Rich Antcliff, Chief Technologist at NASA Langley Research Center, gave a presentation titled "Innovating the Future". The presentation discussed exponential technological growth, reverse engineering the brain, impacts of ongoing IT revolution on society, augmented and virtual reality, and digital transparency. It also covered robotics, human augmentation, global demographics, climate change, energy issues, and the importance of innovation to economic leadership. The goal was to illustrate how rapidly technology is advancing and transforming society.
ICT role in 21st century education and its challenges
NASA FEI
1. Innovating the Future
Rich Antcliff
Chief Technologist
NASA Langley Research Center
“Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its
original dimensions.”
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 1
2. Waves crashing in the distance . . .
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 2
3. Technological Exponentials
Quiz:
Lily pads can grow fast.
Imagine that you discover a variety
of lily pads that can double in
number every day.
It takes 100 days for them grow to
cover a pond halfway.
How many days will it take to
completely cover the pond?
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 3
6. Reverse Engineering the Brain:
the ultimate source of the templates of intelligence
The Cerebellum
Gathering data from multiple
studies, Javier F. Medina, Michael
D. Mauk, and their colleagues at
the University of Texas Medical
School devised a detailed bottom-
up simulation of the cerebellum.
Their simulation includes over
10,000 simulated neurons and
300,000 synapses, and includes
all of the principal types of
cerebellum cells.
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 6
7. IMPACTS OF ONGOING IT
REVOLUTION UPON SOCIETY
• Work (at home telecommuting, reduced local/corporal travel)
• Shopping (at home web based, (robotic?) delivery)
• Entertainment/leisure (at home immersive 3-D interactive/multi-
sensory via VR/holographic projection)
• Travel (3-D/interactive/multi-sensory tele-travel)
• Education (at home low cost asynchronous, web based on-
demand, highly motivational, life-long distance learning, .edu)
• Health (at home interactive tele-medicine)
• Politics (increased real-time virtual involvement of the body
politic)
• Commerce (tele-commerce already ubiquitous)
• Tele/Digital/on-site Manufacturing
• Tele-Socialization, Tele -[onsite] Manufacturing
15. Human- Related
“Bio Revolution Products”
• Human Adaptation
– Direct Photosynthesis
– Micro g/Radiation Hardening (for Space)
– “Water-Breathing”
• Human Amplification/”Cosmetics”
– Dogs’ Nose, Cats’ ear , Strength Enhancement
– Brain Augmentation
– Custom features/”colors”,”Tails”?
• Human Maintenance/SERIOUS Life Extension
– Disease Prevention
– “Parts Replacement”
– Currently,~.5 year/year heading to 1 year/year
“Designer Humans”………
16. The “Ultimate” Education
Approach - Plug and Play
Direct Silicon (or other such) device connection to
brain, (very rapid) uploads, Education in minutes
instead of
(many) years
17. Innovation is Accelerating
Percent of U.S. households with:
Television Electricity Air Travel
100%
Telephone
Radio
90%
80% Automobile
70%
60% PC
50% Cell
phone
40%
Internet
30%
20% PDA
10%
0%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Years since product invented
Sources: J. Gerry Purdy’s presentation “The Next 50 Years in Mobile and Wireless” at Silicom Ventures, Trade press, Industry sources
Center for Accelerating Innovation
18. Ok, take a breath
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 18
19. Waves crashing in the nearby. . .
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 19
24. Global Demographics
GDP ’03US$bn
50000
China
US
India
25000
Japan
Germany
0
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Source: Goldman Sachs, Report 99
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 24
26. Global Demographics
• Engineering Graduates:
• United States - 70,000
• All of Europe - 100,000
• India - 450,000
• China - 700,000
http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2006/jun/09bspec.htm 2005 data
“..but the quality of the engineers is poor” - SO WHAT!
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 26
27. Language
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 27
28. Global Demographics
Those who ignore demographics will
do so at their own peril -
author unknown
Short breath
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 28
29. Waves crashing at home . .
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 29
32. Climate Change
CO2 Concentration in Ice Core Samples and
700
Projections for Next 100 Years
Projected
(2100)
650
600
Vostok Record
CO2 IS92a Scenario
IPCC
550
CO2 Concentration (ppmv)
Law Dome Record
500
Mauna Loa Record
450
400
Current
(2001)
350
300
250
200
150
400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0
Years Before Present
(B.P. -- 1950)
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 32
33. Climate Change
Boulder Glacier, Washington State
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 33
34. We are losing our partners
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 34
35. Who has the Oil?
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 35
37. History should be our guide. The United States led the
world’s economies in the 20th century because we led the
world in innovation. Today, the competition is keener; the
challenge is tougher; and that is why innovation is more
important than ever. It is the key to good, new jobs for
the 21st century. That’s how we will ensure a high quality
of life for this generation and future generations.”
-President Barack Obama, August 5, 2009
38. One man with courage is a majority.
Thomas Jefferson
Innovating the Future - Rich Antcliff Slide 38