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In this chapter I am going to write about how the life of humans could be in the next century. I think it will be an exciting time. Many people are frightened if they are thinking about the future, perhaps because they cannot imagine what will happen.
We are living in a century where everything is changing quickly. Cars, planes, computers, genetic engineering , transplantation of hearts and even Rock'n Roll are products of this century. We had wars followed by long periods of peace and we had revolutions in policy, art and society in the last hundred years.
How should we know what will happen next? The pessimists are afraid of the bombs, the pollu-tion and the genetic engineering. The optimists only see the disarming of the superpowers, the fall of the Iron curtain and the introduction of ecologial issues in policy. They are looking for-ward to medicine that can heal people who are suffering of cancer or AIDS.
CITIES AND HOMES
SPREAD CITIES
During the industrial revolution in Europe millions of people went to the cities and left the coun-tryside. They tried to get better jobs there. Today it's reversed. Many people are starting to move out, because they do not want to be in the cities anymore. They want to live in a cleaner and greener environment. Another reason is that the modern transport allows higher distances in less time. So many workers live in little towns and commute every day.
The result of this will be spread cities, which means that you will live up to one hundred kilome-tres away from the city centre. So many small cities will be connected by hi-tech transport and communications. The cities will build one big urban area.
SMART HOUSES
The homes of tomorrow will be very different. There will be a central computer, which controls everything referring to the house. It starts with the control of energy. The computer switches automatically from ordinary electricity to the power from the solar panels whenever possible.
The next feature is, that you will be able to turn on everything only by telling the computer - for example \"Computer, turn on the light\" or \"Computer, turn on the hi-fi\". Another important fea-ture is the security system. There will be smoke detectors , burglar alarms and a video camera at every front door.
You will have special fibre optic cables , too. They will connect your TV, phone and computer to the whole world, which allows international communication. This means, that you do not have to leave your house for voting, shopping, banking, working, studying and so on.
TRANSPORT
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
In Japan scientists are developing a new shiptype the \"Technosuperliner\". It will travel at 100 km/h and will carry thousand tons of cargo. This is only one example for new ideas in the world of transport. There are more like solar-powered cars or E-mobiles. An example for an idea which is already realised is the channel tunnel. It\'s only for trains, but there are plans for a road tunnel.
THE THINKING CAR
Another idea is the thinking car. There are some models that are tested now. These cars will be able to show you a map of the area you are at the moment, on a screen. These computerised cars will be able to show you the shortest way and give you information about hotels, restaurants or telephoneboxes. It will keep you far away from traffic jams. Perhaps once the computers will steer your car, and you only have to tell the computer where you want to go to. The Information needed could be taken from traffic signs, computers beside the roads or even satellites. This computer would be able to prevent traffic jams and accidents and the need of fuel could be re-duced.
HEALTH
FITTER, TALLER, FASTER, OLDER
People nowadays live longer and healthier than ever before, but there are still many medical problems without a solution. Now I am going to tell you something about the prospect for breakthroughs and cures for tomorrow.
Fivehundred years ago most people died before they were fifty years old. Now many countries have got an average life expectancy that is over seventy years. The reasons for this increase are fewer deaths of babies, a healthier diet better housing and working condition and fewer fatal dis-eases .
We are breaking other barriers, too. Athletes are breaking records all the time and the IQs are rising by between 5% and 25% every generation. In spite of it many Doctors think that there are genetic limits. These limits are the lifetimes of our organs, that seem to be programmed for about eighty years.
FUTURE CURES
These are only a few examples for cures in the future:
Drug implants can release drugs into the body very slowly and controlled. A small pump inside the body can help people with diseases like cancer or diabetes.
Artificial blood will make life easier for hospitals everywhere. It would not be necessary to do-nate blood anymore, and the artificial blood can be kept longer.
Doctors think that they will be able to cure two thirds of cancer patients with new drugs, opera-tions or new ways of helping the human immune system.
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