Reading the Crystal Ball...

I'll warn you now that this is a long blog, mostly because I'm fascinated with the subject matter. I'd love to know your thoughts, your predictions, and yes, your worries about the topic, too.

Do you wonder what the future will bring?
Do you ever angst over what your kids and grandkids will have to deal with, once we're done demolishing this planet? Sure, we won't be around to suffer the consequences, but most of us will leave behind family.
Or do you trust that along the way, we'll figure out the problems and resolve issues?

I'm continuing my Ultimate Fighter series, but the next one - MY MAN, MICHAEL, not out until Feb 09 - will take my hero into the future. So far, I'm having a lot of fun depicting my idea of what the future will bring. But that doesn't mean I'm skipping my research, and wow, is it incredible stuff!

Okay, so I'm already behind the times, because I have no idea how any of our modern-day gadgets work. I have no idea how the internet picks up and transfers data... everywhere!
I don't really understand my microwave or my DVR player, or video camera, or for that matter, the telephone! I use those things, but with no knowledge of how or why they work.

You can imagine how boggled I am by what the future will give us.

Did you know that already, Australian scientists claim to have "beamed up" a radio signal, ala Captain Kirk? Yup, it's true. They say they imbedded a radio signal into a laser beam, disintegrated the beam, and then teleported it, reassembled, from one part of their lab to another. The laser beam was destroyed in the teleportation process, but the radio signal survived.
First radio signals, then bodies.
It'll happen, count on it.

Did you know that there are kitchen units, all interconnected, voice activated and linked to the internet, that will prepare an entire meal with just a command? Imagine. You walk into your kitchen, say, "Beef roast, medium well. Broiled potatoes. Steamed broccoli."
The kitchen does the rest.
Conveyor belts carry the designated food to the appropriate cooking vessel, prepare it as requested, and announce its readiness.

All you have to do is serve!

Water is purified by UV light.
Dishwashers work without soap. (Washers & dryers too!)

And if you start to run out of a particular food, no worries. Micro chips imbedded in the appliances keep a running inventory. When you start to get low, the appliance will connect to the internet and order more from a local source.

Eventually, kitchens will be set up with outside access from your home, so whoever, or whatever, deliveries the groceries can store them directly inside without bothering you.

Cars will not only run on solar power, they'll alert us to oncoming traffic, and if necessary, commandeer the steering to avoid collisions.

They'll take up less space, and go much faster.
(I think they'll look pretty cool, too.)

New age vending machines are already underway. When you push a button to get your snack, your fingerprint is read and the appropriate amount is automatically deducted from your account.

Televisions are hidden within mirrors. You push a few buttons to reveal the set and another button turns on invisible loud speakers.
I actually saw this one at a Homerama exhibit.

Think fingerprinting will last forever? Nah.
Once, while researching police proceedures, I learned that junkies - who hold hot "pipes" filled with burning narcotics, can lose their fingerprints because they're burned off so often. The junkies, being under the influence, don't even feel the damage being done to their fingers.

So how will we overcome this problem? RFID - or Radio Frequency Identification.
Fascinating and somewhat scary stuff.
Check it out here: http://www.illuminati-news.com/RFID.htm
The gist is that some people feel we'll all eventually be "tagged" and logged into a super computer, making it easiest for big government - or maybe the computer - to control us. They'd know where we were, what we did, who we were with - pretty much everything.
Sound ridiculous?

Now that I'm *almost* 50, I have to say... anything is possible. I've seen a lot of stuff in my lifetime. I remember sci-fi movies that, at the time, seemed so far-fetched.
But now? Most of it has come to pass.

So tell me, what do you foresee in our futures?

What would you LIKE to see in our futures?
I think I've said this before, but you know, there are some nights when I'd really enjoy the George Jetson conveyor belt. He just stands on there and it goes about showering him, drying him, dressing him, bushing his teeth, and plopping him into bed. LOL.

I could get into that!
Now what about you? Who knows, maybe you'll come up with a futuristic idea that'll end up in my book!

Please note: I'm leaving tonight for a new UFC event (Ultimate fighting) and won't be home until Monday. I'm taking my laptop, but depending on my free time, I might not be able to reply as often. But I'll try! I just didn't want anyone to feel ignored if it takes me a little while to post. Be assured, I'll be reading each and every post! Thank you!

Hugs to all,