The Future is Coming, The Future is Coming !!

[Todd320]

Nuclear is the cleanest most sustainable power source. Other parts of the world are using it without issues and the day will come the US will have to get over its fear of nuclear. Batteries will have to become recycled to conserve natural resources. Hydrogen power for cars is also a viable source for internal combustion engines but people are afraid of it because the Hindeburg blew up eons ago. People are stupid most of the time.

Hydrogen is great, once you have hydrogen. The problem is, how do you get enough hydrogen? You use electricity. Way more efficient to use the electricity to power the car than to generate H, transfer it to the car, and then burn it in the car.

 

[Todd320]

Nuclear is the cleanest most sustainable power source. Other parts of the world are using it without issues and the day will come the US will have to get over its fear of nuclear. Batteries will have to become recycled to conserve natural resources. Hydrogen power for cars is also a viable source for internal combustion engines but people are afraid of it because the Hindeburg blew up eons ago. People are stupid most of the time.

You are right about nuclear, maybe numerous small nuclear plants is the way to go, instead of one large one. The newer designs in use globally are supposed to be pretty solid.

 

[Todd320]

With elderly parents/parents-in-law, I definitely look forward to a day when they (or maybe it will be me by then) do not have to worry about being able to drive. Would be nice to summon a car, or purchase a self driving one, that drives itself to the doctor appointments, grocery stores, entertainment, dining, etc. My mom and her friends stopped going to the theater in Tampa, since none of them liked the 30 mile drive on I-275 through downtown Tampa.

 

[Todd320]

https://www.startengine.com/liquidpiston
new rotary engine tech, 1-1000hp, 10% weight and size, 30% more fuel efficient than diesel...sounds great for boats if you can keep it cool without destroying the engine, and if you can make it out of 100% non-corrosive materials...

 

[FootballFan]

I think I agree with all of the points in the original post. Not sure about timeline or exactly the form change will take.

Several years ago when the concept of self driving cars was introduced, conventional wisdom at the time was that it would decades before the guide cables (technology that existed at that time) could be installed in all of the highways, roads, and streets. There was doubt if it would ever be affordable due to infrastructure costs.

Fast forward to today, self driving technology does not use "guide cables". The end result is the same, just the path getting there is the different due to technology advances.

Are you old enough to remember the prototype video call phones that AT&T previewed at a worlds fair (what's a world fair, may have to google that). It was a wall mount phone with a small screen. The photographs showed a lady standing in from of the phone attached to the wall, corded handset to her ear.

Smart phones changed that concept and made video calls ubiquitous!

The question I have is what happens when all those jobs are eliminated.

A recent politician tried to make the argument that when ATM's replaced bank tellers, it was simply shifting the work from a bank teller job to and ATM manufacturer job. The numbers don't work - a small number of workers can design and build enough ATM's to replace a large number of bank tellers.

The question is not "if" this type of evolution occurs due to technology - but - how will an ever growing population "pay the bills".

Have not seen any viable solution yet.

 

[Todd320]

That’s another thing that should go away, banks that have branches. I should be able to do everything online. Everything. Just no need for it. All the jobs went away for elevator operators, bowling alley pinsetters, telegraph operator, lamp lighters, you name it. Progress happens, and we adjust...

 

[FootballFan]

The number of grocery stores will decline - only smaller specialty stores.

The list goes on and on about change. Not new, look at 1980 to today. Only difference is the rate of change is getting faster.

 

[hughespat57]

You are right about nuclear, maybe numerous small nuclear plants is the way to go, instead of one large one. The newer designs in use globally are supposed to be pretty solid.

yes, modular reactors are already in the design process, but approvals dried up after Japan incident.

I work at an international AEC (Architectural Engineering & Construction) firm, the division I started at was Nuclear power construction. (really repairs and expansion as no one has successfully built a new US plant in over 60 years)
Every US nuclear plant is a one off custom design they really are each unique.

Hate to give the French credit but years ago 1960ish they approved a simple design and it is the only one they built.
Every plant is the same, every operator is trained the same way, they can walk into any plant and it will be the same. Eliminated a lot of potential risks that way. I think they still adhere to this concept.

 

[bmac]

You are right about nuclear, maybe numerous small nuclear plants is the way to go, instead of one large one. The newer designs in use globally are supposed to be pretty solid.

MY money is on SMR's.....

 

[hughespat57]

Ugh, as an engineer in an auto manufacturer I often think about things like this. I know my company has already started to build electric cars, but point 28 scares me:

"They will try the evolutionary approach and build a better car while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will take a revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels."

I've always had something like that in the back of my mind that my company wouldn't be able to keep up.. we shall see

I work in technology Senior Systems Engineer/Infrastructure Architect at a "three letter" company. Been doing tech since 1995.

I remember Bill Gates wanted "Windows in every car.."
No I don't want to have to reboot my car at the stop light...

My boat has 4 barrel carborator, small block 350, non-computer controlled engines.
The boat has no computer controlled accessories, lighting, winches; no Sea Ray ECM
I have computer based ChartPlotter, VHF, GPS, NMEA, routers WiFi, etc. but nothing essential to the boat running.

I drive a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 to tow it, it has the simplest of computer controlled diesels. And it cost me $1200 to have that computer fixed once.

I DO NOT WANT A CAR SOLD BY APPLE, GOOGLE or AMAZON!!
(it would be built in China of course)

 

[spikedaddy99]

21...yeah right.

 

[Stee6043]

I work in technology Senior Systems Engineer/Infrastructure Architect at a "three letter" company. Been doing tech since 1995.

I remember Bill Gates wanted "Windows in every car.."
No I don't want to have to reboot my car at the stop light...

My boat has 4 barrel carborator, small block 350, non-computer controlled engines.
The boat has no computer controlled accessories, lighting, winches; no Sea Ray ECM
I have computer based ChartPlotter, VHF, GPS, NMEA, routers WiFi, etc. but nothing essential to the boat running.

I drive a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 to tow it, it has the simplest of computer controlled diesels. And it cost me $1200 to have that computer fixed once.

I DO NOT WANT A CAR SOLD BY APPLE, GOOGLE or AMAZON!!
(it would be built in China of course)

There is some level of irony in a career systems engineer working for a tech company posting from a COO China tech device, lamenting the use of such tech to operate the engines in a boat whilst considering VHF and GPS "non-essential" rendering them okay to be techy

An interesting poll idea for CSR could be - Which has provided you lower levels of frustration, anger and drinking problems over the past 5-10 years: 1.) Your iPhone or 2.) Your 90's vintage carb'd Westerbeke/Kohler/Onan generator.

 

[b_arrington]

yes, modular reactors are already in the design process, but approvals dried up after Japan incident.

Hate to give the French credit but years ago 1960ish they approved a simple design and it is the only one they built.
Every plant is the same, every operator is trained the same way, they can walk into any plant and it will be the same. Eliminated a lot of potential risks that way. I think they still adhere to this concept.

Seems like a good plan. A downside is that it eliminates innovation and advances in technology. Not that red tape has allowed technology advances in commercial nuclear power generation for many years. Seems like we could make a far better / safer nuclear power plant now than in the 60's when most of them were designed. Whatever happened to the pebble bed plants that were being designed? Those were supposed to be a lot safer and more efficient.

 

[hughespat57]

There is some level of irony in a career systems engineer working for a tech company posting from a COO China tech device, lamenting the use of such tech to operate the engines in a boat whilst considering VHF and GPS "non-essential" rendering them okay to be techy

An interesting poll idea for CSR could be - Which has provided you lower levels of frustration, anger and drinking problems over the past 5-10 years: 1.) Your iPhone or 2.) Your 90's vintage carb'd Westerbeke/Kohler/Onan generator.

I totally admit to the irony, to add more irony I am a retired USCG Machinery Technician and an was a ASE Master Heavy Truck Technician. I do all my own repairs.

When I got this boat it was a "lake boat" with no electronics at all. I added everything currently onboard. Including a simple old ICOM M500 VHF and a ICOM M600 SSB both mounted below in the cabin as backups. The Chart Plotter GPS and a secondary dedicated GPS. And I carry a class 1 EPIRB.

Lets just say working with tech I believe in KISS where I can and redundancy where I can't.
As long as the boat runs I am confident I can get home with my good old magnetic compass. (head west till I see the shoreline)

 

[Steve S]

yes, modular reactors are already in the design process, but approvals dried up after Japan incident.

I work at an international AEC (Architectural Engineering & Construction) firm, the division I started at was Nuclear power construction. (really repairs and expansion as no one has successfully built a new US plant in over 60 years)
Every US nuclear plant is a one off custom design they really are each unique.

Back in the early 80's a friend was a welder at the Byron Nuclear Plant (IL) and I think it went online in the late 80's.. That's only 35ish years.

 

[El Capitan]

Bitcoin vs dollar, stocks, gold.
Car-as-a-Service. Nobody will buy anymore.

We’re so f@&$ed.

 

[hughespat57]

Back in the early 80's a friend was a welder at the Byron Nuclear Plant (IL) and I think it went online in the late 80's.. That's only 35ish years.

yes, you are correct I grabbed a number from the back of my mind...
The licenses were typically issued for 60 years

The last "new" plant license in the US was approved around 1978, then it took a decade to build many of them
And some had a license to add a second unit later, some did some got cancelled
A few weren't actual brought online around about 1990s

 

[northern]

Sure be nice when we get eclectic boats. Just think the $10 they charge you for power at a transient marina you will finally get your monies worth. It is minus 30 today. We heat with natural gas. Our roof is covered in snow. I do not think solar panels would work today and I am too old to climb on my roof and shovel 2,500 square feet of roof.
In Canada we are all locked in our houses so we are saving energy.

 

[Gofirstclass]

That’s another thing that should go away, banks that have branches. I should be able to do everything online. Everything. Just no need for it. All the jobs went away for elevator operators, bowling alley pinsetters, telegraph operator, lamp lighters, you name it. Progress happens, and we adjust...

I agree 100% about banks and branches. I was my bank's original "test pilot" when they went to an online banking system back in the day. I was the only one using that system to pay bills, check balances, have companies send my invoices electronically to the bank, etc.

I get an email that tells me I have a bill due and the amount. I go online to my account, open "Bill Pay", scroll down the list to that account, click on the amount owed and it automatically populates the amount and due date. Then scroll to the bottom and tell it to pay this bill (and others if they are there) then log out. Total time, about 2 minutes.

I could also do that on my phone but my fumble fingers would send $2500 to a company I owed $25.00 to. No thanks.

I am still with that bank, still using that same system albeit it has been upgraded several times.

 

[Woody]

I think I agree with all of the points in the original post. Not sure about timeline or exactly the form change will take.

The question I have is what happens when all those jobs are eliminated.

The question is not "if" this type of evolution occurs due to technology - but - how will an ever growing population "pay the bills". Have not seen any viable solution yet.

Recently in a similar discussion a fellow I know was anxious for all the changes to come. One of those changes would be universal income/work not required. I questioned why he thought that would be ideal. He said, 'finally' people could take all the time they wanted to chase their dreams.

I suggested the capabilities/contributions of an increasingly large portion of the population will become unnecessary, unwanted, or themselves unneeded....what dreams would they be chasing?