Many things available today are things I hadn't thought about 15 years ago, because it aren't straightforward SF things, such as:

-everyone has a cell phone
-GPS systems in most cars
-watching movies streaming over the internet at a speed faster than downloading a still image went 15 years ago
-handheld devices with color screens and computer-like abilities
-portable USB hard disks
-...

But the straightforward futuristic things I thought about 15 years ago still aren't here:

-flying cars
-humanoid robots that actually do something useful
-space mining, space hotels, space trade, space colonization, warp drive, etc...
-human like artificial intelligence
-cyborgs and stuff
-futuristic healing tech
-automatic sliding doors everywhere
-...

For me, most of the tech I never imagined would happen involves video games. I was 6 going on 7 in 1995 and 3D console gaming was just getting started with the Sony PlayStation. Now I'm playing games on my 360 in 1080p. To a kid who only owned an NES and a Genesis, such graphical capabilities were inconceivable.

If you would have told me back then that Nintendo would eventually make a handheld system capable of advanced 3D graphics (in both senses of the word, the 3DS), my brain would have fried itself. And then I would have been mad because you'd tell me I must wait all of those years to get it!

I also never expected Disney to go with 3D animation for some of their bigger movies either. Granted, I love Toy Story and I obsessed over it as a kid, didn't suspect they'd make anymore in that same fashion. I can only imagine how long it took to initially render all of those scenes on hardware and software circa Windows 95.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet, what about the dinosaurs? 1995 was the height of my Jurassic Park childhood; that movie promised me dinosaurs, where are they?

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Original post by Lode But the straightforward futuristic things I thought about 15 years ago still aren't here: -cyborgs and stuff

Wouldn't anyone with a pacemaker technically qualify as a "cyborg"?

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automatic sliding doors everywhere

A lot of supermarkets/grocery stores and some workplaces have automatic doors. In fact, I think I've only ever seen one grocery store that didn't have automatic sliding doors.

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Original post by Oberon_Command Quote: automatic sliding doors everywhere A lot of supermarkets/grocery stores and some workplaces have automatic doors. In fact, I think I've only ever seen one grocery store that didn't have automatic sliding doors.

Wth - turns out it's not magic after all...

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Original post by irreversible Quote: Original post by Oberon_Command Quote: automatic sliding doors everywhere A lot of supermarkets/grocery stores and some workplaces have automatic doors. In fact, I think I've only ever seen one grocery store that didn't have automatic sliding doors. Wth - turns out it's not magic after all...

Yeah right... Now you're gonna tell me that Santa doesn't exists. O_o

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Original post by Oberon_Command Quote: Original post by Lode But the straightforward futuristic things I thought about 15 years ago still aren't here: -cyborgs and stuff Wouldn't anyone with a pacemaker technically qualify as a "cyborg"?

indeed. and the cyborgs with external components will get popular the next years as tech is approaching mass market readiness (there where great presentations on ted.com for prospheric arms (spelling?) and legs, mind controlled. tech developed for the military, allready working.

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Original post by ChaosEngine Quote: Original post by irreversible - we would still have warm bear Warm bear? You mean like this?? RUN!!! As for technology, I am tremendously disappointed in it. No robot house cleaners (although roomba is a good start, I still have to do everything else), no flying cars (hell I don't even have a car that will drive me home from the pub yet) and I'm still waiting for my goddamn holodeck. About the only thing that's cool is the fact that I have the internet, plus nearly every album I own in my pocket.

With 3D televisions and motion controllers for game consoles, I think holodecks are closer then you think.

now that someone mention holodeck, I think that would be the greatest invention I ever wanted.

One of the main reason I was into game dev, actually, is not instant money - I want to create a virtual world I can live in. Think something like Ultima 6 + Super Scribbler + crayon physic games + whatever simulator & AI universities are working on right now.

I want to generate a world that can autogenerate iself. for example just like super scribbler, or some certain game I read in game development and architecture. i can create water and it's properties just by typing it in. so if i drop it at location under 0 degree celcuius. it will turn into ice (refrigirator, north pole, etc, etc). this way I can easily grow the universe.

i know a lot of people play MMORPG because of escapism (the same with watching movies) but current MMORPG is no fun for me. I think Second Life could be the next best thing to fit my desciption, but people behaviour when they hide behind the screen (just like youtube comments) put me off.

it would be great to have a holodeck you can live in, your style. but of course, i was a kid then. nowdays I just realize you just move to better place/location.

I mean, so say it in American style, if your neighbourhood is too much problem, too much shooting, and you scared for your child safety and growing enviroment, you just move.