Ideas for Plausible Near-Future Technology

[riffraff11235]

The thread title is pretty self-explanatory. Post ideas for technology that you would like to see created in the near future. Try to keep these limited to plausible ideas. I have a couple I'd like to share to kick things off:

My first is a sort of piezoelectric floor tile that could convert mechanical energy - from a person walking on top of it, for example - into electrical energy that could be used to charge batteries or routed directly into the grid. I'm not sure how efficient current materials are, but if they were used to cover a city sidewalk they could probably generate enough energy to power infrastructure like traffic lights and signs.

I was thinking about the experience that non-Japanese-speakers must've had while watching Q. Then this idea hit me: why not make glasses with some sort of integrated heads-up display that could overlay subtitles on top of the movie's image? The theater could show a little calibration segment before the movie so that each user can position the text wherever he/she wants. With something like this, native viewers aren't bothered by subtitles that they don't need and foreigners can understand what's being said in the movie.

[Merridian]

Pretty sure Google's already on that glasses idea. I haven't heard anything about subtitling things, but if it's got a microphone on it, I can't see why they can't integrate a translation service (the glorious Google Translator, anyway).

[riffraff11235]

Pretty sure Google's already on that glasses idea. I haven't heard anything about subtitling things, but if it's got a microphone on it, I can't see why they can't integrate a translation service (the glorious Google Translator, anyway).

I don't know how feasible real-time translation would be. I was thinking that the theater could broadcast the subtitles to receivers in the glasses. The subtitles could easily be synced with the picture that way.

[A.T. Fish]

All I want is my hologram player, is that too much to ask? I just want to throw holographic hadoukens at holographic M. Bison and watch his holographic lifebar get smaller. Maybe play some holographic monopoly and watch a holographic rendition of a movie or a rock concert. With Tupac as my witness, it can be done.

[CJD]

Virtual Reality.

"Oh look, CJD's talking about VR again. Sigh..."

I want this!?!? Ok?!?!

But seriously though, VR. What form it takes that's gonna be the real question. I think a neural based VR is inevitable, assuming the tech doesn't get cockblocked by regulations or a lobbying group, but I also think that's a bit farther down the line. It requires a much more precise understanding of the brain and neural signals if it's going to work, because it needs to read those signals and convert them into accurate data for your avatar. The stuff we have now with reading brain signals and shit is nowhere near the level necessary. Regardless, this should be the endgame for any VR tech.

Sooner than that, though, I anticipate more work being done towards less traditional methods. If the Occulus Rift is anywhere near as good as John Carmack says it is it's a nice first step. Combine that with some greatly improved Kinect tech and I think we can get to a bit of a cheapo version of the Holodeck soon. I have doubts about this route, though. Unless they find a way to prevent the same problems Kinect has now any "movement" is going to be limited, and it's not exactly VR if to walk it requires you to just lift your knee or something. Plus, it lacks the touchability of people and items in a neural VR system. But then again, like I said, this system isn't the endgame, the endgame is neural. What this system does do is get people comfortable with the ideas, warms up the water. If people enjoy this route it will cause companies to start pushing the boundaries more, and when the true tech does come out consumers will be more warm to it.

But yea, I see both in my lifetime. The second one probably within the next ten years, the first one within thirty tops.

[riffraff11235]

@CJD I just looked up Oculus Rift and saw its list of possible applications. It looks amazing! I wouldn't mind getting lost in some VR Minecraft sometime soon....

[CJD]

@CJD I just looked up Oculus Rift and saw its list of possible applications. It looks amazing! I wouldn't mind getting lost in some VR Minecraft sometime soon....

The most interesting part of the Rift is that John Carmack, who's basically the Wozniak of video games, is the one who stumbled across the guys making it and really got it publicity at E3 with Doom 3 BFG edition. From there they went around to other devs and got their support and funded the whole thing using Kickstarter (made 2.4 million, ten times their goal).

Now, whether it pans out to be as good as people are saying we'll see, but Carmack backing it is enough for me to trust it. The real question is if it is good, how many devs are going to continue to support it? I hope enough of them do. Considering how successful the Kickstarter was I think it proves the market is there.

Edit: Also, I just noticed that at the bottom of that Wikipedia article under related projects

A team from the University of Southern California is working on creating a Holodeck-like virtual reality experience which will utilize four Kinect sensors as well as the Oculus Rift HMD to give the user the impression of being inside of a complete virtual world.[40][41]

[riffraff11235]

This could definitely see tons of other applications if it turns out as well as they hope. Let's hope they put that extra $2.16 million to good use.

@A.T. Fish Was the Tupac hologram in 3D? Or was it like those Vocaloid shows where the image is projected onto a very thin mesh drape?

[A.T. Fish]

I don't know about those Vocaloid shows but the Tupac thing was an optic illusion involving a projector and mirror, I'm not sure exactly how it was done. AFAIK 3D projections are not a reality yet, unfortunately :(

[Mr. Tines]

Fully functional robot girlfriends (Japan is working on that one).

Gesture recognition as the next thing after touch for computers -- something to give the power and precision of keyboard and mouse without needing to stab fat fingers onto a screen.

[riffraff11235]

Gesture recognition as the next thing after touch for computers -- something to give the power and precision of keyboard and mouse without needing to stab fat fingers onto a screen.

I think there's work being done on something resembling the famous interface from Minority Report, or at least the first steps towards it. IIRC, they were using the Wii's hardware as a base.

[CJD]

Fully functional robot girlfriends (Japan is working on that one).

Japan will truly pave the way to the future.

[Aiko Heiwa]

I just want hoverboards.

Not that shitty one Mattel made.

Get on it scientists.

[Nuclear Lunchbox]

I want electronic haptics. Actually, I just want haptics, period. Haptics are awesome.

[Bomby von Bombsville]

Honestly, you should really just take something that already exists and add a digital clock to it. I'm thinking home theater audio speakers.

[EvaBrothers]

Robot friends to chit-chat with and hug at home. Like in "I, Robot" but without the bad consequences.

I'm currently waiting for a release of NAO for the public.

I'm a proud AIBO owner so far. ^^

[InstrumentalityOne]

Honestly, you should really just take something that already exists and add a digital clock to it. I'm thinking home theater audio speakers.

Nonono, you just take something that already exists, add a touchscreen and the word "smart" to it.
I'm thinking of a smart coffee mug.

Edit:Hold on a second, that actually does sound pretty handy now that I think of it.
Imagine a coffee mug just notifying you silently about new mails in the inbox and facebook alerts without having your goddamn phone vibrate or make an annoying sound!
Doesn't even have to have a touchscreen, just one of those paper screen thingys taped onto it, but you'll still have to stream that data from somehwhere...

Maybe when this technology gets a little cheaper and more dishwasher friendly.

[Mr. Tines]

I'm thinking of a smart coffee mug.

Enjoy full roaming capabilities with the new Planet Rock mug, with integrated smart handle. (loosely paraphrased from one of their self-mocking merch store ads)

[Bomby von Bombsville]

Nonono, you just take something that already exists, add a touchscreen and the word "smart" to it.
I'm thinking of a smart coffee mug.

Win.

Imagine a coffee mug just notifying you silently about new mails in the inbox and facebook alerts without having your goddamn phone vibrate or make an annoying sound!

I'd rather it tell me whether or not my tea was at optical drinking temperature or if it needed to cool down so as not to burn my tongue, or if I'd waited too long to drink it and it was disgustingly lukewarm.

[Nuclear Lunchbox]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just invented the next big product for 2013: The Smart Mug. Not only does it notify you of email and your social networks, but it also has temperature notifications to tell you when your tea has reached that sweet spot: not too hot, not too cold. Order today! Only 49.95.
They always put something nonsensical underneath these that nobody ever reads. My name is Brian. I write these commercials. The product is crappy, don't buy it. We just took a mug and put a screen and the word "smart" in front of it. I am a corporate whore and I do this for a living. In short, I have no life. Supplies are limited. Call now!