Yes, I know that looking 43 years ahead is ridiculous for technology. But might it make sense for a place?

I live in a place - Upstate New York - that was way ahead of the rest of the US for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to the Erie Canal and the ensuing explosive growth. In the last few decades, Upstate residents have largely come to think we’re falling behind, though it may just be that we’re still a few decades ahead of the rest of the country, just on track to a less exciting future than we used to have.

43 years is a long enough time to open a lot of possibilities and carry existing trends to unexpected conclusions. I thought that looking that far ahead might open some new conversations beyond the usual finger-pointing.

Thanks to an extended bout of insomnia, and with help from a few friends, I wrote a series of stories of possible futures for Upstate. Some include technological advances, others include technology-inspired problems, while others are kind of business as usual.

I also can’t help but wonder if someone in San Jose in 2050 is going to be writing “Silicon Valley 2100″, wondering what their future might look like. Geographical advantages seem to keep moving.