We've come a long way since the stone age. These days we have so many new technologies which we take for granted. Some of these include: cellphones, the internet, computers, television, cars, GPS devices, microwaves, and many more. However there is still much more work to be done. There are countless inventions that are still yet to be invented. Today I'm going to take a look at 5 of my favorite of these future creations and talk about how close we are to seeing them.

1. Time travel: This is my favorite of all the inventions. I can't wait till the day when I can correspond with my past or future self about issues that effect me today. While transporting of people through time is not feasible at this time, there currently exists the blueprints for a time machine that can transport tiny particles and even information to the past and/or future. The scientist's name is Ronald Mallett. He is a professor of Physics at the University of Connecticut. Essentially, his theory on time travel is based on Einstein. Something about matter and energy creating a gravitational force. In essence, he wants to twist space and time with a circulating laser beam. He says that he should be able to do this within our lifetime. It must be a big deal, because even Spike Lee has joined to band wagon and wants to shoot a major motion picture about Mr. Mallet's life. The movie will be based off of his book Time Traveller. Though Professor Mallett claims that time travel will become a reality within our lifetime, he is not sure about when it will be available for commercial use.

2. Teleportation: I'm so lazy. So, when the prospect of being teleported from one place to another without being required to move was introduced to me. I said, "when do we start!" I look forward to the day when people have their own teleporation devices in their home. So, when people want to come over to your house, it's just a matter of calling ahead to say "Beam me up, Scotty!" But how likely is it that we will see teleportation devices in our lifetime? Well, so far, scientist have been able to teleport the information contained within a particle. Since two particles with the same information are the same thing, then it counts as teleportation even though you are transporting the information about the particle. In the process of teleportation, the original sample is destroyed, which produces some ethical implications especially with regards to teleporting living tissue. Scientists say that within the next few decades they should be able to teleport entire DNA molecules. Needless to say, teleportation in our living rooms will not be happening within our life time.

3. Flying cars: What would you consider something you can drive on the highway, as well as fly in the air? Would that be a flying car, or a road-ready plane? It appears we already have one of those in our lifetime. It's called the Terrafugia Transition. It looks like a plane and a car had a baby. While it's not the most attractive creation, it does serve as a means for pilots to have a convenient means of transporting their aircraft when weather conditions don't permit them to fly. There are other design models in the works for a flying car. For more information on the Terrafugia Transition, visit this website.

4. Smart Robots: Now, I know that often times movies paint a worst-case-scenario image of robots. Movies such as Terminator and I, Robot are just a couple. They would have you believe that if we make robots too sentient, they will turn on the human race and disaster would ensue. I don't believe this to be the case. I believe that smart robots would only be good for our society. They will be helpful to us. I also believe that there is a limit to how smart we can make a robot. We can't, essentially, imbue in the robots the qualities that uniquely make us human. Granted there are people out there making robotic faces that can make human expressions, talking robots, and robots that can perform many basic functions, but they are not able to make robots with a conscious. That is what I look forward too!

5. Brain-Computer Interface: This one I know is already in the works. I saw a 60 Minutes segment about scientists hooking up people and animals brains to a computer. Some times the electrodes were placed on the scalp and the person is able to control the computer this way. In extreme cases, for example a paraplegic woman had electrodes inserted into her brain and is able to control her wheel chair and computer software with her brain. There is also a case where a monkey is able to control a robotic arm with his brain. I look forward to the day when I will be able to write an entire novel with just a thought!

So, conclusively, humanity is capable of great things. The best is yet to come. Perhaps I should add to my list "cryogenic feezing and thawing of humans so that we can have an extended life", because I really want to see what the future has in store!