Intriguing predictions, but is it realistic?

Have you ever wondered what the world will be like in the year 2030? International researchers who have taken a particular interest in this period of time are making some peculiar predictions which may make you gasp.

One of the predictions was a new type of contact lens that would allow drugs to be released straight into the eye to help treat vision problems.

Research is being conducted by Daniel Kohane, a professor of anaesthesiology and director of the Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery at the Children’s Hospital in Boston.

Researchers claimed the lenses would be a suitable alternative to eye drops and could even be more effective in some cases.

“Eye drops are not very efficient – only a small fraction actually gets into the eye. But the bigger problem is compliance. Things that should work don’t work, and that leads to an escalation of the disease and the therapy,” Professor Kohane said.

Developments in contact lenses may also include the ability to read emails through them, according to expert engineer and futurologist, Ian Pearson, who recently compiled a report on what he believes contacts will be like in 2030.

Mr Pearson claimed high-tech contact lenses would allow guests to check their emails without the need for a computer or handheld device.

He also alleged that by the year 2030, technology in world hotels could allow guests’ energy levels, health and mood to be monitored, ensuring they receive the best possible rest in a room that adapts to their every physiological requirement.

He suggested that augmented reality would allow any one of the hotel room’s surfaces to become a TV screen, photo frame or painting.

Mr Pearson said dreams would eventually be controlled and that we would one day be able to learn new languages while we sleep.

“Video, audio, smells and tactile experiences produced using our bed or bed linen will play a key role in helping to make our dreams feel real,” the report stated.

“We will be able to replay our favourite dream from a menu just like choosing a movie. Also, we will be able to link into dreams with our partner or family and friends and enjoy a shared dream,” Mr Pearson claimed.

Similar views were expressed by Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, who said the internet would be everywhere, including in a person’s contact lenses.

“When you blink, you’ll go online. When you see somebody, it will display their image and biography. And if they speak to you in another language, it will translate to English in subtitles,” Mr Kaku said.

Mr Kaku’s predictions on cancer treatments may also offer some hope to patients with the disease.

“Take a look at chemotherapy. It’s a horrible process where your hair falls out, you vomit but it’s a necessity to fight cancer. In the future, we’ll have nanoparticles that can zap cancer cells, individually, one by one,” he suggested.

“Those are molecules that hone in on cancer cells like smart bombs. In one trial, they were found to be 90% effective against tumours. When we have the capability to knock out cancer cells one by one, we will view chemotherapy like we view the leeches and bloodletting of 100 years ago.”

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