What's Next? Trivia Quiz

Answer: nonspecific

After surgery in 1989, Norrie May-Welby stated that s/he was both a man and a woman and could not be described as just one or the other. The Australian High Court agreed and the ruling was handed down.

Richard Watson points out some of the many practical problems that this legal decision could cause. One example is the question of which public bathroom a person of "nonspecific gender" should use.

This is a subject of debate in many places on the Internet. What about hermaphrodites? What about people who are born with a genital abnormality? Why should people be defined simply by their appearance at birth? Which is more important; the external view of a person by others, or their own internal perception of themself? I think that this is a debate that will continue for some years.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the International New York Times (US) 8th April, 2014,

Answer: Google maps

Richard Watson takes a light-hearted look at the future of Robotic Cars. Most of the technology is already available and he suggests that it would greatly reduce the number of road traffic accidents. He points out that the driver would be able to spend their time in the car doing something more productive such as reading, watching a DVD or catching up on their sleep.

He believes that Google did not spend all of the money, time and effort on Google Maps and Street View, just to aid ordinary motorists.

TCAS (Traffic collision avoidance system) is a major advancement in air-plane design. Although it will come in handy for the use in Robotic Cars, it was researched and designed specifically for aircraft.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the Financial Times (UK) 21-22 September, 2013,

Answer: perfect employee

Richard Watson suggests that when a recruitment agency writes an advertisement for a position, it sets out the recipe for what they consider to be the perfect employee. In that way, they will dismiss all replies that do not fulfil every requirement. In doing so they will ignore those with the potential to go far because of those quirks of individuality that we all have.

He suggests that the vast majority of people will buy a recipe book, but continue to prepare the same meals that they have always done. In cultures where cooking is still seen as an art, such as Italy, fewer recipe books are bought, but there is a higher percentage of creativity in the kitchen.

His argument continues on to suggest that, on the whole, the production of Recipes, IE "How To" guides and more rules, stifles creativity in all areas as we stick to the tried and tested methods. There are exceptions of course, but they are fewer and further between than in the past.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the Prospect (UK), February 2014.

Answer: ability to touch ones toes

Richard Watson states that using the BMI is unreliable for a number of reasons. BMI is only accurate for younger people, it is unable to distinguish between fat and muscle, and ignores the fitness level of the individual. He states that experts now agree that being overweight is a far healthier option than being underweight or extremely obese.

Two of the several theories put forward are that extra fat can help fight disease due to higher levels of the hormone leptin and that extra fat provides extra energy to fight infections.

This section of the "What Next" report says that the individual's fitness is far more important than their weight/height ratio or BMI. It does not mean that we should all rush out and pile on the pounds (or kilos) rather that our mothers were correct when they told us that a little of what we fancy will not harm us.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the New Scientist (UK), 3rd May 2014.

Answer: Jules Verne

Richard Watson states that many works of fiction are a starting point for science. Jules Verne had Captain Nemo use the oceans as his source of power. Science fact is now seeing that as a possibility and Lockheed Martin have plans to construct a power plant off the China coast.

The theory is that the lower regions of an ocean are a lot colder than the upper and because heat rises, the warmer portion is always on top. Using pipes full of ammonia, which has a low boiling point, the resulting steam can be turned into cheap, non-polluting energy. This is a simplified statement of the theory because I could not understand the rest of it.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the New Scientist (UK), 1st March, 2014.

Answer: anxiety

According to several sources, the colour grey, in all of its varieties including silver, is rising in popularity. Examples are in household paint, cars and clothing. Several theories have been put forward, but the one suggested as the most likely is anxiety and the colour grey is seen as comforting. Examples given include both granite, which is a very strong, grey stone and silver, which is the colour of armour and steel, behind which we can shelter.

E.L. James wrote the trilogy of novels that started with "50 Shades of Grey", a very popular series. As the Grey in the title refers to Mr. Christian Grey rather than the colour, it is unlikely to have contributed to the rise in popularity (other than of grey ties, yes I have read the series!)

Richard Watson's conclusion reads, "Alternatively, it could just be the whims of the fashion industry, obsessed with finding trends at the midpoint of each decade where none really exist."

Richard Watson's reference for this was The Guardian (UK), 16th April, 2014.

Answer: Dark Tourism Institute

The Institute is part of the University of Central Lancashire.

Bystanders at difficult and terrible times are nothing new. We have all read about the knitters who attended the guillotine in France and those who could not wait to toss their old fruit and vegetables when someone was put in the stocks. Even further back in time, stonings were performed by the general populace.

Tourist agencies have been set up to cater to this rise in popularity. Richard Watson sees this as a distasteful way to make a living, however I am not sure that I fully agree. If it is what the tourist wants and is willing to pay for, then these places can organise the tours.

Destinations include prominent battle sites such as Gallipoli and Gettysburg, places like Auschwitz as well as places of historical interest such as tombs of varying sizes (Taj Mahal, pyramids, catacombs etc). When I holidayed on a Greek island, a tour was offered that showed the cave where the women and children had sheltered from invaders and the local ship shaped rocky island that the German aircraft failed to sink.

This article asks if we are now more conscious of our history, plain ghoulish, or just bored of sunbathing on a sandy beach.

Richard Watson's reference for this was The Atlantic (US), 15th July, 2014.

Answer: replica pets

3D printing is only limited by the materials that can be used. I watched a fascinating video about 3D printing bones which are not rejected, unlike real bones from a donor. These can be safely left in the body and encourage new bone to grow to cover the implant.

Until LUXexcel, a Dutch company, found a way round it, the biggest cost in 3D printing was caused by finishing off the articles printed due to them being built up in individual layers. This meant that there were tiny ridges on all surfaces and edges and these need to be smoothed and filed down. The new method uses liquids which find their own level (think of a carton of milk dropped on the floor and spreading out) and then using ultraviolet light to turn the liquids into solids.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the Economist Technology Quarterly (UK), 7th June, 2014.

Answer: 60 cm (23.6 in)

The SociBot-Mini has been programmed with vision and chatbot software along with both a web-cam and a depth-sensing camera. With these programmes running alongside the more usual computer soft-wear, your friend will recognise you, know when you are happy or sad, have a chat with you and you can even change its appearance to suit your mood or the season.

All you have to do is to give her/him/it a name.

The SociBot-Mini and its bigger "brothers" were designed as communication tools. Instead of the more usual interactive TV screen, these robots were designed and expanded. If you look online, you can find one talking with the British Prime minister.

Richard Watson's reference for this was the New Scientist (UK), 29th March, 2014,

Answer: play with Lego

Lego sales just keep on increasing. The company holds a Guinness world record as the largest tire manufacturer in the world, producing well over 300 million tires every year.

Joey Tan saw a gap in the market and runs classes in building with Lego for young children. Unlike the infamous "tiger moms" of Singapore who push their children into avenues designed to aid their future careers, Joey Tan teaches the children the art of co-operation, concentration and fun on their way to achievement.

Richard Watson's reference for this was The Economist (UK), 16th November, 2013.