The United States’ leading intelligence organisation has warned that the world is entering an increasingly unstable and unpredictable period in which the advance of western-style democracy is no longer assured, and some states are in danger of being “taken over and run by criminal networks”. The global trends review, produced by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) every four years, represents sobering reading in Barack Obama’s intray as he prepares to take office in January. The country he inherits, the report warns, will no longer be able to “call the shots” alone, as its power over an increasingly multipolar world begins to wane. Join discussion...

“In this nearly 27 minute video Bruce Sterling, a leading futurist, speaker, columnist and science fiction writer, shares his vision on where mobile is heading. Preaching his story from a somewhat unconventional place, the pulpit instead of the stage, he managed to silence the audience. Check the video to see what he had to say to the Mobile sinners.” Join discussion...

Scientists have created the first 'humanoid' robot that can mimic the facial expressions and lip movements of a human being. 'Jules' - a disembodied androgynous robotic head - can automatically copy the movements, which are picked up by a video camera and mapped on to the tiny electronic motors in his skin. It can grin and grimace, furrow its brow and 'speak' as his software translates real expressions observed through video camera 'eyes'. Join discussion...

Forward thinkers believe we will experience more discoveries in the next 20 years than we did during the last 200. In The Singularity is Near, author Ray Kurzweil explains how the future will change the way we live, work, and perceive our world. The following describes some advances we can expect in the 2020s: Computers and TVs will merge. The computer, keyboard, and mouse are gone. Information from the net, along with 3D-TV programs, movies, and holograms are all accessed by a system that reads our voice and gestures, and then displays images on walls, cell phones, or directly onto our eyes without using a screen. Join discussion...