1 VISIONS OF A TECHNOLOGICAL FUTURE

We encounter visions of the future just about every day. Obviously, this happens when we watch a science fiction movie in which we are shown a possible (even if not plausible) future; this also occurs, though more subtly, when we see an advertisement for deodorant or some other product telling us how much better our lives could be if we use it. Because they seem to be everywhere, it may be tempting to dismiss visions of the future as trivial or simply entertainment. But they often embody deep thinking about what is important to human beings and what makes for better or worse forms of living. Visions of the future portray futures suggesting how the world of today might be better in terms of the values we currently hold—a world in which people are not afflicted with diseases, lead less onerous lives, and are treated more equally. Or they may depict dystopic worlds cautioning us to be careful about moving in directions that will degrade our lives and diminish values we hold dear. Whether optimistic or dystopian, visions of the future often identify existing trends in society and imagine the long-term consequences of continuing on those trajectories. They embody ideas about the factors and types of events that might push social change in one direction or another.