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Technology Predictions for 2006?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the crystal-ball-that-we-can-look-back-at-and-laugh dept.

OffTheLip writes "As 2006 fast approaches it's time for some to gaze into the crystal ball of technology and predict what will be hot, what will make a difference in our lives or make someone rich and famous. The Mercury News takes a shot at predicting the coming year of technology. No great revelations but it nice to see clean technologies make the list. The list is light on pure technology and big on trends. Perhaps killer apps are not as important as they once were thought to be." What would Slashdot users put in their top 10?

6 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. I Want My Personalized Entertainment by moresheth · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm anxious to see dynamic (digital) paper, like with newspapers and junk, but I doubt we'll be seeing them this year.

    Most likely the number one spot will be a-la-carte television and music downloading. Not just to compete with piracy, but just because that's what people want.

  2. How about by BCW2 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Flash drives get priced competitivly with hard drives of the same size?

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  3. Predictions... by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Advancements in artificial limb technology driven by the Iraqi Military Operations
    Advancements in stripping the psychotropic effects of drugs like Ketamine and X for use as pain killers, driven by the Iraqi Military Operations
    A video card that cracks the $1000 US price point
    More hybrid and bio diesel technology from the big Automakers
    F/A-22, Eurofighter Typhoon purchases get cut, F/A-22 or the F-35 programs might get totally eliminated by the US DoD
    Quad core AMD and Intel server chips
    US program to put GPS in all cars becomes a political hot issue
    UK program to track all cars does not become a political hot issue

  4. Fusion! by headkase · · Score: 4, Interesting

    2006 will be the year we finally achieve a sustained controlled fusion reaction! My 1970 copy of the new book of knowledge annual edition says it's just around the corner! Let's hope its not around the corner for another 35 years as we really do need it....

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  5. Re:Predictions by slashname3 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    2. Cell phone batteries will need longer life as people listen to music and watch video on them.

    Which will result in cell phones the size they were back in the 80's, satchels weighing about 8 pounds.

    This will also result in a record number of car wrecks as more people are found watching their cell phones while driving which leads to several states banning the use of cell phones in cars.

    There will be a large number of complaints by cell phone users that even with 200 channels available there is nothing worth watching.

    There will also be a project started to port mythtv to these new video capable cell phones.

  6. Painkillers by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I agree with the need for more/better pain killers

    One of the main problems with the current meds is their massive potential for abuse.

    I predict this will take off in 2006
    To counter abuse, drug makers are developing ways to reformulate prescription painkillers. Purdue Pharma in Stamford, Conn., which makes OxyContin, is thinking of adding a second drug, called an opiate antagonist, that neutralizes the effects of the opiate.

    The antagonist would be walled off using polymers or some other sequestering technique, said Dr. David Haddox, the company's vice president of health policy.

    A patient who swallowed the drug would get full pain relief, as intended. But if someone tampered with the pills, the antagonist would be released.
    ...
    A second approach is to mix in a chemical irritant like capsaicin, the main ingredient of hot chili peppers, said Dr. Woolf, who has a patent on the idea.

    Because the esophagus and stomach do not have many receptors for hot peppers, patients could take the pills as prescribed and find relief, he said. But the lining of the nose and cheeks are loaded with pepper receptors, and anyone who ground up such a pill would get a burning feeling in the chest, face, rectum and extremities, as well as paroxysmal coughing.
    It doesn't really advance the effectiveness of painkillers, but it'll be a very very effective stopgap measure to basically kill the street trade in these meds.

    Doctors will also be able to perscribe powerful painkillers to the patients who need them w/out constantly worrying the DEA will investigate them for possibly overperscribing pain meds.

    BTW - the second method (with capsaicin) is really fucking evil. The Dr. describes the pain of snorting/injecting it here
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