Even as technology reshapes our world, from atomic-scale devices to flying cars, some things never change. The very technology that has permitted us to make global transactions in seconds makes us even more vulnerable to having our "cyber-pockets" picked. Identity theft has become an epidemic that costs businesses and consumers billions. What are the implications, and how will this problem be solved? We'll show you.

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Even as recently as the mid-‘90s, most serious scientists and technology analysts dismissed nanotechnology as a far-off dream. A few visionaries like Eric Drexler and a few analysts like the Trends editors saw the potential and anticipated the hurdles. But, that's all changed. Beginning in 2002, venture capitalists stepped up to the plate to fund nanotech startups, and the business press finally started to talk about the possibility of a nanotech boom that might resemble the dot-com boom. Now it is gaining momentum, and we see big opportunities in nanotech. However, we don't see it paralleling the dot-com boom.

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If you're a typical Baby Boomer, you'll recall the vision of the 21st century world popularized on TV in the 1960s by The Jetsons, the middle-class cartoon family with a robot maid and a flying car. As we've discussed in prior issues, the full-blown robot maid will take a couple more decades to arrive, but it's not as remote as most people think. Similarly, the flying car may not be all that far away either, at least for affluent executives and middle-market entrepreneurs who value their time. We'll show how several trends are converging to make this a reality beginning in the next decade.

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We're about to enter a new era in transportation, in which cars will drive themselves. After decades of development, the technology is finally close to becoming a reality. What can we expect when drivers are automated and highways are "smart"? We'll explain.

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Twenty years ago, the Western economies were quaking in fear of mighty Japan, Inc., which threatened to crush every competitor. Over the subsequent decade, Japan remained a force to be reckoned with, even as the Trends editors highlighted the underlying weaknesses of its industrial system and the ticking time bomb hiding in its demographics. Then, when Japan began its decline roughly a decade ago, most Western commentators were astounded. Today, Japan is finally emerging from a decade of recession to reassume its place among the world's leading economies. Can it keep going, or will it stall and fall back into decline? The answer to this question is complex, but it is vitally important for the global economy. We'll explore what is happening, and what lies ahead.

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After four years of worrying about a job shortage, we're transitioning back to a world with an employee shortage. Rather than being a threat to employees, offshoring and immigration will prove to be the salvation of American businesses. Employers must emphasize a three-pronged strategy: training, retention, and automation. If the labor supply is effectively managed along with good trade and monetary policies, this embryonic boom can be kept going for a decade or more and average nearly 4 percent growth.

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