Back in the 1960’s people who predicted what the world would be like today got most of it wrong. They mainly focused on transportation improvements like flying cars or other stuff that you might have seen on “The Jetsons”. They totally missed the electronics revolution and our total dependence on electronics and information databases. “Star Trek” was much closer to that reality, but that series was set centuries in the future.<\/p>\n
Over the last 50 years, many things in the world did not change as much as people thought they would, and other things changed beyond anyone’s expectations. For example, the cars we drive have not changed that much since the 60’s. However, personal computing devices, the Internet, Wi-Fi , and ilk were not even envisioned in the 60’s.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the electronics revolution, knowledge is now doubling every year or two. Barring a major world war and world economic collapse, or a world-wide destruction of electronics by a coronal mass ejection from the sun, I think technology developed by 2025 will even be more surprising than all the advancements in technology of the prior 50 years. I do have to admit that I am rather doubtful that man will avoid the pitfalls that I have mentioned, but I am giving humankind the benefit of the doubt in this article when it comes to continuing technical advancements.<\/p>\n
Some technology that will become common in 2025 are now under development and some things probably have not even been thought of yet. In this article, I will mention just a few things that I know are under development that will greatly change the way of life on earth by 2025.<\/p>\n
Advances in computer devices and data-basing of information on the cloud and the vast improvements in data transmission by 2025 will make the devices that we now use to traverse the Internet highway look like the horse and buggy days of the information highway. Satellite or other communications technology will bring the Internet and knowledge databases to the whole world.<\/p>\n
I think by 2025 almost all information in the world will be available on the Cloud for those that are allowed access. I believe a thousand times more data will be stored in less physical space then is possible today. Low cost unlimited bandwidth with gigabit transmission rates are likely to become reality in all world cities by 2025. Most everything will be streamed instead of downloaded to your computer. In fact, the only PC like device you may have in 2025 is a voice or touch controlled device that has a cloud based browser.<\/p>\n
By 2025, the biggest productivity advance since the Industrial Revolution will be underway as the result of robotics and 3D printing. You might become aware of this “3D printing” term, because your going to hear a lot about it in the near future. 3D printing will change the way that most everything in the world is manufactured.<\/p>\n
The basics of 3D printing is that engineers design computer programs that robots follow and the robots apply (spray) thin layers of\u00a0liquified material (plastic, metal, fiber, etc.) that are rapidly hardened by cooling or drying. These layers are rapidly built up into 3 dimensional solid objects that were programmed by the engineer.<\/p>\n
The beautiful thing about 3D printers is that once the program design is created for the 3D printer, replications can be created forever on that or any other 3D printer with similar capability. This will eliminate most manual labor in the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n
These 3D printers will not be limited to building trinkets, they will be able to build very precise electronic chips, machine parts, tools, clothes, and even whole components like appliances, engines, car bodies and even modular homes (bye-bye labor intensive China). 3D printing will impact the 2020’s more than any other technology that I can think of.<\/p>\n
Some already have plans to produce a biological 3D printer that will make new organs and other body parts for human bodies cultured from your own skin stem cells. The stem cells will be spayed on scaffolds of the right organ design.<\/p>\n
You might think this is all science fiction but there are complex 3D printers in existence that are already making certain things. This new technology is going to take off and grow like wildfire as patents expire, 3D designs are created, and as this technology advances. All this means many more jobs for engineering programmers and far fewer jobs for skilled and unskilled blue-collar factory workers. It will become so easy to create low-cost manufactured products that I think the standard work week will have to be changed to 3 or 4 days a week by 2025.<\/p>\n
Robots will also do many other manual labor service jobs from hamburgers at fast food joints, to cutting your grass and cleaning your home.<\/p>\n
In 2025, when you go to a fast food place, you will just tap in or speak in the order by using your smart phone or by using the device at the restaurant and then pick up what you ordered. The money will automatically be deducted from the account that you designate and all this will be remembered so if you want to duplicate an order next week you can accomplish it by one voice command.<\/p>\n
There obviously will be major advances in the medical field by 2025. Doctors will have ways to determine what diseases you are likely to get before you get them and they will offer personal wellness training and gene therapy to help keep you healthy. They may even be able to slow the worst effects of aging if not actually extend life spans.<\/p>\n
Solar electric will be very big by 2025. Solar electricity is already cost-effective in certain parts of the country and the cost of solar systems are now being incorporated into and financed within the mortgage loans. As electric prices rise and solar continues to fall in price (thanks to advances in both production and solar efficiencies) most new homes will be solar-powered by 2025. Many older homes will be retrofitted when the roof needs replacement (roof shingles or tiles will be available that produce electricity at reasonable cost).<\/p>\n