Ask HN: Sci-Fi things that you would like to become reality

Tech: Time viewing. See: The Light of Other Days [Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter]

Horizon: Never. Why? Wormholes don't do that.

Tech: Near infinite storage for nearly free. I'm pretty sure that in my lifetime most everyday people will no longer delete files or care how big something is.

Horizon: 10 years tops. Why? Moores law for data storage.

Tech: FTL

Horizon: 50-100 years. Why? I have a sneaking suspicion that there's some radical new theories about space and time just around the corner.

Tech: Androids

Horizon: 20 years. Why? Almost all the pieces are already here.

Tech: Artificial human wombs

Horizon: 15-50 years. Why? Kinda already here, just needs moral/political support

Mind uploading. This opens up a load of other possibilities, like functional teleportation, living in dangerous environments, etc.

From Star Trek (Roddenberry era): Prevalence of the idealistic mindset. I do not, however, have any hope that this will happen.

Anti-ageing therapy i.e. lifespan extension (also related to medical science as a longer lifespan also requires dealing with other health issues like cancer). The technology for the first iteration of this is probably quite close, within a few decades or by the end of the century at the latest.

It's a thorny issue though. People are afraid of death but paradoxically this sometimes manifests in resistance to any efforts to address it. I think people have difficulty dealing with the idea of life extension in an equanimous manner, as the concept of death is loaded with fear.

So there will be arguments against it from many perspectives: psychological, philosophical, economic, religious and so on. These arguments can have merit and warrant due consideration but I think that fear and pessimism should be balanced with hope and optimism.

Free or very cheap sustainable energy. This would be a catalyst for a whole range of new inventions. Combine this with a more scientific driven earth under 1 government in a society that rewards reaching ones potential to get towards the Star Trek type society.

Medical science that can completely heal any injury or illness in minutes or at most days.

Pollution processors (from Master of Orion). I think the closest thing we have to them are carbon capture plants, which are pretty cool too.

Replicator tech. Post scarcity (within a reasonable pocket of the universe where there exists a energy inequilibrium).

Various senses-enhacing implants. Well, simply implants. Would be cool to go shopping and buy new upgrades for your body.

I'm still looking forward to affordable electric cars. Hopefully in the next 5 years?

Outer space exploration

SHAI HULUD