World-Renowned 'Futurist' Looks 25 Years Ahead

Iria · Oct 30, 2006, 02:47 AM

Source: ABC News
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Oct. 27, 2006 — In the year 2031, Americans could be living in a completely different way than they are now, according to futurist and trend forecaster Paul Saffo.

Thinking about the future is "what defines us as a species," Saffo, a Stanford University professor of mechanical engineering, told "Good Morning America Weekend Edition" anchor Bill Weir. "It seems we're more interested in what lies ahead than what's going on today."

BWX · Oct 30, 2006, 03:17 AM

Quote:

But we will really have some capabilities that will cause people to look back at today and say, 'I can't believe they used to do things like that in the hospital,'" he continued.

I say that now... Hospitals are the biggest disease and germ infested places you can go to. You'd be safer sleeping in the city dump, or sewer- There's a lot less MDR TB in the sewer than your local hospital. :-/

TheBlackCat · Oct 30, 2006, 04:22 AM

Wow, what insight. "Science is going to benefit from computers". "Electronics are going to become smaller and less noticeable". "Medicine is going to advance". "Renting cars will be more efficient". Besides the jet packs, which have been a fantasy for at least half a century, everything he has said is common sense.

Ooh, look, I can predict the future too: I predict in 30 years computers will get faster, we will work out the genomes of more organisms, new diseases will emerge along with new treatments for them, we will continue developing new cancer treatments, more species will go extinct, evidence for cold fusion, homeopathy, esp, ghosts, and the Moller Skycar will still be "right around the corner", wireless internet will be everywhere, and people will be just as miserable, selfish, and ignorant as they have been for recorded history. Can I be on TV too?

Oct 30, 2006, 02:47 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	World-Renowned 'Futurist' Looks 25 Years Ahead Source: ABC News ___________ Oct. 27, 2006 — In the year 2031, Americans could be living in a completely different way than they are now, according to futurist and trend forecaster Paul Saffo. Thinking about the future is "what defines us as a species," Saffo, a Stanford University professor of mechanical engineering, told "Good Morning America Weekend Edition" anchor Bill Weir. "It seems we're more interested in what lies ahead than what's going on today."

Oct 30, 2006, 04:22 AM	#3
TheBlackCat DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Searching for the Candle in the Dark Posts: 567 Rep Power: 0	Wow, what insight. "Science is going to benefit from computers". "Electronics are going to become smaller and less noticeable". "Medicine is going to advance". "Renting cars will be more efficient". Besides the jet packs, which have been a fantasy for at least half a century, everything he has said is common sense. Ooh, look, I can predict the future too: I predict in 30 years computers will get faster, we will work out the genomes of more organisms, new diseases will emerge along with new treatments for them, we will continue developing new cancer treatments, more species will go extinct, evidence for cold fusion, homeopathy, esp, ghosts, and the Moller Skycar will still be "right around the corner", wireless internet will be everywhere, and people will be just as miserable, selfish, and ignorant as they have been for recorded history. Can I be on TV too? __________________ [color=#000000]There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.[/color] -H. L. Mencken Last edited by TheBlackCat; Oct 30, 2006 at 04:39 AM.