BT Reveals Insight into the Future

In the future we could be holidaying in space while robots tend our gardens back home - according to BT's latest technology timeline.

BT's futurology department has gazed into the future to predict the technological advances that will impact our lives.

The timeline encompasses all areas of life influenced by technology developments including artificial intelligence, health and medical, business and education, demographics, energy, robotics, space, telecommunications and transport and travel.

It predicts by 2012, children could be entertained by video tiles in the bath before sitting in a playroom with wallpaper which changes to promote energy, happiness or calm. And they could even be interacting with toys that respond to their voices with matching emotions.

As beaches become more crowded and quiet corners become harder to find, BT predicts we could be holidaying somewhere above the earth's surface by 2017.

And by 2040, the timeline predicts we could get a space elevator to take us up to a moon village that will have developed by then.

BT researcher and editor of the timeline Ian Neild said: "The timeline enables organisations to design technology and products with future customers in mind, with a vision of the kind of environment they will be living in.

"Looking at the future of education or lifestyles, for example, will impact the way BT enhances and develops its broadband network."

BT Group chief technology officer Matt Bross said: "We have looked at a wide range of technologies and how these may impact on our lives in the future.

"Our futurology team has looked at both personal and professional scenarios when compiling the timeline."

Click here to view an interactive version of the BT 2005 technology timeline.

Click here to view a static version of the BT 2005 technology timeline

For full details, dates and predictions to accompany the BT 2005 technology timeline, click here