A junior think tank has predicted that flying cars, personalised robots
and homes made entirely out of recycled materials will all be
commonplace in 2110 Britain. The research, commissioned by housebuilder Taylor
Wimpey, asked a panel of over 1,000 seven to 11 year olds how they
thought we would live in 100 years time, with some interesting results.
Environmental issues featured heavily in responses, showing that younger
generations already appreciate the impact the environment will have on
the way we live in the future. Over half (56%) thought homes would be
heated by solar power and 35% thought wind turbines would provide energy
to heat our homes. A move to greener methods of transport was also
predicted with 61% of children believing that we would all be driving
electric cars by 2110. Other possible methods of transport included
solar-powered cars, hover boards, moving pavements and teleporting.
The panel also expected the advancement of technology to continue to
shape our lives. Over 30% believed that robots would carry out most of
our household chores and other gadgets of the future included
self-cleaning toilets, clothes that dont need washing and ADMs
(Automatic Dinner-making Machines). Our homes will be made out of high
tech materials, not yet invented (64%) or recycled products (54%) and
the growth in the worlds population will necessitate man-made islands
floating in the sea (33%), underground bases (31%) and space stations
orbiting earth (31%). However, 69% of respondents said they still wanted
their communities of the future to have plenty of green open space such
as woods, fields, parks and lakes.
The futuristic research was carried out by Taylor
Wimpey to mark the launch of its Changing Lives, Changing
Communities project, a nationwide curriculum-based history project for
schools in England, Scotland and Wales.
Karen Cullis, head of marketing for Taylor
Wimpey, who is heading up the project, comments: Our schools
campaign looks at the way our homes and our lifestyles have changed over
the last century, so we thought it would be fun to ask children how they
thought we might live 100 years in the future. We were really impressed
with the creativity and imagination of the panel as well as their clear
understanding of the impact of environmental issues on the way we might
live in the future and the role that technology could play in shaping
our lives. One respondent even predicted virtual schools in the future
but I think that might just be a case of wishful thinking!
The Changing Lives, Changing Communities free teaching resource for key
stage 2 can be downloaded at www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/schools
Source: Business Wire