What kind of improvements to society, technology, or cities do you think will spring from?

Question

our new (under half a century old) concern for the environment?

Think big, like cars with nano paint to convert electromagnetic radiation to electricity.
-or-
homes that act like cells, creating their own energy and filtering and conserving their own water.

please impress me!!

Nice complement Harrison, but I'm sure you can come up with something.

The fabbers article is really neat, and I am looking for people to connect ideas from different disciplines to imagine either a systems view or a niche that could be possible (however small that possibility is) in our future Imagination and necessity are the parents of invention. Are we on the verge of new breakthroughs that will save us from ourselves?

Answer 1

I think fabbers have the most exciting implications for future technology. These devices will allow people to create products in their own homes. Coupled with decentralized renewable energy production, this could dramatically change the way we produce material goods, cutting out large chunks of the transport industry! All you would need is electronic blueprints and the raw materials. This is the most impressive thing I can think of without going into wild hypotheticals.

Answer 2

I really believe that solar energy could be used way more than it currently is. i am shocked to see that there is not legislation to make the technology more widely available and wide spread. if every commercial and industrial building in america had solar panels on their roofs along with some residential units, we would have no need for new powerplant construction in america, we would also have surplus power. i also believe there could be an element of solar power in cars, all of this technology must be employed in places where there is a great amount of sunlight. i believe hydrogen cars and hydrogen fuel source also shows great promise for the future.

Answer 3

well, solar energy is always a popular favourite, along with other forms of energy like wind mills.

we can try something simple like "man-power". have those exercise-cycles attached to dynamos to generate electricity for the household.
if you want to watch tv, then work for it.

Answer 4

WOW! I'M impressed. With young people like you, I think we've got a great future in store for us!