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Some Hopeful Predictions for 2018 (nbcnews.com)
NBC asked 15 "top science and tech leaders" for their predictions for 2018. Despite arguments that technology has "created a monster," one anonymous reader sees their answers as a reason for hope:
NBC notes the detection of gravitational waves in 2017 (predicted almost a century ago by Einstein) and the creation of genetically modified human embryos. And a professor of molecular medicine at The Scripps Research Institute points out that in 2018, more than 10 different medical conditions are now also moving forward in gene-editing clinical trials, including rare eye diseases, hemophilia, and sickle cell anemia. He predicts that in 2018, deep machine learning "will start to take hold in the clinic, first in ways to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of doctors' workflow."
Former ICANN head Esther Dyson predicts we'll also begin using big data not only to reduce healthcare costs, but also social problems like unemployment, depression, and crime. "With big data, and more data available through everything from health records and fitness apps to public data such as high school graduation rates and population demographics, we are increasingly able to compare what happens with what would have happened without a particular intervention...with luck, some communities will lead by example, and policy-makers will take note."
The head of the atmospheric science program at the University of Georgia notes that already, "We now have technology in place to provide significant lead time for landfalling hurricanes, potentially tornadic storms, and multi-day flood events." And Dr. Seth Shostak, the senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, predicts that in 2018 "it's possible that a replacement for Pluto will be found," while an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History adds that in 2018 the European Space Agency's Gaia Mission will determine "distances to over a billion stars and velocities for several million," creating "an exquisitely detailed 3D map of our home galaxy."
Former ICANN head Esther Dyson predicts we'll also begin using big data not only to reduce healthcare costs, but also social problems like unemployment, depression, and crime. "With big data, and more data available through everything from health records and fitness apps to public data such as high school graduation rates and population demographics, we are increasingly able to compare what happens with what would have happened without a particular intervention...with luck, some communities will lead by example, and policy-makers will take note."
The head of the atmospheric science program at the University of Georgia notes that already, "We now have technology in place to provide significant lead time for landfalling hurricanes, potentially tornadic storms, and multi-day flood events." And Dr. Seth Shostak, the senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, predicts that in 2018 "it's possible that a replacement for Pluto will be found," while an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History adds that in 2018 the European Space Agency's Gaia Mission will determine "distances to over a billion stars and velocities for several million," creating "an exquisitely detailed 3D map of our home galaxy."
I hope for 2018 less click bait on /.
Go out and buy those Starbucks lattes you've always wanted. FOR A MONTH! REJOICE! Bask in the goodness that is The GOP! You have been served! Praise God!
Not impressed about the medical stuff. Medicine is a dead-end technology that will not apply to our glorious humanless robot future.
Show me the real stuff. Where are Venus colonies? Where are the hypersonic cargo planes?
Props for the gravity wave telescope, though. At least that's something.
Only a morally bankrupt person would find "hope" in genetically engineered human embryos. The world is a sick place in 2018. I guess natural law is out the window. Science is out of control and lacks even basic philosophy. When will science start asking if they "should" instead of asking if they "can?"
Trump will almost certainly be impeached before the end of this year. Between obstruction of justice (which his lawyers are scrambling to keep him from committing more of), Russian collusion and rampant violations of the emoluments clause, there are many blades hanging over his head.
The only downside is that when Pence takes office, he will bring about what will be known as The Year of Jim Queer.
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Really? Doctors fees are fixed and in the USA, pharmaceutical costs are fixed. Knowing how much a person smokes, isn't going to change the cost of chemotherapy. In a family situation, tracking the weekly shopping won't tell doctors who is eating the chocolate-covered bacon.
Prevention is better than cure; so if anything, the problem is on the other end: Reduce healthcare costs and people will get more treatment meaning minor illnesses don't become acute illnesses.
This is caused by low demand and high productivity. No amount of data is going to change that.
Everybody has a bad day: Depression is an on-going behavioural problem. How is big-data going to know what one is feeling everyday? Yes, AI has been able to link sequences of behaviour with depression, so there may be a benefit from big-data. If healthcare can't provide the necessary treatment, the cost of depression will not change.
Crime is a consequence of several factors. The ability to fit into the moderately skilled, team-driven, repetitive tasks, 9-hour shift labour market; opportunity; cultural norms; political oppression and job history. Most times, it isn't difficult to determine when a person is affected by these factors. I doubt there are any secrets here so big data won't help.
It's impossible to know what correlations big-data will reveal about a problem space but societies have existed and been studied for thousands of years; there are few facts to discover about the problems of many people living beside each other.
the Alien spaceships they've been hiding all the decades.
If not that, 2018 will show a trickle of news-stories that will help sink in the notion to the general public that there's something out there, but as long as there's stuff on Netflix and breakfast-TV, people can carry on...
Why do you think there's been this recent surge of superhero films?
In 2001, when "24" showed a black POTUS, I read a story where somebody was quoted with the sentence "The American public can only imagine what they already saw on TV".
They could only elect a black president because they saw it on TV.
Windows 2000 - from the guys who brought us edlin
Yet the reassurance comes from the ability to gene splice data, and because 'Big Data' will help save us?
It that supposed to be irony?
Really? Doctors fees are fixed and in the USA, pharmaceutical costs are fixed. Knowing how much a person smokes, isn't going to change the cost of chemotherapy. In a family situation, tracking the weekly shopping won't tell doctors who is eating the chocolate-covered bacon. Prevention is better than cure; so if anything, the problem is on the other end: Reduce healthcare costs and people will get more treatment meaning minor illnesses don't become acute illnesses.
Small data just saved 1/2 your healthcare budget. When they start working on big data, expect that to get even better.
I voted in the 2016 election and all I got was this Mulder & Scully shirt. Looking forward to 2020!
Comment removed based on user account deletion
I have little hope for 2018. Tech advances aren't going to solve the major issues we have, and the increasing prevalence of things like Big Data are likely to make them even worse.
Former ICANN head Esther Dyson predicts we'll also begin using big data not only to reduce healthcare costs, but also social problems like unemployment, depression, and crime. "With big data, and more data available through everything from health records and fitness apps to public data such as high school graduation rates and population demographics, we are increasingly able to compare what happens with what would have happened without a particular intervention...with luck, some communities will lead by example, and policy-makers will take note."
They aren't going to like the results when they don't fit the predefined American liberal narrative.