Well with advancements such as digital cable, satellite systems, flat screen televisions and plasma screens on top of the new wireless home entertainment systems, it is difficult to predict what could possibly top these technologies. For the lay person anyway, but in this article the author makes some not too shocking predictions that will occur by the year 2012. I say "not too shocking" to mean that I wasn't shocked when I read them, but I never would have been able to come up with them myself.

His predictions are largely related to the gaming industry and that television and network programming is going to slowly fall by the wayside and gaming is going to become something much more virtually based with a larger percentage of the population taking part. The point of view is very interesting I have to say, and I can see it happening. Virtual Reality is now a household term and not just some new technology we only read about.

I remember when I first heard of the concept back in the network television's "Mad About You" days when Paul Reiser was using a VR device to pick up women. Nowadays using simulated machines and game controls is commonplace, and to think that plotlines and programs will move from television to a more interactive experience such as gaming is an interesting one. We are already seeing real everyday people involve themselves in television experiences through reality television programs and talk shows. The author predicts that some must haves will still keep the television available - things like news castings and sporting events. He even suggests that in as little as 6 years all this could fall together.

Even I wonder if this is true as news can be picked up on the Internet, and even sporting events are streamed in to their respective NBA or MLB or what have you. There really is very little you cannot do on the Internet, so these changes may even evolve sooner than 6 years. It's funny because my mom still tells me, "I never had TV when I was growing up". So I just wonder if I will be saying the opposite to my son as he grows up. "You should be blessed with your virtual reality gaming system, I had to watch TV and listen to CDs when I was your age!"