The next big thing

[GadgetMaster]

Now that we have a PC virtually in every household and the net has revolutionised communications where is the next big thing going to come from?

I have been pondering over this but I can only imagine existing technologies getting more advanced.

I cannot think of anything that will again be revolutionary enough to set the world on fire. or drastically different in a way that will have a huge impact on our lives.

I thought I would ask here as many of you have some a vivid and colourful imagination.

It would be interesting to see what people can come up with.
 :idea:

[MarkAshley]

One day people will realise that they don't need computers. That will be the revolution.

[GadgetMaster]

MarkAshley wrote:
One day people will realise that they don't need computers. That will be the revolution.

Interesting theory. You mean that there will be a computer in everything negating the need for a "box" or do you mean that we will decide to lose them altogether?

[Karlos]

@MarkAshley

Butlerian Jihad, eh?

/dune

[orange]

(real) 3D ?  

[Doobrey]

MarkAshley wrote:
One day people will realise that they don't need computers. That will be the revolution.

Burn the heretic  :madashell:

Erm, where was I?

The annoying thing about "The next big thing", is that they're unpredictable. Some thing get hyped like mad by both the manufacturers and the media, yet flop. Other things seem trivial, yet take the world by storm.

For example, here's one thing that's sure to be a flop..SMS recieving kettle.
I can just imagine bored nerds 'war messaging' and SMS kettles all over the world merrily boiling away.

[HopperJF]

Portable MP3 players seem to be the big thing atm, a'la iPod.

I can see mobile technologies becoming a lot more commercial.

[orange]

but mp3 players existed years before damn ipod.. nothing new or 'big' there.
the lack of ideas is obvious, all we can hope for is bigger resolution with bigger storage and faster computers and networks. maybe someone will think of a really clever way (some great program) to actually use all those resources.

[MarkAshley]

No, I mean that people will realise that they don't need computers at all. The human race will evolve beyond the need to sit in front of a screen for 9 hours a day. Sales of computer hardware and software will slump and the global economy will collapse. Government revenue will slump due to decreased income from sales tax, and Government bodies will slowly but surely be abolished. Anarchy will rule for a few years, after which the technological age will pass and humans will re-evolve the ability to live off the land, in harmony with nature and each other. Political and religious pressure will no longer force countries to go to war with each other. Land borders fade and race divisions will become irrelevant.

Until then, I'll keep playing with my Amiga.