country if there was a way they would come up with to be able to dispose off that garbage and do recycling I think that would eliminate the problem of garbage jeeps all over the streets.

[blair]

I am waiting for the self driving cars. We know that these are already in the works I just have no idea if someone like me who does not know how to drive will be able to use them. That has been my childhood fantasy to be honest and I am glad that this wish is not a remote possibility anymore.

[sprite1950]

I am waiting for the self driving cars. We know that these are already in the works I just have no idea if someone like me who does not know how to drive will be able to use them. That has been my childhood fantasy to be honest and I am glad that this wish is not a remote possibility anymore.

This would be my dream too.

I hope that new technology helps in the treatment/cure of cancer. Radiotherapy has already changed over the years with less side effects. Having had a family member go through the gruelling treatment it would be good to see some improvement.

http://medicalfuturist.com/technologies ... ncer-care/

I don't expect people to wade through this article but it shows how medical technology is progressing.

[thisnthat]

Wouldn't it be great, it would certainly be a cool way of avoiding the traffic when going to work

Yes, and so much fun.

That is a significant concern and it is difficult to foresee who it will work in reality. This concern lead Bill Gates to make the seemingly bizarre suggestion that robots should pay tax, more at http://fortune.com/2017/02/22/bill-gate ... robot-tax/

Wow, I don't know if that's brilliant or insane.

I'll pass on the self-driving cars, at least for the foreseeable future. I'll wait until all the bugs are worked out before even considering it. It does *sound* cool though.

Yes, Sprite, I have to agree with putting my hopes toward medical breakthroughs. I hate seeing anyone suffer.

[marsgirl]

I hope upcoming technology should not bring any disaster and make the human more lazy. It has both pros and cons.

[Amans1234]

I want the world to be far away from racism and violence. I want the world to be beautiful.

[Fergal]

I hope that new technology helps in the treatment/cure of cancer. Radiotherapy has already changed over the years with less side effects. Having had a family member go through the gruelling treatment it would be good to see some improvement

It definitely would be great to see improvements in this area. Thankfully there have been significant improvements in medicine and healthcare in recent years and hopefully this will continue into the future. Perhaps we will see improved disease prevention and maybe earlier detection of disease via wearables, which would make treatment more effective and less severe.

I want the world to be far away from racism and violence. I want the world to be beautiful.

Those are great aspirations, how do you think technology can help with that?

I hope upcoming technology should not bring any disaster and make the human more lazy. It has both pros and cons.

Very true, there are dangers associated with advancements in AI technology, e.g. a hacker could potentially use it to aid hacking into a nuclear power station. Not too sure about the lazy bit, paradoxically it seems the more advanced our technology becomes the harder we have to work. Although saying that, I do see your point, people are spending more time interacting with technology and looking at screens than they do outside exercising.

[Happyland]

I like the idea of new technology. Driverless cars is the current things but believe it or not tremendous progress has been made for flying cars, personal robots and jetpacks. For flying cars Aeromobil is one that comes to mind. I am sure there are others. Drones are delivering all kinds of things these days but soon drones will be refitted as jetpacks to carry you and I. Cost and safety are probably two issues holding all three of those inventions back from mass production. Safety will help prevent catastrophic accidents and how do we prevent hackers and others from gaining control of them? Even personal rides to space is coming to a launch pad near you (courtesy of Elon Musk and others) but you must be brave. Robots are plentiful and even kids in middle school are making robots and are contestants in competitions. The major tech companies have started with some products in the home such as amazon echo, Microsoft Google home, Apple home pod which will all most definitely morph into all-out personal robots (hopefully they will change the names). I can envision that happening. About 2 weeks ago there was a successful test of Hyperloop One through contactless magnetic levation through in a vacuum tube with virtually no air resistance (another idea by Mr. Musk) Future speeds will be up to 700mph.

Besides space travel, the next big thing is artificial intelligence (AI). AI will lead the way and bring forth the next generation of billionaires.

[Fergal]

You make great points Happyland and I do agree with what you say about the future of technology.

tremendous progress has been made for flying cars, personal robots and jetpacks

From what I've read online that does seem to be true. My original point was that many people would have expected that we would have those things by now, given how long it is since man first went to the moon. However, hopefully those products will be available and within our reach soon