Ray Kurzweil is probably best known for his early 80's sample based synthesis. The Kurzweil 250 in particular.
I don't find him overly convincing in his ability as a futurist, at least no more so than my above post as per:
a) cybernetics
b) bio engineering of people, pets, foods, etc
c) artificial intelligence
d) further global economic interdependence
e) further massive ecological destruction / poisoning of ecosystems
f) further resource depletion
g) further electronic miniaturization / sophistication
h) life extension
Part of the problem being the unpredictability of not only the application of present technologies, but the unpredictability of "break-through science" both of which would have to be taken in the context of the unpredictability of socio-economic change.
Rather a tall order! Especially in the light of the real possibility that human nature itself may come under direct control.
