| Imagine this for a second. The year is 2020 and you | | | | computers. Those qualities represent the cars of 2020 |
| walk into an office, similar yet different to the one you | | | | as well. Mitchell Joachim, co-founder and partner of |
| may be in right now. Structurally, the features are | | | | Terreform 1, the New York based ecological non-profit |
| similar to your 2009 office, there's a desk, a chair and | | | | design collaborative, designed a car for urban societies |
| a window with a view. Yet, there are noticeable | | | | conceptualising this very thought. Joachim designed the |
| differences. Gone is your clunky PC. The telephone is | | | | City Car and Stackable Car as transports strictly for |
| also nowhere to be seen. Books? Nope. | | | | the city. |
| Newspapers? Magazines? Nope. Nope. Instead, using | | | | "One concept of the car was soft body, where it |
| a wearable device on your finger, you conjure up a | | | | could adhere to gentle congestion. You wouldn't move |
| hologram of a blank screen above your desk. | | | | in a shiny, precious metal box. It'd be more human like, |
| "Computer on," you state. Appearing before you is a | | | | you'd move in flocks or herds where it's okay to scuff |
| virtual computer. You use voice demand technology to | | | | against neighbour. We also thought of stackable cars |
| bring up documents, email your friends, write reports | | | | that stand up and interlock in oddly directional ways. |
| and check stocks on the internet. Then you decide to | | | | There's also a Hondagreat social aspect to the City |
| read a copy of the January 2020 issue of Exec Digital | | | | Car. It doesn't tell you things like miles per hour. You |
| and relax. Welcome to the not so distant future. | | | | don't need to know that in the city," says Joachim. |
| WEARABLE COMPUTER | | | | Designer Stefan Mathys led a team of visionaries to |
| The above scenario is an idealistic view of the future | | | | design a similar type car. The City Transport Cell, is a |
| created from the mind of a 23-year old science-fiction | | | | battery driven, zero emission car, which can easily |
| fan (yours truly). While predicting future technology is | | | | navigate an urban society. It was built specifically for |
| never an exact science, I went to the minds of people | | | | the year 2020 and comes with removable parts. It |
| who might have an idea of what technology might look | | | | should be noted, most of these cars are the size of go |
| like in 10 years. | | | | carts. |
| While my potential technology may be a bit idyllic, it is | | | | ROBOTICS |
| not far off from MIT's Wear Ur World. The WUW is a | | | | In every futuristic vision, there are always robots |
| perfect example of potential future technology, very | | | | present. From the Jetsons to Terminator, robots have |
| much inspiring my own tale. Developed by the MIT | | | | always been a part of our foreseen future. Therefore, |
| Media Lab and simply known as 'Sixth Sense', the | | | | no technology in 2020 article would be complete |
| wearer uses a small projector, a webcam and a | | | | without a mention of robotics. A few years back, the |
| mobile phone, ultimately allowing you to turn any flat | | | | Japanese Ministry of Trade and Industry (METI) set |
| surface into a computer. | | | | out a plan to introduce intelligent robots by the year |
| Using hand gestures, it can do anything from tell the | | | | 2015. |
| time to make a phone call. (For example, drawing a | | | | The Japanese Robot Association came out with a |
| circle will prompt the WUW to show a clock). To get | | | | report indicating robots of all kinds would be present in |
| an idea of WUW, just imagine Tom Cruise using the | | | | the home and office by the year 2020. The Japanese, |
| Standard User Interface in Minority Report. Of course, | | | | the leader in robotic technology, have predicted robots |
| WUW is a bit more high-tech than Cruise's SUI. | | | | will be used to assist humans with everyday tasks and |
| Smaller, faster and much more efficient is very much | | | | keep them company. They'll also be used for labor |
| the ideal of tomorrow's computers, as is mobility. A | | | | purposes. By 2020, robots may even be set into outer |
| number of industry experts say the idea of increased | | | | space to explore the moon and beyond. The |
| mobility technology is nearly certain in 10 years. A | | | | Japanese government has developed a programme |
| report from Pew Internet Research polling 1,000 | | | | to achieve this very goal. |
| technology execs indicates by the year 2020, mobile | | | | Whether its robotics, cars or toys, there truly is no |
| technology will be our main access for the internet. | | | | telling where technology will land in 10 years. Think |
| Furthermore, the same experts say most | | | | back to the turn of the millennium. Flat panel displays, |
| communications appliances will come with | | | | iPods, DVR technology and commercialised GPS |
| voice-demand technology. | | | | were still mostly visions not yet conceptualised. |
| CARS | | | | Mass-market commercial hybrids were still in their |
| Smaller and faster machines with increased mobility | | | | infancy and digital technology was unbeknownst to |
| and efficiency aren't just the themes for future | | | | most people. There's no telling where we're going. |