What the Future Holds

Abstract

It is dangerous to make predictions about the future. Unforseen events and new discoveries often have a way of rendering even the most carefully thought out predictions no better than mere guesses. This does not mean that making such predictions is a waste of time. On the contrary, pointing out areas where more work needs to be done and indicating the possible forms this work can take are valuable exercises for developing fields such as reading research. Indeed, a set of predictions can serve as a blueprint for guiding future research and development.