The Digital World in 2050
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I was recently asked to give a talk on my insights about what 2050 would look like. Instead of telling the audience all the potential situations we could encounter, I decide to write a story that showed the life of someone in 2050. The story was read live at In.Co’s Digital Innovation event in London on January 22nd, 2020. I hope the story is insightful and makes you think about the future that awaits us.
The insistent beeping inside his head kept on drilling him until he opened his eyes. The world became focused. The internal display in his eyes marked 6:45 am. He felt tired and wondered if that was even possible for someone like him, but he had his duties. A swift flicker of his brain buried the feeling, and he walked to the kitchen.
As soon as he entered, the room filled up with gurgling noises. Coffee, check. Toast, check. Avocado, check. He poured the coffee, placed the toast, and took the avocado right from the food synthesizer. It was strange, even for him, to watch food appear out of thin air. But such was the price for sustainability, or so he had read somewhere.
With the coffee still warm, he stepped out to the balcony. The fog was receding as the sun began flexing its muscles. The morning felt cold. No, it was cold, -1ºC cold to be precise. As the light grew, frost-covered fields emerged from among the misty patches.
Life was stirring all around. He could feel a light chilling breeze, painting grass, bush and trees with a soft rustling sound. The echos of fresh and quick rivulets reached from afar. Standing still, with the cold wind whipping his body, he took it all in, taking a mental snapshot of the view. He had to agree with Beatrix; it was peaceful.
Something startled him, and he turned back to look. A few seconds later, she came into the kitchen. Beatrix stared at him and clicked her tongue.
“I know you can’t feel it, but the morning air is cold, so how about you close the balcony?” she snapped.
“Oh, sorry! I keep forgetting. I was trying to enjoy the view as much as you do.”
“Nice try Robot, but I believe that’s beyond even your mighty powers.”
“Mam, stop calling me Robot, I have a name, you know that well.”
“Yeah sure, but you’re…
