Life in the Future: Tech That Will Change the Way We Live

Technology has the power to do many things, and changing the world is one of them. The technology we’ re already _____ and accustomed to has paved the way for us to innovate further, and this list of technologies certainly have the _____ to change our lives even more.

Robots

Chores, chores, chores. Boring but unfortunately _____ . What if robots could help save you the _____ ? We already have the beginnings with robot vacuum cleaners and smart home appliances. Larger, more useful robots are _____ , too. We could easily be living in a future packed full of useful robots helping around the home as _____ or chefs.

3D printing

Fridge running a bit low? Not a problem for future you. Just print some cakes, vegetables or even a pizza. 3D printing is _____ in other areas, too—pieces for a board game, replacement _____ such as knees or aeroplane and vehicle parts.

Li-Fi

Li-Fi has been experimented with for the last few years and has some interesting potential for super-fast data _____ speeds. Li-Fi uses light rather than Wi-Fi’s radio waves to transmit data at much higher speeds and is also ______ to be influenced.

Flying cars

When there’s no space left on the roads, it’s not unreasonable to think we might take to the ______ . There are already plenty of interesting flying car designs that show this future is a ______ possibility.

Colonisation of other planets

We’ve been destroying the earth for a long time. If we don’t, we’ll one day outgrow it. Plans are in the works to colonise other planets and Mars will no doubt be the first ______ of call. With ______ forward in technology, this vision of the future is quickly becoming science-fact, ______ science-fiction.

I log onto a computer at the doctor’s office to say I have arrived and then wait until a voice calls me into the examination room. There, a robotic nurse ______ me onto the scales and then takes my blood pressure. Some time later, in steps the ______, who is also a robot. He notes down my ______ and gives me a prescription (处方). I pay for my visit using a credit card and return home without having met another human being. This is my terrible vision of the future, which hasn’t happened ______ yet.

I should say I really do like many aspects of ______. I am a big fan of air conditioning in summer and heaters in winter. But I am writing this because I don’t want machines to ______.

When I call my dentist’s office and actually get a human being on the line, I am ______. But when I see the introduction of yet more self-service checkout stations at the grocery store, I feel like ______ “When it comes to cashiers (收银员), make mine a(n) ______, please!”

After all, human cashiers sometimes ______ you a store coupon (优惠券) for items you are buying.

Even more than that, real-life cashiers often take an interest in particularly cute children, which can ______ young mothers’ day. A cashier may also show pity on an elderly person ______ to get that last penny out of his purse.

Machines can be ______ and cost-effective and they often got the job done just fine. ______ they lack an element so important to everyday life.

Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is ______ no machine will ever have. It is human being that encourages us to smile at others, which nay be what they need at that moment.