Using the power of simplicity to pursue your dreams
Chapter 5
The World in 2121
"I believe that in the world of 2121 will see technology that is far thinner, lighter, and more seamlessly integrated in people’s lives. Imagine a world where, rather than using a screen or a big clunky headset, you just slip on a pair of glasses and people who are across the world appear as if they are sitting next to you at a table. Imagine a world where you can walk down the street in an unfamiliar city and use those same glasses to instantly find your way around and connect to new experiences and possibilities. These will be routine parts of life in the coming decades, as unremarkable as a smartphone is today."
"We can also assume that one of the hallmarks of the world in 2121 will be a reimagined sense of community. Humans have lived in communities for approximately 10,000 years when the agricultural revolution first opened the doors to this new way of living more stationary lives. Over the millenia, countless communities have formed and fallen, giving rise to great empires which have come and gone. But the human need to live within communities has never wavered."
"In the world of 2121, because of continued technological development, especially around artificial intelligence, states’ roles will change, they will still provide the basic guarantees of welfare, defense, and security. Conversely, communities will become more relevant as they take on the role of generating ideas and connection - and therefore happiness. Afterall, our nature shows that most of us cannot be happy without feeling part of a community. Communities are where the big solutions will come from for the big challenges facing the world like climate change. Communities will be the main engine of ideas in the world of 2121."
"There are many reasons to choose the Moon over Mars as a destination for permanent human habitation. It is a lot closer than Mars; three days of flight time compared to about nine months to send humans to Mars. It would cost far less to send humans to the moon than it would to make the much longer journey to Mars. And while I have no doubt that sending humans to Mars will one day be within our technological capability, unfortunately we aren’t quite there yet. But we have the technology today to send people to the moon. Why? Because we’ve done it already using propulsion and computing power from half a century ago."
