Intresting topic. I've seen references to nanotechnology and increased life spans. Anyone here read any Kerzweil or have a small belief in the singularity? I read a book of his on my last Canadian fishing trip, a fascinating concept if nothing else. Expondentially increasing technology opens some mind bending, and as of yet unthought of possibilities. We live in interesting times to say the least.

I read a lot of O'Neill's stuff when I was a sprout. None of his ideas on colonization required any great leaps in technology. We could have started these things 30 years ago. See Space habitat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia if you're interested.