Robotics

Advances in technology have been astounding over the last decade. Electronics are starting to be built into everything from vacuums to toothbrushes and slowly, but surely, computers will become an invaluable part of every aspect of daily living. Someday, you'll be able to take a shower and the bathroom will not only detect you, it will adjust the height of the sink to your level and set the water temperature to 96 degrees, just the way you like it.

Taking care of the elderly will become much easier, as well. Remember Rosie from The Jetsons? She was able to cook and clean and even read their son, Elroy, a bedtime story. It may be a long time before we see a robot that we're actually able to communicate with, but robots that cook and clean are already in production. Think about your elderly loved ones. Instead of having to send them away to a retirement home, they'll be able to spend their remaining years at home with you, where they should be. And you won't have to worry about leaving them alone or making sure they're taking their medication.

This all may sound great, but can we really expect to see all this new technology anytime soon? The answer is yes, and no. Within our lifetimes, expect to see electronics built into just about everything. Expect to be able to use verbal commands to control most major household appliances, but don't expect them to be able to answer back with a witty remark until about 2050. We are in the electronic and digital age, but will soon be up against the robotic and nanotechnology age.