As I sit in my cube, nary a project to complete nor begin, I wonder: what's the next big thing? I don't have the greatest of imaginations in terms of invention, so I'm stumped. I don't read about breakthroughs a lot; I am always impressed with the very intelligent people on this board, and I appeal to you now. What got me started on this was buying DVD's: "Will I have to replace my DVDs with something else sooner than I'd want?" I thought. Over the last one hundred years, mankind has gone from not having an automated way of travel to visiting the moon; from no electricity to nuclear power; from the abacus to the handheld computer. From silent pictures to the DVD, radio to satellite/high-definition television... some advances good. On the other hand, AIDS and Ebola, for instance, are more widely known and feared... as are nuclear bombs, chemical weapons, and Michael Jackson. So what's next? Is "IT" the next fad/breakthrough? What do you science types think is the next big science thing? What's next in travel? Media/broadcast? Have at it.
I don't know why, but this thread is just <b>SCREAMING</b> for a Simpsons quote... Mood pants would be pretty cool...
an electro-mechanical engine that produces more fuel than it burns. I just need to find a good electrical engineer to share my ideas with.
"I used to be with it, but they changed what it was, and now what's it seems weird and scary..." - Abe Simpson
Well, I don't really think the Ginger creation by Kamen is the next big thing. What I would like to see in the near future is a hydrogen burning engine for a car. The fuel is nearly unending (the hydrogen can be removed from normal seawater), and the exhaust is either water or just oxygen, I can't remember. Certainly it would reduce overall pollution output, and would eliminate most of the US's dependency on oil purchased from 3rd world countries.
Virtual Insanity. No wait, that was the next big thing in 1997. I think the next big thing will be the use of broadband and satellite to increase the options available to cable consumers. It can't come soon enough for me-- Time Warner Austin is the biggest bunch of gougers out there.
I read some amazing stuff on Quantum Computing a few years back in Pop Sci and Scientific American. Supposedly use atoms in place of transistors to do the computing - extremely fast. Some were worried that they would be so powerful they could crack all our current encryption technology. http://www.sciam.com/1998/0698issue/0698gershenfeld.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/269473.asp http://www.qubyte.com/ Pick up PopSci/Scientific American/MIT Technology Review for some cool $hit that is coming.
How 'bout a STEREO VEST with speakers in the top pockets (or back or BOTH) so you could jam to music on your bike and not worry about headphones drowing out the dangerous cars around you. (Maybe even squeeze a couple of sub-woofers on the shoulder blades or something?) That would be really cool!
A non nagging wife who continues to be at your beckon call when ever you need her.. Wake up DaDakota....wake up...... Oh, what...(groggily clears his eyes).....huh? Next big thing? World Wide Broadband baby !!! DaDakota
Here are my thoughts.... Entertainment - has to be virtual reality/experience. Instead of watching a DVD, you will put on a pair of glasses and a suit, or maybe just plug your mind into something that makes you be a part of the experience - maybe as an observer or even casting you as the hero etc. It could take forms of movies/stories, or even just like an amusement park ride. Transportation - ever stopped to think about how many of our resources are consumed by transportation? Imagin how cool it would be if all trasnport was by air and you could get rid of most of the roads. The next quantum leap in transportation will be moving it from ground to air. Broadband is already here - it will just be proliferation and enhancement. TVs and PCs will merge into one, and you will be able to customize your viewing. Of course, healthcare is the most pressing concern. I hope that the biggest step changes in our lives are in improving quality of life. Thats all I can think of at the moment
I agree with BK a bit. I still think wireless broadband via satellite is gonna be a mutha - everything from TV on the road to satellite radio to wireless high speed web - and affordable. Hey, DaDakota, I got you covered: <img src="http://www.spookyplanet.com/SPNew/novelties/images/judy_blow-up_doll_kb05-l.jpg"> It's the Judy Blow Up Doll. No nagging. Just lots of hot air. Perfect.
