What new technologies excite you?

[Photolysis]

One thing that really amazes me with current developments in technology is how so many things straight out of science fiction are starting to have some legitimate scientific basis.

So what emerging technologies and inventions excite you the most? Are there any emerging fields of science you're particularly interested in? Are there any recent developments that blow your minds (hopefully metaphorically-speaking)?

A small selection (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emerging_technologies) of ideas from Wikipedia.




A few of the things I'm particularly interested in:

Fusion power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power)

Having access to what is for practical purposes, an infinite energy source, is something I find extremely exciting, particularly when combined with improved (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanowire_battery) storage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_double-layer_capacitor) and distribution. I just wish there was more money invested in this.


Stem cell treatments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell_treatments)

To say this would revolutionise medicine if we can unlock the full potential of it would be a gross understatement.


Modern Materials Science (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_science)

Two things in this field that I find particularly exciting are Metamaterials (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamaterial), and Carbon nanotubes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotubes) (and other carbon materials such as Fullerenes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullerene) and Graphene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphene)).

[Invader]

Metamaterials are going to make a huge impact on modern technology, from
the military level on down to consumer grade products. Aircraft you can't
see? Molecule-thick radio transmitters? Imagine the new microwave pain
weapon the military built (large, bulky) being reduced to a super thin sheet
that can be fit into a square centimeter. That's downright scary. Laser design
will be revolutionized. Architecture will be revolutionized. Windows that can
look like stone, wood, glass and anything else, all at the flick of a switch.
And that's not all. Metamaterials offer more than just fancy optical tricks,
but new structural qualities as well. We'll have new tracking systems that
monitor the trajectory of an incoming artillery round, and a piece of meta-
armor can have all of the power routed to the point of impact to prevent
damage to the craft.

I, too, would also like to see fusion work out for us, though I'm doubtful we'll see results.

[SnakeCharmer]

Synthetic biology.
There is already a substantial amount of knowledge about how biological circuits work, it's just a matter of rationally putting them together to produce new biological systems.
We'll have:
- effective bioremediation
- cheap energy in the form of bioethanol and biobutanol
- cell factories that produce cheaper pharmaceutics and chemicals in a green way
- cellular computers.
The geek in me is very excited about that last part.

[Noogah]

Wireless electricity.

-Never change a car battery.
-People with pace makers would not have to change their battery through surgery.
-No more charging electronic devices through wall chargers!

There have already been many succesful experiments with wireless electricity, when/if it becomes available has not been announced by any company, or scientist.

(I'm looking forward to seeing where this thread goes.)

[khh]

When looking at the wikipedia link, I kinda got excited about almost all of the possible technologies listed, but perhaps specifically the battery-related technology, the Crower Six Stroke engine, the optical and quantum computing and nanotechnology in general.

[A Roxxor]

The Next-generation Artificially Intelligent program that can dissolve grammar and lexicons and generate proper responses and thoughts on the fly. That excites me. Oh, and the next generation Artificial Life simulator that I am working on.

[Xei]

I shall create such an AI. :V

The one I think is most important is supercapacitor/battery improvements. Currently there's no viable technology available for transportation which would get us through peak oil, I don't think. We have the required technology for general power creation though; it's just political idiocy holding that one back (although some countries are doing very well - here's looking at good old representational democracy Switzerland). And of course, fusion power would be brilliant, but again, of course, thousands times more is being blown on fucking idiotic shit... oh don't even get me started.

[A Roxxor]

I actually may be onto something with this system I am working on... We shall see :E