Summary of predicted far future technological developments

To conclude this section on the far future, below is my take on science and technologies that are way beyond the current horizon. When reading Table 3, please do bear in mind my earlier comments that predictions for the far future (i.e. beyond the next few decades) are extremely difficult – and so are given here more as thought provocation than accurate estimates (that’s my idea of a disclaimer):

Development	Capability provided	Approx. date
Artificial intelligence exceeds intelligence of man in some fields (e.g. logical reasoning)	Computer can become self-programming at levels beyond human capabilities – leading to advanced software that can solve problems previously considered completely intractable	21st Century (second half of)
Mobile power source invented with very high power and low weight characteristics	Travel is revolutionised – as are the capabilities of mobile technologies	21st Century (second half of)
Industrial robots implemented to automatically undertake various challenging (unstructured) manual tasks	Humans no longer have to undertake difficult, dangerous, or dirty jobs – lives are saved	21st Century (second half of)
Material replicator (and transmitter)	Manufacture of any required object; transport of objects at the speed of light	22nd Century
Manufacture of highly reliable human organs and other life-extending medical breakthroughs (e.g. cures for various cancers)	Greatly extended life (e.g. additional 200+ years)	22nd Century
Travel at speeds that significantly exceed c	Interstellar travel	22nd Century
Androids implemented with similar capabilities to Data In Star Trek: The Next Generation	Androids can effectively undertake any tasks humans wish them to	22nd Century
Contact established with extra-terrestrials (ET)	Technological progress is likely – but exact extent depends upon the technology of the ET	22nd Century
Humans start colonising significant regions of the Milky Way galaxy	Future survival of humans is secured (no longer threatened by objects colliding with Earth)	23rd Century
Humans employ technology to evolve beyond needing their animal bodies	Human essence and intelligence can be stored in other formats – possibly computer-based or technologies we are not yet aware of	25th Century
Ultra-highspeed travel developed (1000,000c and above)	Humans explore and colonise the Andromeda galaxy and other neighbouring galaxies	27th Century
Humans and humanity achieve everlasting life	Immortality	29th Century
A substantial part of the known universe is explored and understood	Humans gain some understanding of the mind of God (or whatever created the universe)	30th Century

Table 3. A list of dramatic and/or important, predicted technological breakthroughs and accomplishments of the far future (I can’t guarantee the accuracy of the timescales!).