Ask A Genius 1167: More on 2085
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/11/12
*Interview conducted in October-November, 2024.*
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Let’s try 2085 onward. I’d argue for whole-brain interfaces and the construction of immersive illusions. Entire systems will be constructed, including the manipulation of emotions without the need for electrodes. It could be done through subtle manipulation using magnetic waves or other advanced methods. That’s a tough one. Indirect methods might work, but for precise applications, more intricate solutions would be necessary. Helmets won’t be enough.
Rick Rosner: Now, you can get a helmet that runs an electromagnetic field through your brain. It doesn’t shock you, but it somehow stimulates brain function. This is an actual technology called transcranial stimulation. It’s said to make your brain function better while you’re wearing it and for maybe half an hour afterward.
They’ve even used this technology on people with conditions like autism who struggle to understand social cues and facial expressions. By using transcranial stimulation, these individuals could temporarily process social signals they previously couldn’t. It’s fascinating.
So, there will eventually be helmets that target specific areas of the brain, like the “horny center,” to make you feel certain emotions. There’s a concept in a Greg Bear science fiction novel where terrorists kidnap industrialists and put “shame helmets” on them. These helmets induce feelings of shame in people who otherwise wouldn’t feel it, using transcranial induction or stimulation.
The question is how precise this technology can become. Precision might come from using these helmets in combination with VR rigs. The transcranial setup could potentially target parts of your brain that enhance your sense of wonder and suppress skepticism, making VR experiences more immersive, even if they aren’t perfect representations of reality.
I don’t know exactly how it’ll evolve, but this kind of technology seems likely. I also think we’ll see what I call “racks”—tiny living spaces for people who spend most of their time in VR. These spaces would be minimal, like 100-square-foot dorm rooms, because if someone is immersed in virtual experiences all day, they don’t need much living space.
There are already people who live in small, cramped spaces and spend most of their time gaming, sometimes for 14 hours a day. Some of them might do it virtually. They could be in their twenties, living at home, rarely leaving their room except for basic needs like eating, using the bathroom, and occasionally showering. In the future, society might develop amenities that cater to this lifestyle to prevent health issues associated with prolonged VR immersion.
These people might have small efficient apartments equipped with tech that provides passive exercise. About 20 years ago or more, there was technology that would stimulate your muscles with gentle electrical pulses, contracting them 30 to 60 times per minute.
Jacobsen: I remember that.
Rosner: It was marketed as a way to stay fit without traditional exercise. It wasn’t really effective, but it sort of claimed to be. The pitch was that you could exercise without thinking about it—the electric rig would do it for you. But I don’t think it worked very well, since that technology is no longer sold. I can imagine future advancements, though, because people need to move their bodies or they’ll face serious health issues.
There might be future technology designed to keep “rack folks” from deteriorating physically. Maybe there will also be dating technology for people living in these compact spaces. Some of them might still crave real-life human connection and will need to find like-minded individuals. I can picture couples who share a rack and live side by side in VR.
They might be living idealized versions of themselves in VR, where they’re constantly active and attractive. In real life, they might look pale, bedraggled, and miserable. They’d probably only interact briefly before returning to their VR world.
By 2085, we’ll likely have technology that could extend life to 120 years, with around 90 of those years being relatively active. There’s an old joke about someone who turns 100 and, when asked how they feel, says, “Great, like a 20-year-old with something seriously wrong.” By 2070 or 2080, a 90-year-old might look like a strange, reptilian version of a 52-year-old, capable of going to a bar for the elderly and meeting someone who’s actually 80 but looks like a hot, quirky 49-year-old.
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