When is the next revolutionizing invention coming?

[StayTuned]

I think it's very telling that people here are thinking that we've reached our limits because nothing Earth Shattering has changed our way of life in the last decade or so (though an argument could be made for app-phones). The development of the Internet is a HUGE thing that has happened more or less in our lifetimes. Just how many earth-shattering discoveries do you expect to have in a 30 year period? How about the ability to transplant arms from a dead guy to a double amputee? How about the sequencing of the Human Genome, or the ability to clone, or fecal transplants, or Viagra, or Drone aircraft? New tech is coming at us so fast these days that people don't even notice when the big things hit anymore.

Ahhh guys, comon now. At least try to understand what I am talking about. Viagra isn't a fucking milestone in our lifetime, nor is a god damn Drone Aircraft. I didn't say we stopped inventing things, I am merely saying that somehow I am missing the feeling of something "huge". The internet wasn't invented during my lifetime, it was here before me (even though it became what it is today during my teenage years), and it just seems like it's time for something "huge" again.

As I said... everything new is just something old that's being refined.

[Mormolyce]

I'm thinking the next big thing will probably involve biotechnology and mastering genetics.

---------- Post added 2013-01-29 at 04:56 AM ----------

Viagra isn't a fucking milestone in our lifetime, nor is a god damn Drone Aircraft. I didn't say we stopped inventing things, I am merely saying that somehow I am missing the feeling of something "huge".

Sounds like you definitely need more viagra then! :P

[Zeusrules]

In the last couple of years we got clould computing ( not fully developed yet) . I think this is quit a big thing.

[obdigore]

Who even cares? What matters is the end result and how it benefits society as a whole. Smartphones are nothing that revolutionized society. I know many many people who do not even own one. I actually have no idea why I even have one...

Also, I am not your random bloke whom you can put words into his mouth... I never said that I think the internet came out of nothing, along with everything else. But whatever was used to create the "internet" doesn't even matter that much. It's the internet that made all those things actually useful.

You honestly don't think Smartphones have revolutionized society? The ability to be in touch, anywhere, with anyone, and being on the internet. Fall down a crevice while biking? Get on your phone. Most phones you don't even have to touch to get it to dial someone in your contacts. I can tell my phone to do a google search for a specific phrase. Smartphones (well, mobile devices) are going to replace computers as we advance. You won't have a computer, or a laptop. You will have a tv display and an input device, and attach your phone (probably wirelessly) to them. All your data will be stored on the (lol)cloud while you bring your work with you.

So you claiming smartphones aren't revolutionizing society is because, again, you literally don't understand.

We could talk about working bionic arms. We could talk about quantum computing. We could take about setting up colonies on other worlds and mining asteroids for the rare-earth minerals we need. We could talk about invisibility cloaks and AI. But every single one of those things is based upon previous inventions, so clearly it doesn't matter to you because it isn't something utterly new out of nowhere!

[StayTuned]

Agreed on this, as someone who wears a prosthetic leg, I'm seriously excited to see what kind of breakthroughs come from the war where soldiers come home missing limbs. still waiting on integration into the nervous system!

If we could seriously make it possible to not just replace missing parts of the body, but to actually enhance perfectly fine limbs into something super human (and it would actually go mainstream), I would absolutely count this as ground breaking.

[Grizzly Willy]

If we could seriously make it possible to not just replace missing parts of the body, but to actually enhance perfectly fine limbs into something super human (and it would actually go mainstream), I would absolutely count this as ground breaking.

But not the ability to give back the abilities lost by those without limbs? I would consider that to be a revolutionary breakthrough. If it's cheap enough, and accepted enough, one would suffer the smallest of inconveniences having lost a limb.

[Filed]

I would say something in the science of nanotechnology (manipulation of molecules and matter individually). Although the bottom-down approach has fabricated supramolecules (nanocars, elevators etc), the top down approach is getting close to being able to not just fabricate carbon nanotubes but to economically manufacturing them. (enormus impact on all industries - requiring a total re-h

The next big thing will be the end of the silicon era, or/and
Energy efficiency will get a massive 'upgrade' if you will (along side amazing upgrades to computational power),
Nanoscience industry has been making a lot of progress by the looks of their reports,
the manufacutability of the CNTs will also allow NASA to begin design of the space elevator.


After those 3, the same will happen as it is currently; everyone making hybrids and conducting long-term upgrades (take fiber optic broad band upgrades as an example; then multiply it by every different industry).

Also, in terms of discovery of a different kind (exploration), I guess the randomess of becoming aware of alien life forms which do/did exist would have a profound impact on society.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

But not the ability to give back the abilities lost by those without limbs? I would consider that to be a revolutionary breakthrough. If it's cheap enough, and accepted enough, one would suffer the smallest of inconveniences having lost a limb.

Long as we're not getting rid of flesh/humanity.

[obdigore]

Long as we're not getting rid of flesh/humanity.

You don't want to bow down to our new cyborg overlords? Sounds like you need an upgrade! :P

[StayTuned]

You honestly don't think Smartphones have revolutionized society? The ability to be in touch, anywhere, with anyone, and being on the internet. Fall down a crevice while biking? Get on your phone. Most phones you don't even have to touch to get it to dial someone in your contacts. I can tell my phone to do a google search for a specific phrase. Smartphones (well, mobile devices) are going to replace computers as we advance. You won't have a computer, or a laptop. You will have a tv display and an input device, and attach your phone (probably wirelessly) to them. All your data will be stored on the (lol)cloud while you bring your work with you.

So you claiming smartphones aren't revolutionizing society is because, again, you literally don't understand.

We could talk about working bionic arms. We could talk about quantum computing. We could take about setting up colonies on other worlds and mining asteroids for the rare-earth minerals we need. We could talk about invisibility cloaks and AI. But every single one of those things is based upon previous inventions, so clearly it doesn't matter to you because it isn't something utterly new out of nowhere!

Alright, I am done with you. Again, I never said that Smartphones aren't an invention, or a great invention for that matter. But yes, I still refuse to admit that it's something ground breaking and revolutionizing.

Everything is based on something, but it is the final product after putting all those things together that makes something huge. Does it mean that whatever it's based on is unimportant? No. But is it as huge as the "final product"? No.

So now stop bickering about every little thing. I didn't ask for your opinion on my doctors essay, this is a thread to have fun and talk about crazy things that might come some day. So stop being an overly correct party pooper.

---------- Post added 2013-01-29 at 06:06 AM ----------

But not the ability to give back the abilities lost by those without limbs? I would consider that to be a revolutionary breakthrough. If it's cheap enough, and accepted enough, one would suffer the smallest of inconveniences having lost a limb.

I guess that once we are able to create superior human like limbs with feelings, etc., we are most likely at the stage where I can decide on my own if I'd rather have my regular arm, or a biotech arm. So yeah, both things go hand in hand.

[klaps_05]

space exploration is the biggest drive and thing that can bring fundamental changes to our lives. bad part is, as long as Russia and Europe don't have any real space goals, neither will the US.

[Grizzly Willy]

Long as we're not getting rid of flesh/humanity.

Could you define humanity? I don't see how somebody opting for artificial limbs or body modifications would make them less human.

[Wiyld]

The thing here is that idea was a mere improvement on what we already had. Basically having many small power plants instead of having to distribute the energy from a big one, it would of been the same for the end consumer. Yeah, way cheaper, but the same never the less. And even if you had one yourself, what use it would be?
Dragging a superinsulated high voltage cable through your living room is not really an option.

And I can't see future of energetics being in nuclear energy, it's just a way too unstable and just a brute design. Just the problems of transporting the generated heat are huge, not to mention low conversion efficiency in the end. And even if we were to produce that energy and convert it to something we can actually use, the use part is still unreachable. We can't safely and practically transport this voltages, and the act of producing such energy is way to dangerous. And here's the question: how do you produce so much energy without it going catastrophically bad if something fucks up.

My speculation would be that we have 2 options that will allow future development of household electronics: either a solution to exclude energy storage from the equation, i.e. transporting energy without wiring everything up. Or a compact way to produce it. And I don't meant a reactor in a back yard, rather something that will fit in a pocket gadget. But then, what will fuel it?

---------- Post added 2013-01-29 at 04:48 AM ----------



As I've said, too unstable and low efficiency. It's like using a explosives to fish: bad for the environment, dangerous, detrimental to the product and nets are still more efficient.

You are misinformed as to how electricity works, or really energy works.

You do not need to run any higher power into your home from a power plant 2 feet away then you do from one 20 miles away. So yes we can use it. The stuff you have read about power plants distributing EHV transmission lines is intentional. Voltage and current are inverse, so when you pump up the voltage to obscene values you drop the current to almost nothing and save yourself from having to use massively thick wires to overcome heat fatigue. It also goes a long way to reducing power losses along the way. Remember every bit of wire the electricity goes through eats off some of the usable energy in the form of things like heat. I'm not sure why you think using the heat released from a nuclear reaction is hard to do, we do it 24/7 in every nuclear reactor on earth, mobile and stationary. In fact my example was of a proven design that had no problem doing it.

Any source of electrical power is 'brute'. Any source of considerable power is by its very definition unstable and dangerous. Do you know what the definition of voltage is? Its the difference in potential between 2 points. So high voltage = high degree of difference in charge, and since nature likes entropy the energy wants to move from places of high to places of low. It does not matter if your talking about heat, light, sound or electrical. Any kind of power supply is going to be dangerous and volatile. You have those perceptions about nuclear power because it is such a fantastic power supply. You imagine it to be so much more wildly untamed but in fact it fits in nicely with other sources of power, it simply contains more potential so as expected when it goes out of control the result is that much more spectacular.

What your asking for is a source of energy, that is not energetic. You want the benefit but not the cost. You want the fun without the danger. You are asking for something from nothing.

What happens when we manage to funnel energy off of black holes? Do you imagine that will be a stable method that is without danger?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

Could you define humanity? I don't see how somebody opting for artificial limbs or body modifications would make them less human.

Having flesh and all that. So we all aren't half cyborgs. See what I'm saying?

[Goatfish]

You can fail at your own ideas all you want. Implying that a handheld device that can access the internet at 4G speeds isn't innovation is a foolish position to take, and I think you should feel bad for taking it.

A smartphone doesn't change the way you live unless you rely on it far more than you should. It is also not a practically necessary part of current society much like any of the other revolutionizing inventions mentioned. Those inventions are considered revolutionary because they literally help form the world we live in today. Smart phones let people play angry birds and allow the person on the other end of the phone see the funny faces you make at them. They are not required for society to go on, and would not significantly change the world if they were to suddenly disappear. Try saying the same for cars, planes, electricity, the internet, etc.

They do have uses, and have been a result of innovation. But the same could be said of Sporks, Jeans made out of Sweatpants, and non-stick ketchup bottles... it doesn't make any of those other things required by society any more or less than smart phones though.

[Grizzly Willy]

Having flesh and all that. So we all aren't half cyborgs. See what I'm saying?

Yeah, I understand. My issue lies in the, what I perceive anyways, enforced morality of it. I'm not sure what the problem is with being a cyborg. If we were all cyborgs, we would have crossed over into trans-humanism, which could be argued as the next evolutionary step for mankind, albeit one that's artificially imposed.

[StayTuned]

Having flesh and all that. So we all aren't half cyborgs. See what I'm saying?

It's your brain that makes you human. Or would you say that a guy without arms is human, but with an arm prosthesis he becomes suddenly less of a human?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

It's your brain that makes you human. Or would you say that a guy without arms is human, but with an arm prosthesis he becomes suddenly less of a human?

See what Grokan said. Transhumanism. It's...just not what I want for humans. I'd rather find ways to preserve our humanity. Of course pro...what's the word for limbless folks?

[Grizzly Willy]

See what Grokan said. Transhumanism. It's...just not what I want for humans. I'd rather find ways to preserve our humanity. Of course pro...what's the word for limbless folks?

I think you're looking for amputee.

I get your concern - I'm wary of plenty of things, like being reliant on medicine to be myself, so I'm not going to pretend like a fear of change is irrational.

[StayTuned]

See what Grokan said. Transhumanism. It's...just not what I want for humans. I'd rather find ways to preserve our humanity. Of course pro...what's the word for limbless folks?

Semantics. I don't think that trans humanism is anything else but humanism as long as we do not alter our brain. Giving everyone superior strength and reflexes through artificial means wouldn't make us any less human. We still think, feel and act the same. So why not?

Real trans humanism begins when our brain starts being wired with something like a PC. Uploading our brains into computer and stuff like that is what I would finally consider as not human anymore as it would most likely alter our way of thinking in a great way.