What will it be like in the year 2050?

No, no, no…
You’ve got it all wrong.

Gay marriage will be mandatory. Heterosexual relationships will be outlawed.
That’s the crazy fantasy du-jour.

For the first time in human history, there will be a true world government. The U.S. as we know it today will no longer exist. It will happen slowly at first, but the consolidation of power will grow exponentially. The profession of career politician will vanish as my minions wrest control from the old guard and institute a policy of “one man - one vote”, with me being that one man. Then in my old age as Emperor Supreme, I will face my own mortality and act to preserve my legacy in the most poetic way possible - by downloading my mind into a giant death robot.

I agree with the wireless power and data transfer in house, that’s not far off what we have now.

Moreover, yes there will still be keyboards, however, the way people will interact with their computers will involve a lot more than typing. Cameras will track your eye movement, slight hand movements, perhaps even thoughts and they will all influence the way you interact with the devices in your office/household.

Next to that, everything will be automated; all information you have and produce will be combined and pre-set for you. From there you can edit those things. This is already happening (e.g. Google Now looks at your data and gives suggestions on news you want to read, what traffic will be like on your morning commute to work, etc), but it will be way bigger, cross platforms and cross areas (house, office, shops).

In the future, in some more developed countries, only people who have passed a test will be allowed to vote. This will lead to less politicians in office who only rate well because how articulate they are or their looks. Because of the inflow of scientists and business people government is run more efficiently. The result is that the standard of living is very high and those societies excel in the arts, science and technology.

Because of the huge shift in privacy rights and patents there will be easier access to information, better health, less crime, better rights.

All in all the world will be a much better and nicer place to live.

Or as my fellow Doper said:

P.S. Buy Briga shares

Well, at least one of us has something to look forward to!

Is it a robot in the shape of an armed monkey? I would like to see such a future come to be…

There will be a great deal of longing for the past, and especially a huge demand for Bay City Rollers records.

Playing bagpipes will be a capital offense.

Obviously, Microsoft is dead because Office for the iPad was an Edsel. Sell your shares now.

Along with that of your white cat.