Intersection of Bio-, Info-, and Nano- Technologies

Biology, Chemistry, Physics;

Arts, Science, Business;

Social Studies, Humanities, Technology;

How One Affects the Other Towards the Future:

Bio to Info, Bio to Nano: Bioinformatics

Biology to Chemistry, Chemistry to Physics,

Biology to Physics;

Arts to Science: Science Fiction to Reality;

Social Studies to Humanities to Technology: Utopia/Dystopia

Info/Bio/Nano: Computer/Health Care

Biology/Chemistry/Physics: Health Care/Energy

Arts/Science/Business: Capitalism

Genetic Algorithm, Biotechnology, Neural Nets: Artificial Intelligence

By 2020, people will read documents either on hand held displays or from text that is projected into the virtual environment using ubiquitous direct-eye displays. Computerized Health Care monitors built into watches, jewelry, and clothing which diagnose both acute and chronic health conditions are widely used.

By 2010, students of all ages have a thin tabletlike device weighing under a pound with a very high resolution display suitable for reading. Intelligent courseware is a common means of learning, as students learn basic reading and math skills with interactive learning software. Significant progress will be made in understanding the information processing basis of disease. Telemedicine will be widely used, creating single technician health care to remote areas. Computer-based pattern recognition will be routinely used to interpret imaging data and other diagnostic procedures, along with the use of noninvasive imaging technologies. Lifetime patient records will be maintained in computer databases. Doctors will routinely train in virtual reality environments that simulate experience of medical procedures.

Role Playing Games: Synthetic Creatures, Synthetic Worlds, Snthetic Communities

Business Finance: Businesses need assistance in issuing debt and equity securities to the public; creating options, warrants, and convertibles; and managing leases and derivatives for hedging risk. Conversely, individuals need assistance in purchasing debt and equity securities, as well as options, warrants, and convertibles. Software Agents can be used to compare financial products and services from different vendors.

To issue securities to the public, business undergo preunderwriting conferences, filing of registration statements, public offering and sale, and market stabilization. Issuing bonds goes through similar process, with the registration statement including a written agreement between the business and trust company.

Businesses create options through contractual agreements that give its owner the right to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price anytime on or before a given date.

Businesses create warrants that give its holder the right to buy securities for cash from the business at a fixed price for a given period of time.

Businesses create convertibles, bonds that give holders the right to exchange it for a given number of securities any time up to and including the maturity date of the bond.

Businesses engage in leases to finance property, plant, and equipment. Such leases are contractual agreements that establishes that the leasee has the right to use an asset and in return must make periodic payments to the lessor. Leases allow the transfer of tax benefits from those who need equipment but cannot take full advantage of the tax benefits associated with ownership to a party who can.

Business engage in derivatives to change their risk exposure.

Use of Data Mining for Knowledge Discovery in Bioinformatics, Financial Service, and Military Surveillance. In Bioinformatics, knowledge of brain functions can be discovered; in Financial Services, products can be tailored to customer segments; in Military Surveillance, communications can be monitored.

The ten years leading up to 2010, see continuous economic expansion and prosperity due to the dominance of the knowledge content of products and services. American emphasis on venture capital, employee stock options, and tax policies that encourage entrepreneurship become popular throughout the world. The rapid economic expansion and prosperity continues through 2020 and into the merger of machines and humanity.

My local Worcester economy, being dominated by Education and Health Care, will be transformed by emerging trends. Computers will play a central role in all facets of education, as they will in all other aspects of life. Students of all ages will typically have a tabletlike device weighing under a pound with a very high resolution display. Students will interact with their computers primarily by voice and by pointing with a device that looks like a pencil. Health Care will develop bioengineered treatments that will reduce the toll from cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. Significant progress will be made in understanding the information processing basis of disease. Telemedicine will be widely used allowing physicians to examine patients using visual, auditory, and haptic examination from a distance. The use of noninvasive imaging technologies substantially increase, with computer-based pattern recognition routinely used to interpret imaging data and other diagnostic procedures.