Near Future Earth Setting element suggestions

Posting this for a friend looking for some help. The original thread is here:



http://ift.tt/1I5ndFV

Quote:

Extrapolating from current political, social, pop culture, technological trends but avoiding total dystopias or post Apocalyptic scenarios how would envision the world in 100 years? Scientific progress would be moderate to conservative. I'd like avoid certain technologies like Artificial Intelligence (in the science fiction sense: Thinking, self aware machines), "uploading" (as in transferring human consciousness into machines) and other items generally associated with "Transhumanist" science fiction. I'm really just looking for ideas, suggestions of possible futures and setting elements not an entire setting. For inspiration and a look at differing points of view.

Near Future Earth Setting element suggestions