Contents for
July-August 2006
Volume 40, No. 4
A magazine of forecasts, trends, and ideas about the future.
ABOUT THIS ISSUE
By Cynthia G. Wagner,
Managing Editor
Tomorrow in Brief
Sharks and Stars
Smarter Buildings Improve Test Scores
Preparing for Dirty-Bomb Attacks
Bringing Books to Life
Portable Body Scans
COVER STORY: Plus: |
Can Minority Languages Be Saved? Globalization vs. Culture
By Eric Garland
The increasing mobility of people, goods, and information has driven a powerful trend
toward cultural uniformity and the extinction of local languages. But languages that have
young people, business, and government on their side are alive and thriving.
The Dragon vs. the Tiger: China and India Reshape the Global Economy
By Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies
India and China will vie for economic and political dominance on the world stage. Here's
an assessment of the two nations' short-term and long-term prospects
The Robotic Economy: Brave New World or a Return to Slavery?
By Arnold Brown
Robots are proliferating around the world and are getting smarter. The question for
the future is, Will we be in charge or will they?
Worlds to Conquer
Online: Multiplayer Gaming Comes of Age
A book review by Lane Jennings
Imaginary worlds enable billions of people to act out their dreams, and computerized
fantasies offer opportunities to make real money, reports Edward Castronova, author of Synthetic
Worlds.
The Battle Over Sprawl
Blabbing on Your Blog
Environment
Thinking Globally, Acting Locally on Energy
Use
Sweden Leads the Way to Lunar Colonization
Economics
Home-Grown Leadership
Information Security's Biggest Enemy
Global Increase in Glaucoma Foreseen
Replacing Our Body Parts
Graying Rural England
Technology
Neuron–Microchip Interface
Computer Viruses in Luggage and Pets
Government
Securing Food Sources from Attack
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July-August 2006 ISSUE OF THE FUTURIST
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