Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab, at the forefront of cybersecurity when it comes to protecting businesses, governments and consumers around the globe, recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary with the launch of Earth 2050.
An interactive multimedia project that takes users on futuristic adventures to cities around the world, Earth 2050 gives one a glimpse into social and technological developments over the next 10, 20 and 30 years. From food riots to our relationship with Artificial Intelligence (AI), to trends in city planning, no topic is beyond reach.
“Thinking about the future is our job,” said the creators of Earth 2050. “We should be able to predict what threats await us tomorrow and how to tackle them.”
At the moment, Earth 2050 predictions span 80 cities around the globe. The site, which will remain active for one year, also contains 12 VR-enabled panoramas of select cities including Barcelona and Shanghai and illustrations of innovative designs and cityscapes from the future. Forecasted trends will appear at the top of the map.
As a tool to help build more momentum for the innovative website and increase its reach, Kaspersky Lab adopted a new .Earth top level domain name (2050.Earth) for this campaign. This new domain name will ultimately help the organization to advance its efforts to keep our planet safe for future generations.
The first predictions and illustrations of the future were made by specialists at Kaspersky Lab and the futurologist Ian Pearson, but forecasts made by other users – dreamers and innovators – are also now available for viewing.
Here is a sample of some of the predictions so far:
Global warming will not cease any time soon, and by the late 21stcentury the weather in the Arctic will be so warm that there won’t be ice at all during the summer.
- Persistent population growth, dwindling water supplies and global warming will eventually lead to food riots that will snowball into resource wars.
- Scientists will create an affordable, nanotech-based method of sea water desalination, which will help save Africa and South America from drought.
- Everyday life in developed countries will become more and more comfortable. For example, chairs, couches and beds that change shape for your specific body type.
- AI will become more and more sophisticated, and robots will staff some jobs.
What do you think the future holds for our planet? Go to Earth 2050 to find out more.
