Christmas 2038: wild toys in a futuristic world

By Dick Pelletier

      

    What kind of Christmas can we expect in 30 years? Although it’s impossible to predict with 100% accuracy how the future will unfold, by projecting present-day knowledge with advancing technologies, we can make plausible guesses about what life might be like in three decades.

    Americans will experience radical changes by 2038. Driverless cars whisk us about effortlessly to our destinations, biotech and molecular nanotech keep our bodies youthful and forever healthy, and robot servants have become the most important family purchase. Christmas still includes sharing with family and friends, gift giving, and fun for children.

    Turkey remains the favorite holiday dish, but messy food preparation has disappeared. Nanoreplicators now provide perfectly-cooked meals that include the exact nutrients required by each family member. Mom selects the food and side dishes, which are then served by the household robot.

    2030s 'bots are programmed with human consciousness and have become the family’s primary information source. People can connect wirelessly by thought command direct to their robot’s brain and access its vast intelligence.

    Holiday decorations come alive on wall-size screens that display winter images with fresh air odors and mellow sounds of White Christmas, Jingle Bells, and Noel ringing throughout the house. Holograph images of Santa and reindeers add a touch of reality to this festive time.

    Mom, dad, and their 5-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son; along with neighborhood friends sit down to eat. And even though they live on a different continent, grandma and grandpa appear as realistic holograms for the traditional yuletide toast. After dinner and some much needed rest, the guests finally leave; and now the moment has arrived to open presents.

    With gleeful eyes, the daughter opens her gift – a Barbie Doll, 2nd generation robot. Acting human-like and programmed to require love and attention, the toy robo-doll quickly snuggles up to its new owner.

    The son excitedly opens his gift, Micro-Mike, a toy made of cubes that allows different objects to be fabricated. It’s an actual 3rd generation robot imager that can morph into a simulated live toy soldier or wild animal. Nanoradyne Corp says this is their most intelligent toy ever and it includes controls that prevent construction of anything harmful or illegal.

    Mom tries out her new Internet-connected dream machine that combines lucid dreaming with virtual reality. Using emotion detection and thought recognition, this high-tech system identifies dreams and replays an enhanced version directly onto the retina with rich video and audio. The "dream knight," who shared mom's experience on her first try was actually a man from England, who was also plugged in and dreaming away.

    Dad dons his new suit made of reactive nano-materials. This interactive "smart" clothing uses nano-swarms to sense other people's emotions. If someone feels sad, happy, or puzzled, he immediately recognizes it; and if a person is trying to deceive him, he knows that too. Using this futuristic mind-analyzer system will help dad develop stronger and more productive relationships.

    Could a wild future like this happen so soon? Clearly the road to Christmas 2038 winds around unknown turns, but strong commerce and government support drive this optimistic vision forward, which promises an exciting "magical future" for us all.

This article appeared in various print publications and on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.