Future Imperfect: Technology and Freedom in an Uncertain World

Future Imperfect describes and discusses a variety of technological revolutions that might happen over the next few decades, their implications and how to deal with them. Topics range from encryption and surveillance through biotechnology and nanotechnology to life extension, mind drugs, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. One theme of the book is that the future is radically uncertain. Technological changes already begun could lead to more or less privacy than we have ever known, freedom or slavery, effective immortality or the elimination of our species, and radical changes in life, marriage, law, medicine, work and play. We do not know which future will arrive, but it is unlikely to be much like the past. It is worth starting to think about it now. Written in non-technical language for the intelligent layman Covers many different technologies and the different futures they might bring, good and bad and, in most cases mixed Focus not on promoting or preventing technical change, but on what world will be like if various technologies continue to develop and how we might adjust.