Another very important consequence will be a change in the patterns of transport, for a man and his work need no longer be in the same place.

When these new information and communications consoles are available, almost anybody who does any kind of mental work can live wherever he pleases.

Beyond this, any kind of manipulative skill can also be transferred from one point to another.

I can image a time when even a brain surgeon can live in one place and operate on patients all over the world, through remote controlled artificial hands, like those used in atomic energy plants.

Yet these developments will not necessarily mean an overall reduction of transport. I see a great reduction of transport for work, but increased transport for pleasure.

A result of this will be that vast uninhabited areas of the Earth could be opened up, because people will have far greater freedom to choose where they will live.

These trends will inevitably accelerate the disintegration of the cities, whose historical function is now passing. Cities will go on growing, of course, like dinosaurs, for the same reasons, and with the same results.