A Look Back At Kurzweil's Predictions For 2009 307
marciot writes "It's interesting to look back at Ray Kurzweil's predictions for 2009 from a decade ago. He was dead on in predicting the ubiquity of portable computers, wireless, the emergence of digital objects, and the rise of privacy concerns. He was a little optimistic in certain areas, predicting the demise of rotating storage and the ubiquity of digital paper a bit earlier than it appears it will actually happen. On the topic of human-computer speech interfaces, though, he seems to be way off." And of course Kurzweil missed 9/11 and the fallout from that. His predictions might have been nearer the mark absent the war on terror.
I Predict... (Score:5, Funny)
The following will happen in the next 10 years:
1. Some Terrorist group will blow something up.
2. That people will continue to argue whether Linux is superior to Windows (and vicea versa) on an ideological basis and continue to ignore individual situations/circumstances where their opposing OS would make a better choice.
3. That people will still buy (or not buy) Mac's based on a fashion over function idea (despite the fact the actual Mac offering isn't too bad functionally).
4. That people will make a bunch of random predictions, and several of these will pan out as predicted, and the people will say "Oh Wow!!!", (and then post the original predictions to Slashdot).
another thing missed (Score:5, Funny)
And of course he missed the Spanish Inquisition. Possibly he didn't expect that.
Re:I Predict... (Score:5, Funny)
3. That people will still buy (or not buy) Mac's based on a fashion over function idea (despite the fact the actual Mac offering isn't too bad functionally).
Very true. A friend of mine "obtained" the latest beta of Windows 7, and was showing it to me. I pointed out that pinning the items to the taskbar was just like what's been in OSX for a long time now, and he replied (quite seriously), "Yes, but this isn't pretentious."
Re:I Don't Think That Word Means What You Think... (Score:3, Funny)
...the emergency of digital objects...
I blame it on my continuous speech recognition (CSR) software, which has ubiquitously replaced my keyboard. That, and a lack of artificial intelligence on my part.
Re:So, basically (Score:3, Funny)
So... Where'll we be in the future? Watch Idiocracy.
So like.. in the future... we'll be watching Idiocracy?
-metric
mmm (Score:5, Funny)
His predictions might have been nearer the mark absent the war on terror.
Oh I agree. His predictions may have been far more accurate had the future unfolded differently.
Re:So, basically (Score:5, Funny)
"Computer.
Earl Grey.
Hot."
Re:Civil Liberties (Score:3, Funny)
Kurzweil had 4chan predicted to counter that.
Re:Automated Telephone Systems (Score:4, Funny)
So he just predicts they'll be around, not that they actually work?
Re:So, basically (Score:2, Funny)
You talk like a fag and your shit's all retarded.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:So, basically (Score:5, Funny)
Unless they're using the replicator to solve the problem of how to be culturally sensitive to the nutritional needs of cannibals without actually having to kill anybody.
Re:Mod up (Score:5, Funny)
25 years ago?
It is 1985. Life is a constant struggle for survival. There is no fast food*, there are no sweets or snacks*, and there are only four television channels. Modems only work at 300 baud and home computers only have 16 colour displays, so the proles are forced to watch their porn on VHS tapes, played by machines that don't even support stereo sound. If they can't afford "a video", they'll have to buy it on the now-obsolete form of media known as "paper". Truly primitive times. It's a wonder we managed to keep our caves warm.
* except for almost all of the brands you see today
Re:I Don't Think That Word Means What You Think... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Civil Liberties (Score:3, Funny)
Ray Kurzwiel doesn't predict the future, the future forms itself based on his predictions.
Re:Civil Liberties (Score:3, Funny)
There are infinite universes, but only those that match Ray Kurzwiel's predictions survive.