On a recent flight to Philadelphia the man across the aisle from me in economy class was wearing an Oculus Rift the way one might casually wear an eye mask. I mention the economy seating because these science fiction-worthy experiences are no longer a wealthy person's plaything: you can purchase a cardboard version of a virtual-reality headset on Amazon for $15. Consider, too, the likelihood of humans reaching Mars in our lifetime and, here on Earth, mass access to self-driving cars (hello, Tesla and Uber). There is a general sense of mystery, excitement, and unease about the effects of future technologies on our economy, health care, and basic social interactions, and so we are hungry for information about the futures these technologies might bring.
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