Andrew Maynard is a scientist and emerging technology adviser. He blogs at 2020 Science and tweets as @2020science.

What will a technology-driven world look like 10, 50, or even 100 years from now? Those are questions that some of the most inventive and outrageous thinkers around have been addressing at the yearly TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference. TED presenters have been wowing audiences with their future-tech ideas for a long time, and many of these talks are freely available on the web. But it can be a daunting task working out what to watch.

So here’s a taster-menu of five great TED talks on how technology might influence the future. Rather than describe the latest in consumer tech, they take on the much harder task of predicting how technology will change our lives in profound ways.

I’ve used a few simple rules in selecting the talks:

- Was I hooked within the first few seconds? - Was the technology potentially life-changing? - Was I inspired and challenged?

Some of the ideas here are more speculation than science, so you might want to wear your skeptic glasses while watching. But do remember to slip them off occasionally and allow yourself to be dazzled, entertained, and maybe even inspired.

1. Building a techno-sixth sense







Forget surfing the web; with the overwhelming torrent of information now available, the experience often feels more like drowning these days. But Patti Maes and co-researcher Pranav Mistry have plans to change this. Using just a camera, a cell phone and portable projector, they demonstrate a new way of plugging into the net — one that quite literally provides the user with a sixth sense!

2. Mind control – closer than you think







What if you could change the way your brain works, without drugs or surgery? Christopher deCharms thinks we can, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (or fMRI). He believes this rapidly emerging technology will allow us to take charge of our gray matter in new ways — and sooner than you might think.

3. Will death eventually be a thing of the past?







When I first met Aubrey de Grey, he introduced himself as someone who doesn’t believe in death. This is a guy who says meaningful human life can be extended to a thousand years plus, and thinks he knows how. Skeptical? Watch the video and see if he can convince you.

4. The ultimate reboot







Juan Enriquez' talk is a slow burner; you don’t get to the tech stuff until about half way through. But he’s also a really entertaining speaker, so you tend not to mind. Starting from the current global economic downturn, Juan argues that there is a much bigger disruption to global society on its way, spurred on by rapidly developing technologies like biotech and robotics. In his words, we are looking at society’s "ultimate reboot." This one is worth sticking with!

5. Embracing an exponentially advancing future







Finally, how could a selection of future-tech talks not include Ray Kurzweil? Filmed in 2005, this is a little dated (his 2010 predictions seem a little optimistic). But you still can’t help be blown away by the audacity of his vision. He believes we’re heading for a radical merging of humanity and technology. What do you think?

See also: 5 TED Talks on Science That Will Blow Your Mind and Top 7 Places to Watch Great Minds in Action

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, MarkCoffeyPhoto