Although we might not know how the technology will manifest itself, and if we did, we would use it now as we would understand it, we can forecast the future by looking at the attributes that a future system would have. Those attributes become an objective for us to fulfil and if there is a strong enough desire then technology will eventually catch up.

So if I take the future of the home. I don't know the exact technology as it hasn't been invented but I would want a home that can recognise me and talk to me. That information like news, music, videos could be in the place I wanted them anywhere in the house with my command. Without lots of fixed bulky monitors. I would want to be able to control the security, lights, atmosphere, shutters. I would also want to be able to access my home remotely to check in and see when the kids are home.

So are these attributes we wish for a kind of prediction and how the technology materialises to deliver the attributes the unknow that we need to invent. I think if we follow this approach to thinking we can all predict the future to a certain extent. What do you think?