Re: The Spike, nanotech, and a future scenario

Hal Finney (hal@rain.org)
Tue, 7 Oct 1997 12:18:38 -0700


Wax writes:

> I recently read that BT Labs are predicting Quantum Computers for 2004, which
> is a nice little power increase. I also read that IBM are using
> teleportation as a means for faster than light communcation. The really
> interesting thing is, this was all in a business computing magazine, so all
> this has now officially gone mainstream.

The British Telecom labs web page has an interesting chart showing when
their "resident futurist" thinks various technologies will arise, at:

http://btlabs1.labs.bt.com/library/on-line/calendar/index.htm

I'll say this for the guy, he's not timid. He must have about 300
different technological events laid out on a timeline spanning the
next few decades, spread over his 12 pages. To me his dates generally
look early, but I'm not going to sit back and take potshots at them.
The sheer volume of predictions is impressive even if they don't turn
out to be too accurate.

Hal

P.S. Somehow I doubt that IBM is using teleportation as a means for
faster than light communication, mainstream reporting or not.