Future Now

OCED on Innovation in China

Anthony Townsend — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:07:34 -0700

OCED Observer is running a good piece this month assessing the state of innovation in China:

Technology Horizons

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Wii Fitness

Vivian Distler — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:35:45 -0700

This week, Wii Fitness will hit U.S. stores. We already know that people -- particularly seniors --

have been using the popular game console to increase their level of physical activity, and others have adopted it as a tool for rehabbing from serious injuries (see this earlier post).

Health Horizons

Flickr set: What will you bring to Maker Faire 2018?

Jess Hemerly — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:20:42 -0700

Technology Horizons

Meat vs. Miles

Jamais Cascio — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:14:20 -0700

Carnegie Mellon University's Christopher Weber and H. Scott Matthews argue in a new report in Environmental Science and Technology that, when it comes to the environmental (especially carbon) impact of food webs, the presence of meat in the diet matters more than the distance the food has traveled.

Ten-Year Forecast

Yet more praise

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:08:34 -0700

William Gunn at Synthesis describes X2 as "surprisingly interesting and engaging:"

When I read about it, it sounded interesting, but coming from futurists, I rather expected it to be all style and no substance. I was pleasantly surprised to find a substantial amount of interesting content on the site.

High praise!

X2 Project

Science Cheerleader and citizen scientists

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:02:16 -0700

I'm interviewed on Darlene Cavalier's Science Cheerleader blog.

One of the dangers of doing history of science or science studies (both of which I studied when I was in grad school, and taught before becoming a futurist) is that you end up spending time talking to your subjects. Generally, when you're an anthropologist, the people you write about don't closely read what you write about them: monographs on highland tribal manhood rituals or the semiotics of grain exchanges are hard to get through, even if you practice those things. Scientists, on the other hand, are perfectly capable of tracking down your work, and in my experience aren't shy about telling you what they think is wrong with your work.

X2 Project

The Future of Libraries as Places

Anthony Townsend — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:54:10 -0700

Being the only IFTF staffer based in New York City, I've been taking a "maker" approach to office space. Why carry thousands of dollars per month overhead in this overheated real estate market, when there are any number of wireless parks and coffee shops to set up shop at?

Technology Horizons

Fast food facts on the go

Vivian Distler — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:40:24 -0700

I love it when our local rag, the Palo Alto Daily News, is the the source for one of my posts. And it's even more fun when a headline is brought to my attention by a colleague while we are in downtown Palo Alto's only "dive" bar. (I hope I don't get in trouble for revealing too much!) And best of all, the story is about a company that I recently discovered and about which I have been meaning to write something.

"Getting your fingers on fast-food nutritional details" ran yesterday. As the lead 'graph says: "Calorie-counting fast-food lovers may be heartened to know there's a new source for nutrition information at their fingertips."

Health Horizons

Mixtapes & Playlists: A Few Favorites

Jess Hemerly — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:43:56 -0700

Online playlists are everywhere, some services better than others. As with most things that come in multiple forms on the web, I've messed around with many of them and have found a few favorites. (iMeem is not one of them.) Half of the fun is just browsing and listening to other people's mixes and with a bunch of good sites popping up, there's no shortage of mixes to browse. First, I like Muxtape, which allows you to upload tracks and make one 12-track mix under your username at a time.

Technology Horizons

IFTF in the news

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:26:28 -0700

The Institute's new future of making map got a mention in the New York Times.

As important as tinkering has been to the nation’s past, it could become a much bigger deal before long, said David Pescovitz, a research director at the Institute for the Future, a consultancy in Silicon Valley. A new report from the institute argues that the makers could force enormous changes in the ways that goods and services are designed and manufactured. The renewed urge to tinker, along with flexible manufacturing technologies, could shift production from big companies and stores to communities of makers and consumers, Mr. Pescovitz said.

"It’s about having a deeper connection with the stuff around you, and through that with the people around you," he said. That is why his research group took the slogan from the pins given out at the Futurama pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair — "I have seen the future" — and edited it for the report to "I am making the future."

"If you want something done right, do it yourself. That’s really what it’s about," Mr. Pescovitz said.

Ten-Year Forecast