When 2018 arrived, we all were kind of disappointed about the whole “still not riding around on hoverboards” thing. Wasn’t it about time, we said, to be able to float literally everywhere?

Well, turns out, maybe hoverboards shouldn’t be our first priority, because there are a couple more intensely awesome futuristic arrivals on the way. Here’s just a few of the awesome things our lives will benefit from in the future.

#1 Personalised Food Sourced From Your Data

Are you one of those people who, when asked what you want for dinner, resorts to a handy “I don’t mind” EVERY. SINGLE. TIME? Yeah, me too.

How would you like to have the decision-making taken completely out of the equation? The CSIRO are looking to invent a machine that will 3D print your meals according to data sourced from your devices. They’d be healthy, containing all of the nutrients that you need, as well as pleasing to the tastebuds. Hoverboards who?

#2 Tiny! Houses!

What is it about little baby houses that just thrills the heart? I truly don’t know. Maybe it’s because all of us are able to say “yep, I could definitely live somewhere with a fridge 10cms away from my face”. Or maybe it’s just the draw of a life with very little material possessions.

Tiny houses are also very sustainable, and are a viable option for the future as they take up little space and can be self-sufficient. They could also help solve some social issues surrounding housing.

Yay for teeny dwelling spaces!

#3 Medicine Reimagined

What role can robots play in terms of preparing us for surgery? How about calculating our doses of medicine through algorithms? How can we make bionic limbs more of a reality and less of a villain sci-fi trope?

Integrating machines and humanity within the medical fields doesn’t have to be terrifying. In fact, we should all be super excited for it to happen. (Because it is happening.)

Make us live forever, robot overlords!

#4 Robots For Good

Going forward, it has been predicted that automation will be an important part of our lives. As such, many startups are integrating machines into the every day completion of jobs. So while we still may be waiting a while on the whole hoverboard situation, we can expect a lot more involvement from the automation communities.

#5 Futuristic Streets

Something fun to think about is how different your life will look in 10, 20 years. Where will you work, what will you do, and physically, how will the world around you look?

Water-resistant pavement sounds good, as does more automated vehicles on our roads. Drones flying everywhere, cyclists whizzing past without getting yelled at by drivers in cars. Can you picture it now?

Now, how about one of those pedestrian lanes dedicated so slow walkers, as well? OK, this might not technically be on the cards but I’m just throwing that out there.

#6 Art You Can Walk Around In

Our interaction with art is about to get a whole lot more involved. You’ve heard of V.R. (virtual reality) and you’ve seen some of its uses (gamers) but soon, we can add the visual and creative arts to that list.

Just think how cool it would be if you could go into your favourite artwork, maybe walk around a bit, and meet your favourite painted person (the guy from ‘The Scream’ seems fun).

It’s storytelling on a whole new level, combining 2D mediums with ADVENTURE.

#7 Planning Ahead (Like, Really Ahead)

Do you know that feeling where you get your clothes out for the next day the night before, and you feel pretty stoked about that? Yeah? Now imagine doing that, except getting your clothes out 10,000 years in advance.

That is what the team at The Long Now Foundation is doing, and they are pioneering some pretty cool stuff – a clock designed to keep time for 10,000 years and an archive meant to protect human languages. We can expect a preservation effort to rival the hoverboards with this group.

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If you’re interested in finding out more about the world you’ll be living in, head down to Melbourne Knowledge Week. Find out more here.

(Lead image: Knowledge Melbourne/Facebook)