Hospital Art in 100 years

In 100-years, could your hospital room looks like this?

Predicting the future may be impossible, but it is fun to fantasize.

If research and technology keep growing at an exponential rate, then we will be in for some interesting art. For one thing, we will know much more about what art really is best for patients. If we are at the birth of Evidence-based Art today, in a century we should actually have a lot of good evidence.

Plus, art itself will evolve. Artists might not like to admit it, but technology has a major impact on what we create. Music really took off after the industrial revolution brought us machines that could make complex musical instruments like pianos. Painting took off after the industrial revolution allowed for canvas to be mass produced and for paint to be put into tubes.

Digital imaging is not quite two decades old, but it's impact is already huge. Imagine how that might change in the next century.

Virtual reality would be the most obvious ways for art to evolve. If views of nature are good, how much better would being immersed virtual nature like the picture above? It is not too far-fetched to imagine that virtual reality would evolve beyond just images and sound and incorporate our other senses.

Your hospital room would be transformed into a 3D space complete with sound, touch and smell. You could feel the gentle breezes and smell the wildflowers that are blooming at your feet. You can reach out and touch them. Not only would you see the stream above flowing, but you could hear it and dip your hand into it.

Today we have a glimpse of interactive virtual reality with Second Life. Could such technology evolve so that friends and family could visit in a virtual way that felt real?

Or, perhaps in 100 years we won't need hospital art because we will no longer need hospitals.

I sure hope I am around to see the changes...