To mark its 20th anniversary, Kaspersky has created a map to help people “look back and look forward” simultaneously. Called Earth 2050, the map provides a fascinating glimpse at a future based on predictions from futurists, professionals and members of the public.
It shows groups of yellow and white hexagons, with yellow representing places where cities, objects, and events of the future have been visualised, while white hexagons show predictions without accompanying illustrations. Illustrations can be added by anyone, after being vetted by Kaspersky, and predictions take place in the years 2030, 2040 and 2050. The result is a collection of 360-degree views of cities across the globe showing concepts dreamt up by professional futurologists and designers.
Stepping into Barcelona in 2030, you're initially struck by the presence of electric cars and sleek architecture – but it's not entirely unrecognisable. Fast-forward another 10 years and it's still a familiar landscape. Yet, by the 2050 mark, you might notice something a little strange obstructing the Spanish skyline. Something that is, without a doubt, an alien spaceship. Or a human spaceship, with a Millenium-Falcon-esque design.
The prediction for Barcelona, made by Anton Vodogreev, states that “by 2050, the tallest buildings may be over 50km...almost exclusively for space travel, and space ports will be more common. Many residents will be androids, but there will also be new biological creatures, genetically designed and lab-assembled...”
While space travel may seem appealing, many other predictions are far less reassuring. When hovering over Antarctica's hexagon in 2050, the area is shown as having lost its status as a protected area. Futurologist Ian Pearson predicts that by 2050, Antarctica will be a new "Klondike" or Eldorado" for the extraction of minerals and fresh water, the last resource/reserve in the world."
Dhaka in 2050, otherwise known as "Global Warming: Titanic City", demonstrates predictions made by the United Nations. Sea levels have risen by dozens of centimetres, leaving the city submerged. A scuba diver swims through a city where street signs have long since rusted away.
Another interesting facet of the map are the ethical questions it poses – the main one being, “is everything we’re doing today right or not?” It allows for contrasting views of our world in the future - a through-the-looking-glass effect that makes for an intriguing, if not dystopian, look into 2050.
The map is designed to reflect the future in all its possible forms. Kaspersky explains that “the future is not a stiff monolith, it’s rather a mostly mosaic of our concepts and ideas – everyone has one’s own, that’s why there's such a diversity of variants.” It added that Earth 2050 brings together "men and women of art and science, dreamers and innovators, to predict the world, technology and cyber threats of 2050."
It’s a long-term project, so some cities have yet to be included, but it’s hoped that with greater public involvement, more predictions will be added. Even if you’re not a futurologist, you can contribute and registration is not needed, however a registered member can participate in predictions as well as watch them happen.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
