Future generations will spot vitamin deficiencies simply by using the toilet or looking in the mirror

A report examining future lifestyles of western inhabitants has highlighted how technological advances may impact the health and wellbeing of future generations, reveals natural health brand, BetterYou.

Written by Dr Ian Pearson, a futurologist and engineer with over 25-years in the industry, the report exposes changes in the home, workplace, and lifestyle such as exercise and nutrient delivery to establish a vision of the nation’s wellbeing and – essentially – our vitamin D levels come the year 2050.

2050 homes:

By 2050, home comforts will take on a whole new meaning as people will have the ability to create virtual environments that look, sound, smell and taste just like the real thing. This greatly erodes the differences between doing something for real outside and doing it virtually inside which – for many people – may mean more time spent indoors, away from natural sunlight.

Kitchens and bathrooms are likely to see the biggest change in the home over the decades, with smart toilets, smart scales and smart mirrors monitoring our health, offering status updates when used.

Pearson predicts that smart toilets will run chemical analysis and mirrors will run wide-spectrum image analysis and laser probing, to check skin condition and blood chemistry in great detail. This data, plus access to the user’s medical history, will mean that artificial intelligence (AI) could diagnose vitamin deficiencies – such as vitamin D – very early.

2050 work:

According to Pearson’s report, AI and robotics will evolve the future of the workplace, with the majority of humans being employed in a ‘care economy’.

Whilst this employment may involve life-size telepresence, face to face contact will be highly valued. This human contact, whilst positive, will involve more travel – most likely in driverless pods which are shielded from the elements, reducing time spent out in the sunshine.

2050 exercise and leisure:

Pearson reports that by 2050, exercise will be largely technology based, with AR allowing people to effectively place any exercise activity in personal environments. According to the futurologist, the days of playing sedentary computer games will be long gone and exercise will be ‘far more fun’, but nevertheless, activity would still mainly be indoors.

Indoor gym equipment will add to the diagnostics capability already present in home bathrooms, increasing our ability to precisely control and monitor vitamin supplementation.

The report suggests that by 2050, most people will have tiny implants in their brains that link to the cloud for a wide range of benefits from increased memory, telepathic communication and totally convincing virtual environments.

“Leading such indoor lifestyles could impact particularly on vitamin D production”, says Pearson, “which will likely be addressed one of two ways; either by taking more supplements or alternatively with spectrum available from enhanced LEDs”.

2050 nutrition:

In just over 30 years’ time, Pearson predicts that, thanks to the convergence of IT, materials and biotech, ‘active skin’, will be used to control or monitor delivery of medications and supplements to the bloodstream. This technology may be useful for those with conditions such as diabetes, alongside those diagnosed with deficiencies, as it will allow the monitoring of ‘perfect’ levels of vitamins such as vitamin D.

“2050 diet will be different, too”, says Pearson; “We’ll certainly eat far less real meat. Tissue culturing in factories could make actual meat, but plant-based food processing will also make a wide range of vegan alternatives.”

“Biotech convergence with IT is already beginning today, and by 2050 there will be a growing nutraceuticals market, straddling the line between nutrition and medication to make personalised supplements and food products to work best with their personal DNA and epigenetics”, Pearson continued.

2050 cities:

Looking 31-years into the future, Dr Pearson suggests that when it comes to our cities, AR will be commonplace; with the majority of trains, buses and travel pods utilising the technology to provide a more interesting view for passengers – such as beautiful valleys or beaches instead of concrete. AR will also stimulate a lot of virtual architecture, according to Pearson, with buildings and streets taking on any appearance according to viewer taste.

Pearson concludes, “2050 lifestyles for many people will be more indoors. They will likely need more supplements to make up for changes in both diet and reduced exposure to sunlight and nature generally.”