The Magic 8-Ball's Take on Tech in 2008 52
PCWMike writes "It's that time of year again, when every website makes predictions about the future of technology. PCWorld is no exception, but tried to put a little humor into their prognostication by calling on a neutral third party: the magic 8-ball. '4. Open Software and Open Networks Will Dominate! Magic 8-Ball says: Ask again later. Open-source software meets open wireless networks, fostering an unbridled era of innovation and consumer freedom. Right? Well, maybe one day, but don't bet the bank on it in 2008.'"
go read some good near future science fiction (Score:5, Interesting)
Read Neal Stephenson, go watch Gattaca but whatever you do don't bother reading PC magazine
Here's a prediction for you (Score:5, Interesting)
The 8-ball's always right (* conditions apply) (Score:5, Interesting)
The magic 8-ball can in fact predict the future. To do that reverse the polarity of the universe (CPT symmetries apply), entangle the entropies of the required universe with the 8-ball and remember to shake the ball outside the universe to avoid recursion.
Seriously, anyone who's read Experts Speak [amazon.com] or paleo-future blog [blogspot.com] will probably be rather critical of such predictions. But like the Dune book says, prescience does modify the future like a fish through water.
So, being hopeful about the future, but wary about it at the same time is the most productive approach to predictions. Check plus on that for this effort.
Re:The predictions (Score:1, Interesting)
(Full disclosure: In some cases we had to shake the ball a few times to achieve the right answer.)
So much for that - these predictions don't have the credibility of true randomness.
unlametheweaks unsolicited tech predictions (Score:5, Interesting)
1.
Proprietary Operating systems will become either open source or free as in beer as existing OSS operating systems become more sophisticated, user-friendly, and compatible with proprietary systems. (ReactOS and Wine as examples of the compatibility).
2.
DRM will become a none-issue as record labels realize that it is more efficient to phish for users on P2P networks and sue them, rather than to alienate paying customers with DRM issues.
3.
The Internet will break up into smaller proprietary pieces much like the former Yugoslavia. Countries and companies alike will seek to gain control over their own Netizens through proprietary protocols, clients and servers, firewalls, etc. And the Geek crowd will seek there own refuge (from the incessant censorship and control of the available "open" Internet) in private IRC servers and channels, and through services such as Freenet and Onion server based services and Web sites.
4.
There will always be people who read spam and and open virus filled email attachments, because people will always want larger penises, bigger breasts, and more money. Hope will never die.
5.
Small and intelligent home-built "hobby" Robots and self-replicating nano-technology based devices will be the new nuisance of the future.
Bookmark this comment and come back to it in 10 to 20 years and see...
It's all just speculation... but I think there is a strong probability of these things coming true based on current trends.
What has eight magic balls and sings badly (Score:3, Interesting)
3. I think you're wrong about the DRM. DRM was stillborn, as every pipe dream (in the case of the RIAA, crack pipe dream) is. DRM is already dead, was dead to begin with. What man can make, man can break. What a team of programmers can create, a million nerds can can shred in an evening.
Once the lock's broken anyone can get in.
She's dead, Jim. She's always been dead. That's not wedding rice, that's maggots.
-mcgrew