Physics of the Future, by Michio Kaku

Chapter One

1.  I bought my first personal computer in 1994 and paid a small fortune to get the latest and greatest. In fact, I still use my original email address with AOL.com.  My kids call me a dinosaur. 

- When did you finally break down and purchase your first computer? 

- What was that experience like and how have you integrated computers in your life up to the present?

2.  “Moore’s law simply says that computer power doubles about every eighteen months. First stated in 1965 by Gordon Moore, one of the founders of the Intel Corporation, this simple law has helped to revolutionize the world economy, generated fabulous new wealth, and irreversibly altered our way of life.”

- Where have you seen “Moore’s Law” played out? 

- What are the pros & cons of such rapid change for individuals and for society?

3.  “Today, we can communicate with the Internet via our computers and cell phones. But in the future, the Internet will be everywhere—in wall screens, furniture, on billboards, and even in our glasses and contact lenses. When we blink, we will go online.”

- How would this change your daily life?

4.  “In the near future, you will also be able to safely surf the Web via your contact lens while driving a car. Commuting to work won’t be such an agonizing chore because cars will drive themselves.”

- Where do we see this beginning to develop today? 

- Would you prefer this mode of transportation?

5.  Kaku goes on to discuss the emergence of four wall screens, flexible electronic paper, virtual worlds, medical care in the near future, and living in a fairy tale. 

- Which of these offer the greatest promise & application?

6.  Midcentury (2030 to 2070) will give us the end of Moore’s Law, the mixing of real and virtual reality (augmented reality), universal translators, and holograms & 3-D.

- Briefly discuss the impact of each. 

7.  Far future (2070 to 2100) will offer mind over matter, mind reading, photographing dreams, tricorders and portable brain scans, telekinesis and the power of the gods…oh, my!   

- What are the practical and ethical challenges of such potential?

- What role might the Christian faith play in such a culture?