In response to B52's list, I've bea few response observations
- the end of the state/nation and the avenement of corpos/nation.
Well, we are not here quite yet for full on Corporatism, but most certainly we do have a severe problem with collusion between the Legislative and Business Sector. And anyone who thinks various legislators won't use their power to squeeze a bribe out of Corporations, then blame the Corporation for corruption when it get's noticed is not paying attention.
- The ground of the futures wars : cyberspace.
Most definitely here. Now Add drones to the electronic warfare going on and Cyberspace duels take on a much deadlier effect depending on what's going on
- The dislocation of middle social class between poor and very poor.
To quote Bob Dylan” They'll make us beggars because we are easier to please...
- The web, the cybernetics. Just amazing. Do they have taken some illegals substances to be so visionary ? Google glasses, a revolution ? Ask to Kiroshi.
Hell, there is stuff I've never even considered, both mundane and gross in the field of cybertech that is just starting to be produced. Google Glass = Early Netshades
- The reputation, the fame and the style which give you the right to be wrong.
See Miley Cyrus for a more extreme example of this. But it is self mitigating if you become obnoxious enough.
- The power of mass media to brainwash populations.
Net54 and DMS are here most definitely, but with a wrinkle that probably deserves a bit more attention on the Power of Mass Media. Depending on the Agenda being pushed, the MediaCorp will run or spike stories as needed. What isn't making the screamsheets and what is making them is just as important. And don't expect the media corps to like you if you show them up. Suddenly, Vlogger base media personality who do the leg work and get paid not by the corp, but by how good their rep is suddenly becomes Viable.
- The magnetic levitation. The Japaneses will told you how does it works. I didn't say Arasaka.
The Shinkansen has been around since the late 80s...I think?
- Mind control : brain wash and capacity to act on the real by thought thanks to adapted prostheses and softwares. Ask to Mattel.
Behavioral control software implanted in the cyberlimb? Hmm...be kinda hard to pull off , depending on the interface used. But that 10k Euro in 'Free Cybertech' you can get by owing something would definitely have a few surprises installed
- The euro/dollar currency.
The Euro has bee a long time coming really. What interests me is the rise of a non-nationally backed , encrypted currency that is used as a unit of trade (BitCoin). I can defintiely see something like this sued on the street for payment instead of Euros
- The addiction of something (drugs, sex, rock n'roll, web, guns...) because the real world is sucked by the virtual.
Rehab has been about for some time. It's just the drugs in 2020's are so damned ugly. But Nano-medicine and targetted drugs might make things more curiable. You just need the cred for it
- The IA / the automatic data calcul for the moment. Phylosophic question of the conscience... Do they will have their own conscience one day, just by the calcul and the control of the datas or something else is missing ? Soul, God or anything else...
A.I's might be a bit out of our current reach, but the rise of Smart frames are definely getting there. Give it a bit, and we might see something. But what we see, we might not recognize....
- The final crash (data/states), for the moment...
There will never be A Final Crash. There will be a series of Transformations.
- The wi-fi connexions to the web. No more wire in 2k20 in my opinion.
Wifi is FAR less secure than hardware based landlines, not to mention the amount of data losage in packet over air. Best Guess is that anything important will still be moved on encrypted landline, and the minor stuff will be wireless. Of coure, the advances in Quantum Encryption technology might make that kinda moot too....
- The space projects like crystal palace, much more far from us in history.
Crystal Palace might be viable in 2077. With the advent of Deep Space Mining Corporation, Planetary Resources, And the new SpacePort USA area, it's simply going to take a bit longer. Space corp viability simply requires people being able to make money from the venture to work.
- The euro nations power.
I kinda considered this a bit of an oddity for the setting, but was willing to run with it. The Asian market being the new economic block doesn't really work either. The Bit coin economy suddenly looks more viable.
- The control of gangs by multinationals. Perhaps It will come.
Given what I know about Yakuza, Mafia, and other criminal cartel options, it's far more likely that criminal gangs might get control of some corporations via purchase of voting stock or intimidation tactics such as making noise or a fuss in stock holder meetings. The corps pay hush money or go along to keep things 'proper'.
- The emergence of China and India.
The jury is still out on this.
- The possibility for a mind to live forever in the web / The capacity to contact aliens thanks to the web.
Given what we know, would you want to live forever?
