December: What technological innovation I'm looking forward to

[jack]

I could have found an answer that fitted this question and yesterdays question both, but I decided they were interesting in different ways.

Technological innovations I think we're groping towards, which I'm impatient to have already:

A programming language with a syntax as straightforward as python, but works like C++14 is trying to, of letting it all compile to blazing fast code, even for embedded systems, by default, but letting you easily use dynamic typing where you actually want it. And of letting you use static type checking MOST of the time, but lets you be as dynamic as you need when you actually need it.

Widespread 3D printing of replacement parts, etc. We're nearly there, but we're waiting for a slightly wider variety of materials, and a wider database of possible things. Where you can say "I want this £10 widget holder from the supermarket, but can I get one 30% longer if I pay extra? OK? Thank you!"

Private cars replaced by mega-fleets of robot taxis and universal good public transport throughout/between all population dense areas.

Everyone uses git, or another dvcs, and the interface is actually consistent and friendly for everybody.

Decent, standardised, change-tracking and formatting for non-plain-text documents that allows sensible merging. (OK, this seems to be two steps forward and three steps back, so maybe there's no point waiting for it, but I'd still like it! :))

Comments

[naath]

Presumably robot-taxis are like current taxis - they come to where you are and go to where you want to be. Robot-busses would probably be cheaper, but of course less good for hauling Stuff(tm). Robot grocery-delivery-vans are also a possibility (my life contains zero "pack groceries to take home" because we have ours delivered, lucky us). I can shuffle lots of stuff (but not delicate food stuff, generally) by using a wheeled suitcase or a good rucksack (usefulness of same dependent on ability to carry them of course); supermarkets tend to put stuff into really useless bags, but perhaps the drive to get people to bring their own bag will result in people bringing bags that work better for them.

The very easiest thing your transit company could do is paint on the platform where the accessible car will be (and put it always in the same place); I wonder why this isn't done? The E* platform is painted with coach numbers for instance. That would need them to buy only a can of paint! There's a huge reluctance to paying for batter public transport, even in places where you have to play sardines if you want to use it to commute; I'm not really clear why that is, but it sucks.

[azurelunatic]

I wait at the "if you are on wheels board here" place. It doesn't always work.