Why Don't We Invent That Tomorrow?

museumpeace writes "In the NYTimes book review blog, David Itzkoff takes a look at a new book devoted to predicting which 'science fiction' technologies may really fly some day. The author is Michio Kaku, one of the inventors of string theory, so he bears a hearing. His picks include light sabers, invisibility and force fields." Which sci-fi tech do you think needs to get invented over the weekend?

Comments

Re:That's an easy one!

[ptbarnett]

It just means you can only travel through time in exact year increments so the earth is back where it was.

Nice troll. But, for those that didn't realize it, don't forget about galactic rotation and expansion of the universe.

Re:"Mr Fusion"

[KudyardRipling]

Please pardon the appearance of pontificating on common sense.

Speaking of weapons, despite market forces, the future is what the ruling class wants it to be. They are to remain in control. Therefore, security shall be first and foremost in any new product or service. That will mean that any invention that comes to the marketplace shall conform to the following:

0. Everything is a weapon and everyone is a criminal, but never say so in public.
1. maximize profit.
2. If intended to be possessed by the common person, it must designed to preclude its use as a weapon whether by itself or in conjunction with other products or services without violating rule #1.
3. If it cannot be designed to preclude its use as a weapon according to rule #2, restrict manufacture, sale and possession to those sworn to defend the ruling class and/or to persons engaged in duly regulated occupations and professions without violating rule #1.

Flying cars, one of the most recognizable staples of the future, can be used as missiles. Force fields and invisibility shields would protect [ criminals | terrorists | dissidents ] from the arm of the law. Time travel would deny finality to judicial decision thus rendering naught political authority. Personal plasma weapons will be just that, weapons.

One may ask concerning simple articles such as screwdrivers and knives. That answer is so science fact: devices will be (read: are being as we speak) ubiquitously installed in conjunction with current camera systems to detect objects that appear to be weapons concealed on persons.

The problem is that the Tomorrow in Question would place the common man in control. That is the numero uno political no-no. This is why dystopic fiction sells books and motion pictures. It is mere conditioning of the masses to accept their place and fate.

Downmodding proves the veracity of the above beyond question.