We're all aware that we live in a world that's been transformed by technology, and while this provides us with many benefits, it can also have some long-term consequences.
It's believed humans inhabiting the Earth 1,000 years from now will have very different physical characteristics than us now, and new technologies may be the reason why.
This outlook is due to 'Mindy', a human model created by a group of researchers from Med Alert Help and the New York-Presbyterian Orch Spine Hospital.
This experiment shows all the transformations that humans will undergo, as well as what they will look like in the year 3000.
The characteristics of humans in the future
Toll Free Forwarding has published a report which states that the "constant use of smartphones, laptops and other technology" will be why our bodies will change so much. These are some of the features that are expected to change.
1. Stooped over
First, humans of the future will have a hump.
"The design and habits of users of modern technological objects, such as smartphones and computer monitors, have a significant impact on the way we sit and stand," says the report. Thus, our descendants will be more stooped than we are.
"It has been shown that constantly adjusting our position to look down at our phone or up at our office screen strains parts of our body that determine our posture."
2. Claws instead of hands
"A recently coined condition, the 'text claw,' occurs after constantly holding your cell phone and curling your fingers around it in an unnatural position for long periods of time," the article states.
According to the media outlet, this change "is directly caused by the use of one particular technological device: the smartphone."
3. 90° elbow
'Mindy' explains another modification that will come as a result of frequent cell phone use, the 90° angled elbow.
"Also known as 'smartphone elbow', it is due to the position of the arm when holding and using smartphones, either for general use or for holding them next to the ear during phone calls."
4. The skull will get bigger but the brain will get smaller
Humans in the year 3000 will have a larger skull but, at the same time, a very small brain.
"It's possible that we will develop thicker skulls, but if a scientific theory is to be believed, technology can also change the size of our brains," they write.
5. Thicker necks
For its part, the neck will also go through some obvious changes.
"Going back to 'Mindy's' posture, the effects of technology on the neck have also resulted in a new condition, aptly named 'tech neck," the report adds, stating the neck will get thicker and wider.
6. New eyelids
"Screens cause headaches, eyestrain and even blindness," the researchers say. "Humans can develop a larger inner eyelid to avoid exposure to excessive light, or the lens of the eye can evolve to block incoming blue light, but not other high-wavelength light such as green, yellow or red," says Kasun Ratnayake of the University of Toledo (Ohio, USA).
FAQs
Researchers predict that office work and craning the neck to look at smartphones will lead to humans having a hunched back in the future. Currently, many people constantly adjust their positions to look down at their phones, or to look up at their office screens.
What do scientists think humans will look like in 3000 years? ›
Humans in the year 3000 will have a larger skull but, at the same time, a very small brain. "It's possible that we will develop thicker skulls, but if a scientific theory is to be believed, technology can also change the size of our brains," they write.
What will humans look like in 1000000 years? ›
Perhaps we will have longer arms and legs. In a colder, Ice-Age type climate, could we even become even chubbier, with insulating body hair, like our Neanderthal relatives?
What will the world be like in 1000 years? ›
Humans will become cyborgs.
In 1,000 years from now, merging with technology might be the only way for humanity to compete with Artificial Intelligence. Merging human minds with computers would create a superbrain that could perform complex equations and search the internet just by thinking.
What will humans look like in 10,000 years? ›
This suggests some surprising things about our future. We will likely live longer and become taller, as well as more lightly built. We'll probably be less aggressive and more agreeable, but have smaller brains.
Will humans evolve to fly? ›
To fly! The dream of man and flightless bird alike. Virtually impossible. To even begin to evolve in that direction, our species would need to be subject to some sort of selective pressure that would favour the development of proto-wings, which we're not.
Will humans be alive in 1 billion years? ›
Asteroid strikes, supernovae blasts, and other calamities could take out humanity. But no matter what, a cataclysmic event 1 billion years from now will likely rob the planet of oxygen, wiping out life.
Will humans look different in 10,000 years? ›
Humans looked essentially the same as they do today 10,000 years ago, with minor differences in height and build due to differences in diet and lifestyle. But in the next 10 millennia, we may well have refined genetic 'editing' techniques to allow our children to all be born beautiful and healthy.
What will life look like in 2050? ›
In 2050, the world will be vastly different from what we know today, as a result of the integration of whole range of technologies, including: quantum computing, metaverse, augmented reality, nanotechnology, human brain-computer interfaces, driverless technology, artificial intelligence, workplace automation, robotics ...
How long will humanity survive? ›
But how long can humans last? Eventually humans will go extinct. According to the most wildly optimistic estimate, our species will last perhaps another billion years but end when the expanding envelope of the sun swells outward and heats the planet to a Venus-like state. But a billion years is a long time.
A group of closely-related organisms that have common physical and genetic characteristics and are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring. As humans, we experience dramatically fewer hazards today than we did in our early evolution. However, genetic studies indicate that we are still evolving.
Would humans be able to survive 65 million years ago? ›
There would have been massive predators such as dinosaurs that would hunt a human. In addition, there would have been none of the modern conveniences of today, so the individual would have had to survive off the land. There would be no clothing, no houses, nor electricity.
What will Earth be like in 50,000 years? ›
Many scientists think that the next ice age will reach its peak in about 80,000 years [source: Revkin]. So, in 50,000 years, the planet will likely be a much colder place, with ice sheets approaching areas as far south as New York City.
How did humans look 10,000 years ago? ›
10,000 years ago: European males – 162.5cm (5 ft 4 inches). A dramatic reduction in the size of humans occurred at this time. Many scientists think that this reduction was influenced by global climatic change and the adoption of agriculture.
Will humans survive in 2100? ›
According to the July 10, 2023 article of The Economist, scientists estimated a 12% chance of AI-caused catastrophe and a 3% chance of AI-caused extinction by 2100. They also estimate an 8% chance of Nuclear War causing global catastrophe and a 0.5625% chance of Nuclear War causing human extinction.
Will humans be different in the future? ›
Human evolution relies on the differences in our genes and in our ability to pass on these genetic differences (ie our breeding capabilities). Over time, the population should change as these differences become more apparent. If the genetic changes are great enough, a new species will arise.
What is the ideal human posture? ›
'Good' posture allows movement with the least amount of strain and damage. 'Good' posture is sometimes described as 'back straight, shoulders back and tummy in'. In many respects this posture is good, but posture is about more than sitting or standing as straight as possible.
What is the correct human posture? ›
The key to good posture is the position of your spine. Your spine has three natural curves - at your neck, mid back, and low back. Correct posture should maintain these curves, but not increase them. Your head should be above your shoulders, and the top of your shoulder should be over the hips.
How should human posture be? ›
Good standing posture doesn't mean to be stiff or rigid. You should stand loosely and flexibly with your: back straight. head up, chin in and looking straight ahead.
