nanotechnology

EXPECTATIONS ALWAYS TRAVEL AT HIGHER SPEEDS

A brief look into history reminds us of the time lines of the past. My lifelong experience has been that things we expect to happen always happen more slowly. With inventions, we continually underestimate the time span required from idea to their full realization. The new fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology will be evolving for all the years left in the twenty-first century.

It is the surprises that overwhelm us, such as AIDS and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. As with the human species and other manifestations of nature, almost all change is evolutionary, not revolutionary. Things just take time--almost always more time than we expect.

An omni-linked world populated with intelligent artifacts will bring sweeping changes to virtually every facet of modern life – from science and education to industry and commerce – leaving no segment of society unaffected by its advance.

We have the means right now to live long enough to live forever. Existing knowledge can be aggressively applied to dramatically slow down aging processes so we can still be in vital health when the more radical life extending therapies from biotechnology and nanotechnology become available. But most baby boomers won't make it because they are unaware of the accelerating aging process in their bodies and the opportunity to intervene.