Is the idea of radical longevity going mainstream?

If I were anywhere near Washington DC in early October I'd attend this event:
http://futuretense.newamerica.net/events/2013/the_future_of_longevity

More people are starting to realize that advances in various health and aging sciences are going to lead to significantly longer lifespans, and, I like this term (new to me) 'healthspans'.  We'll be challenged to adjust our mental models of the world and our place in it as fast as the changes will come. Not to mention the challenges for the existing institutions and mores of our culture.

Here is another related article, from Slate: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2013/09/four_scenarios_for_our_future_lifespans.html


thanks to http://chinesecalligraphystore.com/free-chinese-symbols/chinese-symbol-for-longevity.html for the image