Glimpse of the future: What it will be like waking up in 2024

IN A decade, technology will be everywhere, yet nowhere. Computers will exist in every day objects and the speed of information will be out of control. This is a morning in 2024.

Virtual touchscreens will make life efficient.

WELCOME to 2024.

You awake from your sleep, and your pillow moves slightly under your head. It is intelligent and has your sleeping data and heart rate fed into it, contouring to provide the comfort required for your body at different times in the night — and to support you as you wake.

The organic LED lights in your ceiling splash sunshine-coloured rays across your face as you open your eyes.

Your wall screen senses you stirring. A holographic computer screen consuming the entire wall of your bedroom comes to life.News_Image_File: A wall panel provides you a snapshot of all the information you need to face the day.

Technology is everywhere yet nowhere. Every room is intelligent, yet you can’t see it.

You go to the bathroom of your 55th floor apartment and a diagnosis is displayed based on your body fluid in the toilet and your DNA scraps flying around the room. This complete medical examination happens three times a day to detect protein from cancer colonies. It also tells you that you need to eat more vegetables.News_Image_File: A toilet may be the best cancer prevention.

You get your news fix as it scrolls along the bottom of your computerised mirror as you do your make up, and reorder your foundation through it as you use the last drop.

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You slip on your tech couture top, which maintains your body’s natural balance and monitors your health. It is man-made from renewable resources and rented from an online library. Since the price of cotton went through the roof, it isn’t worth buying clothing — unless it is second hand. You pull on your hemp pants sourced from an online vintage store owned by your friend.

Entrepreneur is the job of the year.

News_Image_File: A personal robot brings you a straw for your juice.

Your personal robotic helper shuffles into your room, with a breakfast made from homegrown produce sourced from the community garden. The morning meal is based on your dietary requirements, communicated to the robot from microscopic health and fitness trackers attached to your body.

You press your augmented reality contact lenses into your eyes and blink as they adjust. They alert you to the next superspeed train heading to the office, 1000km and two states away.News_Image_File: Jump on the superspeed train to work. It can take you easily across countries.

As you run out the door, you toss a load of washing into the wall-mounted waterless machine. It buzzes to alert you that there is a pair of red undies in with your whites, as you grab it out of the machine it automatically inserts the detergent and sets the time. It doesn’t start straight away, as it knows to wait for the off-peak moment when energy is cheaper.News_Image_File: Contact lenses show you the latest information.

On the pavement, you bump into the guy you met at the party on Friday night ... John ... errr ... Jim ... cue answer beamed straight into your eye by smartwear glasses. “The man in front of you is James,” a voice says into your ear.News_Image_File: A rollout screen makes it easier to read. Picture: Dr. Michio Kaku

He asks for your contact details, and you roll out your mobile phone to take them down. The big screen is unbreakable and large but takes up a small amount of space.

You let him know you will be on a virtual holiday for the next week.

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“Where to?” he inquires. “Bahamas,” you reply. “Expensive?” he asks. “Free. From my loungeroom,” you say.

Last month you enjoyed Istanbul, the month before you explored the Taj Mahal during a weekend break. It gets you by until you can save the money to get on a supersonic plane to Russia. News_Image_File: Take a virtual holiday to anywhere you choose — at the click of a button.

On the way to the train, you swing by a counter where your micro-lot espresso awaits. It costs $12.30. You also grab a 3D-printed sandwich with lab-grown bacon for breakfast.

You swipe your computerised magazine against an update pod on the side of the road and board the high-speed entertainment centre to transport you to work.

Today you will be as efficient as you ever have been. Technology is everywhere, yet nowhere to be seen.

This article is a vision not a prediction of how 2024 could be, partly based on studies by American theoretical physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku.