Living in the future... or, it's not the same old same world if you'd bother to open your eyes and focus

It's curious, sitting here at anchor watching a host of world changing events and accessible new technologies coming to fruition and hardly anyone seems excited...

Now, I'm not talking about the newest snake-oil next-gen anchor designed not so much for it's holding power but more as an extractor of money from your wallet or Bendytoy's new joystick control system that purportedly gives the buyer the ability to dock in a marina with no unpleasant bending or skill...

Nope, I'm talking about life and society changing kickass leaps into the future and why the embracing of such wonderfulness is considered akin to being in the chess or AV club in high school.

So what does this have to do with boats?

Well, it all depends but for those with just a little bit of vision... Everything.

Way back when we first set out, we had an early laptop and an acoustic coupler which allowed us to do a certain amount of work while cruising (as well as get weather faxes and suchlike). Every year since, great strides have continued so now from mid-Atlantic we are able to sell DVD's and charters, blog and otherwise take care of business as easily (more or less) as we do from anchor or a dock now... How cool is that? Of course, this level of living in the future is really only doing the same old same with a little less effort, a lot more convenience, and hardly a great leap or giant step...

For instance, in the not too distant future (like the day after tomorrow) if you design a bit for a boat you'll be able to have a 3D desktop printer that will actually make it a reality and making a small product (or parts for a product) will be as simple as loading in the raw material and then pushing the print icon on your computer.

YOWZA!

Actually, the technology is already here, already available, and the prices are already coming down to seriously affordable... It's a whole new world! Of course that is a big part of the problem as the whole "new world" thing. It is often problematic for those who make big profits and run the show in the "old world" as the whole new world thing tends to impact on their profits in a negative manner. Much as the biggest critics of electric propulsion tend to be in the ranks of those who repair diesel engines as electric propulsion will impact their bottom line and they be some kind of nervous much as those who depended for their living on shoeing horses when the first automobiles came on the scene!

Take a look at the MakerBot "Thing-O-Matic" for a glimpse of the future which is not about yet bigger factories overseas with low paid labor but tiny factories on desktops in peoples homes just down the street and (yes dear reader) boats at anchor...