Bubble cities under the sea / Space travel
Technology brings about significant changes, making life virtually unrecognizable from one century to the next. In 1916 the world literacy rate was 23%, only one third of households had telephones in the United Kingdom and Ford Model T automobiles were popular in the US. Today, scientists are predicting how life will be in the year 2116 in terms of technology, societal norms, travel and even general household tasks. Eight of the predictions that have recently been made by experts are as follows:
1) Instead of people travelling in the traditional sense, large drones will lift entire homes and buildings, bringing occupants to their desired locations for vacations.
2) Humans will live in bubble cities 25 stories under the sea. They will look like globular pods suspended from the surface of oceans, containing houses, stores, schools and even vegetation.
3) Earth will be categorized as a Type 1 Civilization. It will therefore have the capability of harnessing and storing the energy of a nearby star.
4) 12% of the world’s bird species will either be extinct or endangered.
Colonies on Mars
5) Space travel to colonies on Mars and the moon will be popular for vacationing or simply visiting family and friends.
6) Those born in 2010 could live until the year 2160.
7) The average life expectancy in the developed world will be 100.
8) 3-D technology will enable humans to download meals by simply printing menus from the Internet and then eating them.
It’s difficult to envision a time when people will be living underwater and have a life expectancy that is twice the length it is today. The idea of being able to download dinner from a restaurant’s website also seems implausible. However, like the other two, it will presumably make everyday living easier for many. The downside is that with such advancements, there are inevitably consequences. The “cons” include the extinction of certain species of animals and the development of new illnesses amongst humans. Clearly, there is no way to know for sure until the time comes. However, according to the International Time Capsule Society, there are currently between 10 000 to 15 000 capsules scheduled to be opened in the coming century. Therefore, those who will open them will be able to compare how life is now versus how it will be then. In doing so, they will find out if the extent of such progress and advancements ended up having a positive impact on society, or a negative one.
