The World in 2030

286 The World in 2030
handed the full text of his own DNA on a small computer
disk. But he won’t be the last.
Soon enough, scientists say, we will all be able to
decipher our own genomes – the six billion letters of
genetic code containing the complete inventory of
the traits we inherited from our parents – for as little
as $1,000. 506
Some futurists are convinced that if they can live long
enough to reach 2030 or 2040 medical science will have
advanced sufficiently to enable them to both rejuvenate
their aged carcases and then to go on living in a constantly
rejuvenated form for an indefinite period.
The American futurist Ray Kurzweil is probably the bestknown
exponent of this idea. With his medical collaborator
Dr Terry Grossman, 507 Kurzweil wrote a book in 2004 called
‘Fantastic Voyage – Live Long Enough To Live For Ever’.
In what amounts to a manifesto, the authors detail their
research into emerging medical technologies which, they
believe, will soon enable them to, as they say, ‘live forever’.
Within a couple of decades we will have the
knowledge to revitalize our health, expand our experiences
– such as full-immersion virtual reality incorporating
all of the senses, augmented reality, and
enhanced human intelligence and capability – and
expand our horizons.
As we peer even further into the 21 st Century, nanotechnology
will enable us to rebuild and extend our