I love looking to the future! I love technology that just works like you expect it to, and I’m amazed when I really start to think about the technology we do have. We have a space station! I can video chat with anyone in the world in real time. My phone sends a message without wires. In fact, most of my devices at home communicate wirelessly. But I always keep thinking, what’s next…?

Looking back at the 1950s and seeing how that era envisioned the 21st century, I can certainly tell I’m not alone in this passion. Notice there’s still an ash tray on the table…

Here are four great moments to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going in the evolution of technology.

1. Current Tech That’s Leaving Us
A myriad of current technology will be non-existent in the next six years. Which of these will you miss the most?

2. Computers Will Be Very Cheap
How cheap? Thanks to open source software and brilliant design, you can now purchase a basic computer for $35 with a Linux operating system.

3. Flexible Video Displays
Imagine walking down the grocery store aisle to something that resembles the Vegas strip, each product pitching to you in multi-media. For Harry Potter fans, imagine newspapers with .GIFs and short segments embedded into a physical paper (for those folks yet to give up on print papers). Flexible E-ink is already in development, and LG hopes it will be in products by this year.

4. Big Box Retailers Will Continue to Struggle
Electronic shopping will make a drastic shift to online purchasing with only a few niche stores remaining. And so it begins…The ax falls on 50 stores, hundreds of jobs in a reboot of Best Buy.

What are some things you can’t wait to see in the future?
I’m holding out for my own robot car that drives itself – which should be here by the end of the decade!

Thomas Broadus
Director of Interactive & New Media