Future shot

Predicting the future and its technology is a great game. In 1998, I wrote my brief vision of the future and, for once, it is positive. No aliens or meteorite catastrophes, just an optimistic glimpse of what we hope to be. Based in 2018, a mere 13 years away, some of the predictions have already happened, some are close to happening and others are way off. Imagine in 1992 describing what 2005 would be like…

The eyes of nearly 11 billion people are fixed firmly to their huge plasma television screens; they wait for the first pictures of human beings walking on the red surface of Mars.

Science fiction? No, it is science fact and this historical event has taken until 2018 to realise. Despite many setbacks, the rocket was launched on schedule and was witnessed by the largest television audience since the Queen Mother's funeral.

The huge coverage was only possible due to Global Net International and the blanket of satellites that they own orbiting the Earth, although since they are the only broadcasting company and financed part of the Mars mission it was not surprising.

After the media implosion in the early 21st Century only a few companies survived, they belonged to the 'billionaire boys club'. Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch and Disney Global became the strongest of the remaining few; the enormity of their empires enabled them to slowly purchase and amalgamate television networks, radio stations, newspapers and exercised control over the Internet.

The media implosion occurred over a few years (2001-2003) and became inevitable when the 'big three' started expanding into all areas and could provide quick access to large amounts of information, programmes and the web at very cheap prices. During these two years businesses across the world switched to one of the three new operating systems.

They moved away from many of the smaller companies, lured by better deals and lower operating costs. This change had a large impact on the home market with employees swapping their software to remain highly efficient and be compatible.

Eventually every computer was running with one of the three systems, independent companies' profits quickly turned into deficits leaving them open for purchase or bankruptcy. Within eighteen months, the big three had virtual control and began to concentrate on research in all areas of media technology. Technological research became the key to success, every company was looking for ways to improve their personal systems and enhance the lives of their customers.

The employees of firms that had been purchased became part of the research programme and departments would concentrate on certain areas. Huge bonuses and lucrative incentives were offered to those who made significant breakthroughs or offered viable ideas.

Discoveries began to emerge and once perfection was achieved, they went straight on sale or simply upgraded into their operating system, thus enticing customers away from the other two giants, ensuring some small level of competition.

The first major breakthrough was made by one of the minor companies, Intel. The introduction of the 350 million-transistor microprocessor, in 2005, saw research programmes pushed further forward and strengthened Intel's position in computer technology.

Intel rapidly became one of the worldwide major companies and placed them among Coca Cola, Sony Philips and Mercedes Ford who had almost sold their one-billionth water-powered automobile. Business across the world was booming, the perfection of videophones allowed real time global conferences at virtually zero cost with crystal pictures. The introduction of high-bandwidth satellite connection prompted more home based business and the access to immense educational material improves daily.

The completion of the Gutenberg project in 2001 enabled every household access to over 100,000 books.

The escalating violence in schools, especially against teachers, prompted many education authorities in America and Britain to set up lessons based at home, this was achieved using the internet and special programs designed by Microsoft. Pupils log on to class sites and are taught by teachers miles away, completed work can be e-mailed and students awaiting exam results can ease the tension and access them immediately. The potential abuse of the system by pupils is monitored by a credit system, credits are used to earn time watching television, surfing the web and participating in other activities.

The improvement of education and employment in America has left presidential candidates concentrating on other issues such as crime, health and international relations. The introduction of e-voting saw the largest ever vote in a presidential election and the result gave America its first female leader, Mrs Hilary Clinton.

The high profile relationship with China has left the United States looking over its shoulder often and despite many attempts at different treaties offered over the past few years they do not seem interested.

Their development in computers and weapons have been a considerable concern to America and the rest of the world and the recent turbulence in their government put everybody on high alert.

Despite the lack of cooperation by China, it has provided the world with scientific breakthroughs in agriculture, the countries intense research programme discovered many new and improved farming methods that would amply feed the nation's huge population and not plunge it into a devastating famine.

Another global concern about China was the potential of each Chinese citizen wanting a car; shockwaves of horror flew around the world as the environmental effect would be devastating. After months of negotiations, Mercedes Ford promised to build factories in China and supply them with their new car that runs exclusively on water and emits no dangerous fumes.

The deal with Ford prompted China to consider a treaty with America and create a global community in which importing and exporting goods would accompany the existing deals around the globe. The unification of the world allowed the new President of the United States to initiate the Mars Mission. Every country gave its backing, offered to develop the technology and fund the project. To assist with the funding and research of the mission all of the super-companies donated billions towards it and promised to support it all the way.
The mission required all of the new technology that had been discovered and incorporated the near complete Intel development project, a billion-transistor 10GHz microprocessor which would enable all the spacecrafts systems to operate smoothly and independently.

The growth of the 'big three' over the past decade has become a phenomenal success and has left them deciding what to attempt now and still appeal to its customers. The result of a worldwide survey gave them the answer and it was decided to link the satellites and form Global Net International which would provide infinite access to all three operating systems on every terminal on and off the planet.