Technology spurs fearless forecasts.

• Position: Your Life

According to the World Future Society, Bethesda, Md., here are the top 10 forecasts for 2003 and beyond:

1. Web-based control over transportation could eliminate drunk driving. Smart cars connected to public databases might automatically run a series of network checks on drivers before the automobiles will move. Sensors would collect and analyze the driver's breath for signs of alcohol, for instance.

2. On the technology timeline, here are some dates that new breakthroughs might be expected: confessions to artificial intelligence "priests" 2004; designer babies, 2005; video tattoos, 2010; insect-like robots used for crop pollination, 2012; ID cards replaced by biometric scanning, 2015; nanobots in toothpaste attack plaque, 2020; thought recognition becomes everyday input means, 2025; first Bionic Olympics, 2030; emotion-control chips used to control criminals, 2030; moon base the size of a small village is built, 2040.

3. Nanotech will be the new "new thing" for venture capitalists. Tools for developing and commercializing nanotechnologies are rapidly gaining power and sophistication, capturing the imagination of investors seeking new growth opportunities following the dot-com collapse.

4. Aquacultural veterinarian will be a hot job for the coming "eco-economy" A future economy that is environmentally sustainable will be rich with new career opportunities, including ecological economists, wind meteorologists, recycling engineers, geothermal geologists, wind-turbine engineers, and environmental architects.

5. Good news, bad news for water in Africa. Enormous amounts of pure water exist below the continent's deserts, which could help avert a future water crisis. However, underground aquifers cross international boundaries, raising the spec-ter of future wars as populations increase and competition for water resources heats up.

6. Animals will gain more human rights. Activists for humane treatment of animals are increasingly insisting on human rights for at least some animals. Researchers working with gorillas, dolphins, elephants, and other highly developed species recognize...