One of those people who really ‘gets it’ when it comes to nanotechnology is Brian Wang. He’s been active with the Foresight Institute for over a decade, and more recently has been an invaluable voice on the CRN Global Task Force. I just came across his Predictions for a Technological Future, a short piece that was a part of Rocky Rawstern’s NanoNews-Now. Here is a sample:

Bulk nanomaterials predictions
M5 Fiber 9.8 Gpa 2008-2011
Carbon nanotube fiber inexpensive and with over 50GPa tensile strength 2014-2018
Gecko mimicing wallcrawling suits for military and enthusiasts 2008-2012

Bionano
Customized cells 2010-2014
20%+ efficient genetically engineered algae ponds to generate hydrogen 2011-2016
Almost all fish (for food) comes from massive ocean ranches (over 100 ranches, each larger than a cubic mile in area) 2015-2025
Future Crime: Genetic modification of baby DNA to pass false paternity lawsuit 2010-2020

Conventional tech predictions
Free voice communication dominant 2007-2011
Wireless superbroadband (50-1000Mbps) 2009-2012
Fiber to the home (100Mbps-1000Mbps) 2010-2015
Nextgen communication (1000Mbps-10000Mbps) 2013-2020
HALE super antennas and long duration balloons 2009-2012

You can read the rest by following the link. His advanced nanotechnology blog is also a superb source of scientifically grounded information. There’s only one problem I have with his predictions – as with many futurists, they seem to largely ignore the possibility of superintelligence. Superintelligence is a different beast than all other technological advances, because unlike inanimate products, superintelligences can invent things on their own, including ways to make themselves more effective. And when they really get going, they will get going fast. The second humans stop being the underlying driver of progress, all bets are off. In Hofstadterese, this is called JOOTS – jumping out of the system.