As a kid, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what tech would look like in the future. Star Trek gave us a few clues: tablets, 3D chess, communicators (aka cell phones), and computers that could talk to us!
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what Allison’s world will look like. I’m not one of the writers who says ‘of course we’ll have 200,000 people living on Mars and trips to the Moon will be as commonplace as vacations to Europe!’ Nope. I am one of those strange people who use today’s world as a jumping off point for tomorrow’s dystopian adventure.
So, here’s a bit of my brainstorming:
Available in the near future (Within 1–2 Years):
These should be normal in a luxury home by 2025, let alone 2030:
Smart lighting systems (like Lutron or Philips Hue): programmable circadian rhythm lighting, voice/gesture-controlled dimming, geofencing.
Heated flooring with room-by-room zone control.
Smart mirrors that display time, weather, and biometric info (like CareOS).
Voice assistants integrated with every system (climate, security, appliances) — think Alexa/Google/Siri but deeply embedded.
Glass that tints automatically based on sun exposure (SageGlass, View Inc.).
High-level biometric security (fingerprint, retina, facial recognition) for entrances, closets, and safes.
Emerging Tech (Likely Widespread by 2030):
These would be available to people with money by 2028–2030:
AI-powered environmental controls that auto-adjust lighting, temperature, and audio based on biometric feedback (like pupil dilation, skin temp).
Security systems that track emotional states via thermal imaging or micro-expressions (think elite border patrol tech rebranded for home “wellness”).
Digital privacy rooms: a physical space shielded from all smart tech, used for calls or meditation (luxury developers are already selling this concept).
Emerging Tech (Likely Widespread by 2040):
Augmented-reality glass or wall panels that display personalized data (without requiring external devices).
Flexible AR bands: given current trends in wearable tech, AR/MR development, and miniaturization, this is definitely something that will evolve (Meta’s Neural Wristband, Snap Spectacles, OpenBCI Galea, Mojo Vision).
The Elevated Transit System (ETS): By 2040, Manhattan’s crumbling infrastructure, rising seas, and vertical living have forced transit into elevated, sealed tubes—suspended between skeletal towers—where mobility, power, and control now move through the sky instead of the streets.
There’s more in my dystopian brain but these are the small pieces that you see in A Ward of the State. Hopefully, those tech bros will lean in and get it all done ahead of schedule. I want my smartwall, dang it!
I am interested in reading A Ward of the State. Sounds like a great read! Thanks!