Since the invention of the internal combustion engine around 1860, technology has brought tremendous changes in our lives. The past two decades, in particular, have seen changes a lot of people might have never even imagined. Take an example of the most revolutionary of all technologies- the internet. At the beginning of the millennium, only around half of Americans had access to it, which has now exceeded more than 90% of the population. Such fast-paced progress makes us all wonder what the world might look like in 2050?! Here are our two cents on it.
Population Growth in 2050
According to the United Nations organization, the world population, which is currently 7.6 billion, is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. Now you might wonder how that could be possible given that the fertility rates are continuously declining. But while the rate of population growth will be declining due to infertility, there will be many other ways to bring new humans to the world and keep the existing ones for longer.
Due to improved healthcare services, the average lifespan of humans is expected to increase. Figures show that the number of people aged 80 or above will triple by 2050, from 137 million in 2017 to 425 million in 2050. Moreover, the advancement in technology will allow people to combat the issues related to infertility. Artificial wombs will be the preferred method of reproduction as lesser women will want to give birth due to myriads of reasons, and also to cater to multitudes of ‘otherhoods’’.
Medical and Healthcare in 2050
The healthcare sector is continuously seeing improvements. From the development of vaccines to the introduction of smart tools for providing patient care, the medical industry has seen a lot of progress within the past few decades. And the progress is expected to continue. We can hope to find treatment for currently incurable diseases like AIDS and cancer by 2050, or at least a solid way to deal with these diseases.
While talking about the future of the healthcare sector, Reenita Das, Healthcare and Life Sciences Partner, Senior Vice President, and the first woman Partner at Frost and Sullivan, said:
“By 2050, we are going to see a world where it is going to be commoditized, democratized, and consumerized,”
Automotive Sector in 2050
For those wondering whether there will be cars in the future in the first place, the answer is an absolute yes! In fact, experts predict that the number of vehicles will keep increasing, with over 3 billion light-duty vehicles on the road by 2050, three times from now.
Many of us look forward to the day when our vehicles will be able to drive us on their own or at least with minimum instructions, and that day isn’t that far. By 2050, it is expected that most vehicles on the road will be autonomous. Especially the truck delivery service will be almost completely reliant on self-driving vehicles.
Moreover, it’s also expected that the cars of 2050 will be more compact with morphing shapes. The steel bodies might probably be replaced by carbon fiber or other lighter materials, and the fossil fuel will be replaced with other renewable sources.
Climate Change in 2050
Climate change has become a critical issue as global warming reaches alarming levels. And if the situation persists, scientists predict that the global temperature will rise far more in less than three decades than it did in around 6000 years! Moreover, the barely-livable zone, which is only 1% today, will reach above 20%.
Some even predict that by 2050 or a little beyond, some countries, particularly in Asia, will have such a hot climate that spending more than a few hours outside will become lethal.
But all this situation is in the hands of the rich nations and whether or not they take strict actions to tackle the disastrous environmental situation.
Lifestyle Changes in 2050
By 2050, the population will increase, and most of it will settle in urban areas. Buildings will be sky-high, and cities will be settled from the ground up. Public transportation will be supersonic, concrete forests will replace the lost greenery, and over 50% of the jobs will be lost to robots. Mortality rates will decrease, and we’ll see older people looking much younger owing to improved treatment of diseases and rising trends in cosmetic surgery.
Education will become digital, with VR and AR becoming common tools for teachers and students. Retail stores will also become virtual, and shopping will become even more convenient. Internet will be accessible to everyone, and the infrastructure of ISPs will change. Even today, you can enjoy superfast internet speeds, which wasn’t possible just a few years ago, thanks to the progress made by the telecom sector. With services like Windstream Internet, people can enjoy lightning-fast speeds at an affordable price for their homes.
Wrap-up
Technology is progressing at a rapid speed which makes us all question how the world will look a few years later. From a significant improvement in the healthcare and automotive sector to changes in lifestyle and education system, the technological boom is expected to bring a lot of positive improvements in our lives on the one hand, while on the other hand, it might lead us to some serious concerns including a significant growth in population and alarming climate changes that can put human lives in danger if we don’t go in the right direction.
In the end, these are all predictions, and our future depends on our present behavior.
