Themes Technology, History and Destiny

Kevin Kelly says technology is evolving -- just like humans did. So where is it going? Where will it take us? What will it do next?

Inventor-cum-prognosticator Ray Kurzweil argues that a future beyond "mere" humanity may not be as far in the future as we think. Adventurer Bill Stone, meanwhile, sees humanity's destiny tied to robotics, space exploration and the quest to find life elsewhere in the universe. And hardware developer Jeff Hawkins outlines how a new understanding of the human brain will advance our technology in unimaginable ways.

Philosopher Nick Bostrom wonders whether we ought to take steps to alter our fundamental nature to solve humanity's intrinsic problems: death and extinction. (It has been shown to work, after all: author Steven Johnson's tour of one of history's deadliest epidemics underscores the life-saving power of new technology -- in this case, a map.) And strategic planner Thomas Barnett talks about what we might do with technology developed to destroy: the deadly efficient innovations of war.

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