Change is a powerful force, and we all possess the capacity to harness it to shape the future.
I recently had the pleasure to speak at HP’s Greater Asia Partner Conference in Japan, where I emphasized the crucial role of being proactive change agents and futurists in our rapidly evolving world.
With today’s relentless pace of change, where everything around us is in constant flux, our ability to thrive hinges on our willingness to embrace change wholeheartedly. However, merely reacting to change is not enough; we must learn how to anticipate it, tap into it, and actively harness it to shape the future we desire.
This is the essence of being a futurist.
Reacting to change is not enough; we must learn how to anticipate it, tap into it, and actively harness it to shape the future we desire.
In a world characterized by lightning-fast technological advancements and seismic global shifts that are reshaping industries and societies, cultivating a futurist mindset is no longer a choice but a necessity. It begins with asking the right questions:
What emerging trends lie on the horizon?
How do we proactively prepare for the transformative impact of these trends?
How can we leverage these trends to create the future we want?
Addressing these questions empowers us to become proactive architects of the future, rather than passive bystanders. The truth is that we all have the potential to be futurists, and the future is an unpainted canvas waiting for our unique contributions.
Change is a powerful force, and we all possess the capacity to harness it to shape the future.
However, we must recognize that the journey toward predicting and shaping the future is most successful when undertaken collaboratively. It’s crucial to welcome diverse thoughts and perspectives from various domains. When individuals from different backgrounds and disciplines come together, they unlock the potential to tackle complex problems and innovate in ways that homogeneous groups cannot.
Diverse perspectives are the lifeblood of futuristic thinking, leading to more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective predictions that consider a broad range of factors. This benefits individuals, organizations, and society.
These principles provide a roadmap for success and resilience in our ever-changing world. By thinking like futurists, we take charge of our destinies, actively shaping the future we desire. In our pursuit of a brighter future, let us remember that adaptability, collaboration, and open-mindedness are the keys to unlocking the true potential of tomorrow.
The pandemic has caused a shift in the way we work, with more people working from home than ever before. As we look to the future, it’s clear that technology will continue to transform how we work, both in and out of the office. Join us as we explore how technology has impacted the hybrid and remote workforce.
Technology has been instrumental in increasing productivity while working from home. With advancements in technology to revolutionize working from home, such as virtual and augmented reality, digital whiteboards, and advanced video conferencing tools, we can expect even more solutions to help remote teams work efficiently and effectively in the future.
HP is committed to helping the remote workforce by providing advanced technology solutions that enable seamless remote work. One example is our focus on providing home office tech for hybrid work success. With the rise of remote work due to the pandemic, HP has recognized the need for high-quality technology solutions to help workers transition between home and office environments. HP offers a range of products and services to support remote workers, including a powerful laptop like the HP Dragonfly Pro, the user-friendly HP 710 rechargeable wireless mouse, or an all-in-one printer like the HP ENVY 6000.
Video conferencing boom
Over the past three years, video conferencing has restructured how we work from home, enabling us to stay connected with our colleagues despite being physically distant. With the increased use of technologies like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, people can now conduct face-to-face meetings, collaborate on projects, and attend training sessions without being in the same room. Video conferencing has made remote work more manageable and reduced the isolation many remote workers face.
A study by HP Tech Ventures portfolio partner Owl Labs found that 71% of remote workers find it easier to present on a video call than in person and feel more connected to their team when they use video conferencing. By seeing each other’s faces and body language, employees can build stronger relationships and better understand each other’s perspectives, improving teamwork and productivity. Moreover, video conferencing has eliminated the need for long commutes and allows people to save time and focus on their work. Another study by Axios found that working from home saved workers around the world an average of 72 minutes in commute time everyday in 2021 and 2022, leading to improved work-life balance and higher job satisfaction.
Streamlined communication and collaboration have been vital to keeping remote teams functioning smoothly. Technology has provided employees with a level of interaction never seen before. The influx of technology allows for effective employee engagement and entirely transforms communication norms. Video conferencing has become crucial in making remote work more manageable and connected. As more companies adopt remote work policies, video conferencing will continue to be vital for maintaining productivity, staying connected, and fostering teamwork.
HP acquired Poly last year, reinforcing our commitment to helping the remote workforce by providing advanced technology solutions that enable seamless remote work. We’re leveraging our combined strengths with Poly to create a unique, pro-grade experience for hybrid workers. According to a study by Lifesize, video conferencing leads to productivity for 94% of companies. As video conferencing is paramount for hybrid work, we are excited to see how HP will incorporate Poly into its software and PC offerings. The Poly Studio Room Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms can now be paired with the Microsoft Teams-certified HP Mini Conferencing PC with Microsoft Teams Rooms to deliver a complete solution experience for meeting rooms of any size.
Ctrl + Alt + Secure
As more people work remotely, cybersecurity has become a significant concern. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and gain access to sensitive information. Companies and employees must work together to fend off cyber threats. Between 2008 and 2021, the FBI recorded a 207% increase in cybercrime reports, with losses hitting almost $7 billion last year. HP Wolf Security’s Evolution of Cybersecurity report also details the rise of cybercrime and the importance of implementing advanced security measures.
As employees are often the last line of defense in an attempted cyber-attack, it is critical to equip them with the knowledge to recognize when such an attack occurs and what steps they should take to mitigate the threat. One of the most significant cybersecurity risks associated with remote work is using unsecured networks. According to the Norton Cyber Security Insights Report, 49% of people in the U.S. never use a virtual private network (VPN) when they connect to public Wi-Fi. To protect against this risk, remote workers should use a VPN to encrypt their data and prevent it from being intercepted. To minimize the risk of a data breach, remote workers should ensure that their devices are equipped with up-to-date antivirus software and that all software and operating systems are regularly patched and updated.
Overall, cybersecurity is critical when working from home. Remote workers should be aware of the risks associated with remote work and take appropriate measures to protect their devices and data. By using secure networks, regularly updating software, and utilizing strong passwords, remote workers can help minimize the risk of a cyberattack and ensure that sensitive data remains safe and secure.
Technology is transforming how we work from home, with increased productivity, improved collaboration, and advanced cybersecurity measures. As we continue to adapt to a new way of working, it’s clear that technology will play a vital role in ensuring that remote workers can work effectively and securely.
Gaming continues to be a hot topic this year as startups innovate for the world’s 3 billion gamers. From haptic clothing that lets you feel your games to technology that adds smell to your virtual reality experiences, here are the top gaming startups to watch this year:
Mobalytics, (we’re biased; it is an HP Tech Ventures portfolio company) is an AI-powered personal gaming assistant that helps gamers conquer their favorite games. As the first personal performance analytics for competitive gamers, the platform analyzes players’ performance over many sessions and, helps them define their weaknesses and strengths, and provides personalized advice on improving their aim, strategy, teamwork, etc.
Why we’re watching
We admire Mobalytics’ bold vision to help all gamers reach their full potential, and their founder and CEO, Bogdan Suchyk, embodies that spirit by leading as though nothing is impossible.
Avalon is revolutionizing how games and virtual experiences are built. Founded by pioneers and leaders from games including EverQuest, Call of Duty, Diablo, God of War, Assassin’s Creed, and Elden Ring, Avalon is building a new interoperable universe.
Why we’re watching
With a comprehensive and extensive background in games, Avalon solves problems that will face creators and designers in the near future and is building the tools and framework that will allow them to do so.
Parsec, an HP Tech Ventures that exited to Unity, has a proprietary desktop capturing application perfect for any graphically intense applications in game development, broadcast, media and entertainment, architecture, engineering, and construction.
Why we’re watching
Optimized for low latency, high framerate, and security, Parsec enables gamers to stream video game footage through an Internet connection. It allows users to run a game on one computer but play it remotely through another device, which has proven a winning formula for professionals and gamers with high-end compute needs.
Tangle is a virtual space for teams to connect and collaborate. A central hub for remote communications, Tangle enables customers to grow a thriving remote work culture that teams love.
Why we’re watching
Where gaming and hybrid work meet, Tangle offers avatars and other fun features to make remote work a unique and enjoyable experience. Users can project their personality yet still protect their privacy while also communicating to colleagues their openness to collaborate vs. the need to focus. Sort of like closing or opening that office when people had private offices with a lot more useful features and gradations.
Runway’s mission is to make content creation accessible to all. They’re taking recent advancements in computer graphics and machine learning to push the boundaries of creativity and lower the barriers to content creation.
Why we’re watching
Runway offers a broad toolset for art generation and supplements another long-time favorite or ours, user-generated content. The platform is forming the next generation of generative AI tools as it embodies a spectrum of tools, e.g., text input of course, but easy-to-use editing, personalized data set training…
Scenario enables artists and game developers to create their own image generators trained on the specific style of their games. Starting with specific training data should enable creators to rapidly iterate and go much faster than trying to develop everything from scratch themselves.
Why we’re watching
Regardless of the level of technical expertise, game developers can create custom generators capable of producing entirely new game assets consistent with a given style.
We’re looking forward to seeing the innovations these gaming and eSports startups deliver this year.
Several exciting technologies are at the center of discussions about the future, from virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse to 5G and artificial intelligence (AI). While these emerging technologies are expected to disrupt our daily lives eventually, most of them must still overcome significant obstacles before mass adoption is plausible. However, augmented reality (AR) could bridge the gap between the present and the future due to its increased accessibility and interactivity.
First, what is AR?
AR is the integration of virtual objects into the real world. In an AR experience, users can interact with virtual features that are overlaid in the real world, in real-time. These virtual items are accurately rendered within the real physical environment to create a believable experience for users. While VR creates an entirely simulated world, AR alters the perception of the real world with its added elements, which can include visual, haptic, auditory, and olfactory components.
The current state of AR
AR is far from perfect and still has many issues to iron out, but its growth is possible alongside its adoption. AR does not necessarily require more than a smartphone to function. This differentiates it from technologies like VR that require specific gear and virtual environments, which limits adoption until its framework is fully resolved. VR headsets can be somewhat uncomfortable and can cause eyestrain and motion sickness. While developers are addressing those concerns, there is also the issue of true immersion. One of the main benefits of VR over AR is its promise of total immersion into virtual worlds and scenarios. Technologies that would support that capability exist, such as haptics and omnidirectional treadmills, but they are still a growing sector and difficult to afford for the average consumer. An ever-improving AR app on your smartphone is far easier to adopt than expensive VR gear that takes you to limited virtual experiences and currently incomplete worlds. By introducing AR to consumers on devices they already own, it could become easier to encourage them to adopt fully fleshed-out AR and VR technologies down the line.
AR is currently used in applications like mobile, retail, healthcare, and education. Mobile applications include popular games, like PokemonGO, Amon, and Angry Birds AR; visualizer apps that allow you to place furniture or change the color of your home’s walls, like DecorateAR and Paint Tester; and social media apps like Snapchat and TikTok. Retail AR saw significant growth during the COVID-19 lockdown. Many brands embraced different virtual try-on technologies, from IKEA Studio to ASOS’ “See My Fit” to Kohl’s virtual closet on Snapchat. AR in healthcare is currently focused on medical imaging technologies that improve surgical planning and outcomes, such as HP Tech Ventures’ partner Surgical Theater, which uses AR, VR, and 3D technologies to provide a precise visualization platform for surgeons and medical students. For non-medical education, AR apps like Elements 4D and JigSpace help students learn important concepts through immersive visualization.
The future of AR
In the future, AR applications will see both improvement and innovation. The AR market is expected to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate of 40+% from 2022 to 2030. Already existing technologies, like the above apps, will improve, expand, and become easier to use and access. New and emerging technologies, like AR glasses, smart lenses, holograms, and the metaverse, will enable AR’s further expansion and adoption. AR glasses and smart lenses are already in progress, with companies like Apple and Nreal working to create comfortable and fully functional AR glasses. HP Tech Ventures’ portfolio company Mojo Vision is also working on smart contact lenses and recently reached an incredible milestone with the first-ever on-eye demonstration of a feature-complete AR smart contact lens.
Holograms, powered by AR goggles, glasses, or contact lenses, are another potential technology innovators are beginning to explore. As our world embraces hybrid and remote work, hologram meetings could become the new norm. 3D holographic displays could also become another feature of the future of work. And in our personal lives, board games of the near future could see a holographic boost, with companies like Tilt Five creating holographic AR versions of popular games like Settlers of Catan.
Finally, AR technologies will play a significant role in adopting the metaverse. While many envision the metaverse as a fully immersive experience enabled by VR headsets, there is a growing belief that AR will be a more palatable gateway, augmenting our existing world rather than replacing it with a virtual one. Perhaps more likely is the existence of two metaverses: one enabled by AR and the other by VR, with possible entry points between them.
The importance of AR boils down to one essential factor: accessibility. Incredible strides have been — and will continue to be made — with several emerging technologies, however mass adoption cannot occur if the average consumer can’t access them. Allowing consumers to interact with the metaverse and related technologies through devices they own will shorten the adoption time and onboarding process for future devices. This makes AR the perfect gateway to VR, the metaverse, and many future technologies.
Thinking like a futurist in this era of constant change provides an incredible opportunity to create the future we want. By staying on the lookout for trends and weak signals shaping the world around us, futurists can identify future opportunities that lead to consequential disruption.
But what happens if you miss these trends?
In the best-case scenario, missing these signals may simply leave you reacting to disruption and working hard to catch up. At worst, however, you are in danger of becoming irrelevant and going out of business. The corporate graveyard is littered with companies that didn’t react fast enough to the changes in the world around them.
Blockbuster
Founded in 1985 by David Cook, Blockbuster was an entertainment staple in the 1990s and early 2000s. At its peak, there were 9,094 stores globally. Consumers would flock to their local stores to rent movies and buy snacks for their Friday nights, making Blockbuster a fixture in households worldwide.
After a few CEOs and missteps, Blockbuster made its biggest blunder when it failed to acquire Netflix in 2000. Netflix saw the rise of DVDs as a significant opportunity and launched its original mail-based DVD rental business in 1997. Because DVD players were not yet standard in the average household, Netflix partnered with HP, Sony, and Toshiba to offer free DVD rentals to new DVD player buyers. Netflix grew in popularity but wasn’t yet profitable, so its leadership approached Blockbuster to propose an acquisition, which the movie-rental giant declined.
Netflix persisted, confident that DVD players would gain popularity, and that confidence paid off as the company became profitable in 2003. The following year, Blockbuster began its DVD-by-mail service seven years after Netflix. From 2007 to 2010, Netflix continued to monitor trends and take calculated risks that majorly paid off, starting their on-demand video streaming service and signing deals with industry giants from Disney to Paramount.
On the other hand, Blockbuster failed to innovate in time and had to play catch up with Netflix while rapidly losing customers. That failure to embrace change, paired with severe debt, became the unraveling of Blockbuster, which declared bankruptcy in 2010 and closed all but one store.
Toys “R” Us
Later considered a category killer, Toys “R” Us had a humble beginning as a baby-furniture retailer in Washington, D.C., in 1948. Initially named “Children’s Bargaintown,” founder Charles P. Lazarus changed it to Toys “R” Us in 1957, dedicating the store entirely to toys and moving it to Rockville, Maryland. Throughout the next half-century, Toys “R” Us experienced incredible success, building a powerful brand, exploring spin-off clothing stores, and assisting in the launch of several pop culture games and toys.
By the late ‘90s, Toys “R” Us began to feel the pressure from growing competition, like Walmart and Target, which eventually led to the closure of its spin-off, Kids “R” Us, in 2003. While competing companies created their e-commerce sites, Toys “R” Us entered an exclusive 10-year partnership with Amazon in 2000. This partnership, while successful, prevented Toys “R” Us from developing autonomy over its online presence, which became a severe problem when Amazon elected to grow its toy category and allow competitors to sell on its platform.
Toys “R” Us sued Amazon and won, but it was too late. The once powerful toy seller had lost out on the essential opportunity to create its e-commerce website, and by the time it had one, it fell far behind what competitors had to offer. Toys “R” Us not only failed to keep up with e-commerce, but it also ignored changing consumer habits and buying preferences, instead focusing on offering the lowest prices, which proved unsustainable. Finally, Toys “R” Us failed to create an enticing in-store experience, instead deciding to cut costs. Unable to provide a satisfying in-store experience and struggling to keep up with e-commerce innovation, Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed all stores in 2018.
In 2019, the company rebranded as Tru Kids post-bankruptcy, opened new stores, and partnered with Target to sell toys. By 2020, the agreement had lapsed, and Amazon took on Target’s role as a fulfillment partner. In 2021, the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic closed its stores again. In 2022, the company plans to open stores within all U.S. Macy’s by October 15.
Borders
The first Borders bookshop opened in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1971, by brothers Tom and Louis Borders. The company didn’t open its second store in Beverly Hills, Michigan, until 1985 and was subsequently acquired by Kmart in 1992. Three years later, Kmart spun off Borders into a new company named Borders Group. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, the Borders Group expanded globally, with stores and franchises everywhere from Singapore to Puerto Rico.
Initially, Borders stayed ahead of innovation with a robust inventory system that could predict consumer behavior. However, when the industry began to go digital in the early 2000s, Borders began to lose its grip, leaning heavily into CD and DVD sales instead of working on its internet presence. Competitors like Barnes & Noble focused on online sales and digital innovations like e-readers, while Borders chose to outsource its online operation to Amazon, which rapidly became a competitor.
As competitors grew and embraced innovation, Borders steadily lost revenue, and its last profitable year was 2006. After constant financial trouble, Borders filed for bankruptcy in 2011, closing all its stores except those operating in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Malaysia, which other owners took over.
In the examples above, it’s clear that while some companies missed the boat on specific innovations, others were on the right track. They did this by paying attention, listening to the true needs of their customers, and prioritizing learning from all failures.
So how can you avoid missing trends?
I may sound like a broken record, but thinking like a futurist is the best way to avoid being left behind by innovation. Pay attention to weak signals, explore emerging trends and technologies, and adopt an innovative mindset. You need to have a good sense of what you want in the future. Ask yourself:
What outcomes am I looking for?
What inspiring vision and goals do I need to put in place?
Your goals need to be bold enough that they cause you to work backward to discover what disruptions will get you there, rather than taking today’s solutions and incrementally improving them over time.
Visualizing outcomes is essential, and so is having an open, innovative mindset and attitude. Success is 95% attitude. Make peace with failure and learn from it instead. Think boldly, and never give up. Having the right attitude is essential to staying ahead of all this change and creating the future you seek.
Finally, remember: the future hasn’t happened yet. The future is something that we all get to create. It is the result of all the choices that we make today.
A crucial ingredient for any successful business is understanding the trends shaping the world around us and that point to future opportunities.
If you miss these shifts, you risk being disrupted and, worse, going out of business. But if you can catch these potential trends early and capitalize on them, they instead mean growth and opportunity.
Catching these subtle changes early isn’t easy, however. All world-changing shifts don’t just magically appear, they start as weak signals, and you must look for them. A weak signal is very early evidence of a potential future mainstream trend. Given the very early nature of these signals, they may or may not actually become a trend. But identifying and monitoring weak signals over time is integral to getting in on new trends early. Sometimes this can be the difference between catching a new wave and leading this change or getting left behind.
As futurists, we want to be the disrupters, not those being disrupted. To do that, we need to constantly observe society and the world around us to find these new trends and weak signals.
Here are eight weak signals that our team is watching for future impact.
Eco-consumerism
Consumers are becoming more aware of how their consumption contributes to climate change, and this is changing their buying behaviors accordingly. As consumers become more eco-friendly, they’re putting pressure on brands to do the same by repurposing waste, using biodegradable materials, and prioritizing renewable resources. Companies that don’t embrace sustainability or give back to the planet in some way risk losing the support of consumers. With 77% of consumers concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy, that’s a large demographic to risk losing.
Here’s a look at eco-consumerism at play:
These bio-concrete tiles are made with Japanese knotweed and American signal crayfish, two invasive species in the UK that would otherwise be considered waste. They also reduce carbon emissions caused by traditionally made concrete.
These running shoes from Zen Running Club are made entirely from plant-based materials, resulting in a fully biodegradable shoe.
Molded fiber, an eco-friendly packaging alternative, is gaining momentum. Once a time-consuming process, recent innovations like HP’s Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution are accelerating the adoption of more sustainable packaging.
Rise of reality
While we are still living highly digital lives, and there is significant hype surrounding a potentially virtual future in the metaverse, there is also a growing need for a return to reality. After the lockdown portion of the pandemic, many of us are ready to return to physical spaces, travel, and in-person entertainment to escape Zoom fatigue and tech burnout. As more people crave unplugging over new online experiences, it will be critical for new technologies to enhance our physical experiences and interactions. Even further, tech companies are responsible for improving their products to battle burnout and enhance user experience.
Here’s a look at the rise of reality at play:
AiFi, an HP Tech Ventures portfolio company, offers AI-powered autonomous retail solutions, making shopping a seamless experience for consumers and retailers.
To address tech fatigue, many tech companies could provide time-limit features or recommend breaks to users. Other companies are getting even more creative, like these hologram startups aiming to make remote meetings feel less impersonal.
In a recent HP Wolf Security report, 46% of office workers admitted using their work devices for personal tasks, and 69% claimed to have used their personal devices for work activities. This overlap between work and personal devices has been exacerbated by the increase in remote work, which has further blurred the line between consumer and enterprise. Enterprise products and services are being increasingly distributed across smaller home offices rather than large company headquarters. This has significant implications for cybersecurity and maintenance and could contribute to feature changes.
Here’s a look at distributed enterprise at play:
With the era of hybrid work upon us, there is a growing need for devices connecting home and corporate offices. Solutions like HP Presence provide powerful collaboration tools to reinvent how people connect.
Employees and companies can better protect their data from cybercriminals by embracing decentralized cybersecurity. Approaches like zero trust security are gaining popularity, with 78% of firms planning to adopt zero trust in 2022.
Remote maintenance is not entirely new, but it’s increasingly essential as remote work grows. Advanced remote management technologies, like NVIDIA’s Fleet Command, are working to optimize processes for global IT professionals.
Omniscient health
As people continue to be hyper-conscious of their health, there has been significant growth in health-related technologies ranging from wearable devices to AI-powered diagnostics. Wearables like fitness trackers have become smarter and more powerful, so users are gaining greater insight into their health. Health providers can use this new data, paired with the power of AI, to aid in their care. Microfluidics could also enable faster, less invasive, and more accurate diagnostics. As monitoring our health becomes part of our daily routine, chronic issues could be caught sooner, leading to more proactive care.
Here’s a look at omniscient health at play:
Using data from continuous wearable sensors, physiQ generates personalized and actionable insights for patients and their healthcare providers.
For people with chronic illnesses, health monitoring tools are essential. Fortunately, many startups are working to create more straightforward and less invasive health monitoring methods, such as BOYDSense, which developed a breath-based glucose level monitor for those with diabetes.
Using microfluidics, researchers at Northwestern developed a sticker that absorbs and uses sweat to accurately diagnose cystic fibrosis in newborns. Another research team from the University of Minnesota has also created a new microfluidic chip that could provide point-of-care diagnostics.
Internet of energy
At our current rate, global energy consumption is set to see a 50% increase between 2020 and 2050. With the growing volume of data, demand for clean energy, and increasing adoption of emerging technologies, a new energy system may be critical. Antiquated energy infrastructure, like electrical grids, cannot keep up with technology advancements and energy demands. The Internet of Energy may be the best solution, as it can reduce inefficiencies, limit waste, and maximize the potential of existing infrastructures. It could also lead to the adoption of smart grid technology, which would hugely benefit users and energy consumption.
Here’s a look at the internet of energy at play:
Smart panels from startups like Span balance home electricity use to avoid overloading utility grids.
Packetized Energy, recently acquired by EnergyHub, is a software platform aggregating energy devices such as water heaters, HVAC systems, electric vehicle chargers, solar inverters, and distributed batteries into dispatchable and flexible grid resources.
General Electric (GE) launched a startup, Current, which pairs LEDs and solar panels with software. This allows the system to gather data to apply insights to corporate operations to increase lighting and productivity savings.
Geospatial AI
The increasing number of satellites and improved image quality provides a plethora of data that, combined with supercomputing, allows Geospatial AI (GEOAI) to extract and impart impactful insights. This integration of geospatial studies and AI helps machine learning mimic human spatial reasoning and dynamics to better understand environmental and geographical impacts. This could lead to hyper-local and instantaneous weather forecasting, real-time wildfire detection, and other capabilities that could make environmental conservation and planning more seamless.
The city of Boston will use data from satellites in the TreeTect pilot to improve tree equity and anticipate tree maintenance tasks.
Scientists from Stanford University developed a deep-learning model that maps fuel moisture levels across 12 of the US’ Western states, making it easier to predict where wildfires are likely to ignite and spread.
Transportation transformation
Growing concern for pollution and congestion is leading to disruptive innovation in transportation technology, policy, and infrastructure, which will radically change how we transport people and things in the future. Crowded freeways, slow delivery times, and an urgency to counteract climate change all demand revolutionary change in the transportation industry.
Urban transportation is central to the effort to slow climate change, with plenty of opportunities for growth and innovation. Home to more than half the world’s population, cities account for more than two-thirds of global carbon dioxide emissions. Transportation is often the most prominent and fastest-growing source of emissions and is the U.S.’ second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Here’s a look at transportation transformation at play:
Though not quite a reality yet, the idea of a hyperloop has long captivated society, with companies like Virgin and The Boring Company working towards its creation. The technology exists to create the ultra-fast transportation concept, but there are still significant hurdles to overcome.
TuSimple has created autonomous trucks, which promise improved safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Its trucks allegedly shaved 10 hours off a 24-hour run.
Florence has implemented smart trams, which could shape future transportation for other European cities.
3D-printed electronics
Advances in 3D printing technology that allow for voxel-level specification of materials, combined with improvements in metal substrates, will enable electronic components to be printed at the same time as durable parts, rather than being added as a separate assembly step after printing. These capabilities could allow electronic devices to be 3D-printed on demand as all-in-one elements, with no assembly required. This would minimize production costs and time and create an opportunity to reduce the size and weight of electronics.
Here’s a look at 3D-printed electronics at play:
Japanese CAD and 3D printing company SOLIZE uses HP 3D printers to make out-of-production spare parts for NISMO, the motorsport division of Nissan
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a method of printing copper on fabric, a milestone for wearable electronics.
Considering the state of our world, futuristic thinking is a necessary skill we all need to learn and practice. With the constant and rapid pace of change, everyone should be honing their futurist skills. And thinking like a futurist isn’t reserved for a select group of people. It is a fundamental skill set that anyone can learn.
This is not something all of us do naturally, though. Only a small percent of the population thinks and plans for the future. In fact, only 35% of Americans regularly think about their five-year future. Those who aren’t thinking of their futures are disadvantaged over those who do. If we want to stay one step ahead in our fast-paced world, and if we’re going to move forward and create the future we want, we must adopt long-term, futuristic thinking.
To help you get started, here are three essential practices that I have found very useful in my career as a futurist:
Monitor shifts — Pay attention and understand what’s happening in the world around you. Notice the small changes that create new needs. Keep an eye on these weak signals and any others that appear.
Visualize future outcomes — Start with your vision for the future and work backward from there, not the other way around. What was the catalyst for your vision of the future?
Adopt an innovative mindset — Have a “can do” attitude and be unstoppable. Embrace everything as a learning opportunity, even failure.
The more you think like a futurist, the better you can create the future you want.
Which of these weak signals are you interested in? Any others you are monitoring? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.
The world around us is changing and advancing at breakneck speed. From cars that can see around corners to robots on Mars, hyperloop travel, and artificial intelligence (AI) that can write a poem like Coleridge or fiction like Kafka, keeping up can be overwhelming. For business leaders, innovators, and organizations, the central question becomes: How do we lead this change, rather than being led by it?
I’d posit that we all need to learn to think like futurists. Thinking like a futurist shouldn’t be reserved for a select group of people, but instead is a basic skill set that anyone can learn.
Tapping into your inner futurist requires that you stay aware of what’s happening in the world around you, and think through the long-term impact on countries, societies, industries, and our day-to-day lives. But it’s not a spectator sport; it also requires that you anticipate, plan for, and take action to create the future you want. It’s about monitoring shifts, visualizing outcomes, and adopting an innovation mindset.
Monitoring shifts
No one can predict the future, but understanding the global socioeconomic, demographic, and technological shifts that are shaping the world around us can help point the way. It’s important to understand how these trends will influence our human experiences — from how and where we work, to how we make things, to how we stay healthy, learn, and live our lives. Being aware of these shifts enables you to spot new opportunities, reach your goals, and make plans based on the world of the future, not the world of the past.
For example, prior to the pandemic, only a quarter of US workers did some work at home. During the pandemic that number skyrocketed to more than 80%. The future of work will undoubtedly see many jobs becoming primarily hybrid. Many employees will do their desk work at home or at coworking spaces, while offices transform into places employees go to collaborate and innovate as a team.
The pandemic and today’s geopolitics have also shone a light on the need for supply chains to become more flexible and resilient. As we look to the future, the inherently digital nature of 3D printing opens a world of possibilities for manufacturing to become more digitized and sustainable as well, and for products to become more personalized.
Similar shifts are happening in healthcare, education, retail, and across our business and personal lives in general. Moreover, the role of business in society is changing, as customers increasingly expect more from the companies they engage with, and companies must stand for more than the products they sell.
Our “new normal” requires leaders to rethink how they lead. These tips will help you lead a team that’s working from home.
Internet access has also become congested because more people are online during the day performing their jobs and attending school virtually. Carriers have reported their customers are using more voice calls and many of them are using Wi-Fi rather than cellular. In addition, Facebook has seen a 70% weekly increase in the number of people using Facebook Messenger for group video calls.
As the pandemic continues to alter our everyday lives, we’ve become reliant on services that allow us to work from home. Meetings are happening on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Hangouts. In fact, Zoom reported daily users spiked to 200 million in March, up from 10 million in December.
Creating a culture of a high-performing team can be challenging under normal circumstances, but what does it look like during a global pandemic? As a leader how can you adapt your leadership style and processes to meet your employees’ new expectations? Here are the top tips I have learned through my own experience leading a global, remote team.
Communication is crucial. Implement tools that allow you to communicate easily. We use Skype and Microsoft Teams, and find it great to stay in touch with quick messages and updates on projects without cluttering our email inboxes.
You can use a messaging tool to encourage socializing, too. Create a group in Whatsapp or whichever messaging platform you use that is not specific to work. Keep the “water cooler conversations” going and allow your team a space to share their non-work related content.
For updates that require more than an email or chat message, hold daily or weekly stand-ups. We use Zoom for video meetings and find it a great tool to hold virtual meetings. Your team can share what they are working on, any challenges they may have, and ask questions. If you plan on having your stand-up as a video call, make sure your team knows that ahead of time and that everyone joins using video. It not only makes the meetings more engaging, but it also discourages multitasking. 😃
Manage expectations. Does your company require your team to be online during certain hours of the day? Communicate that with your employees, don’t assume they will follow the same hours as when they were in the office.
If you don’t already use a project management tool, consider implementing one so that your team can keep track of upcoming deadlines, project statuses, and the items on their plate.
Be flexible. Work isn’t the only thing in our lives that has been disrupted by COVID-19. For those who are at home with their children, caring for a loved one, or experiencing another life event that is disrupting their normal, flexibility is paramount.
One important aspect of emotional intelligence I’ve discussed in the past is empathy. It’s the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand how they might feel in a certain situation. As leaders, the more we’re able to relate to others, the better we help them feel understood and inspired.
Check-in with your team on a regular basis and be fully present in your conversations, so you can make genuine connections and better understand their point of view. Once you have checked in, be flexible in creating a schedule and culture that considers their needs and current demands they’re facing.
Cut yourself some slack. Remember, you and your team are going through massive changes in a quick time frame, so don’t expect things to be perfect from the start. Focus on small changes to start, and you will build a stronger and more supportive work culture.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. We’re all in this together.
Are you leading a remote team? I’d love to hear about your experience and any tips you’ve learned along the way. Please share them in the comments below.
Staying ahead of constant requires a keen understanding of the global forces that will shape our human experiences and business decisions
The amount of change happening in the world today is accelerating, creating a continuous challenge for how companies stay ahead of it all, decide where to invest, think about the future, and innovate in ways that enable them to do the disrupting, instead of being the ones disrupted.
As a futurist, my job is to anticipate change and stay on top of current trends. There’s a new generation entering the workforce – Generation Z. Following Millennials, this generation includes those born between 1995 and 2010. While being defined as the most ethnically-diverse and largest generation in American history, Gen Z also grew up surrounded by technology, also making them the most tech-savvy generation.
I’ve previously provided some thoughts on thinking like a futurist and today, we’re diving deeper into the role Gen Z plays in the future. Here are my tips for how to collaborate with Gen Z:
1. Put yourself in their shoes
It’s important to acknowledge the obvious differences that divide each generation. For example, Gen Z grew up in a post-9/11 world with new technology and completely different childhood experiences than those of previous generations. With technology constantly at their fingertips, this generation of “digital natives” have had nearly lifelong access to boundless amounts of information at the drop of a hat. In fact, 97% of Gen Z have smart phones and spend more than 4 hours a day online.
And because they’ve never spent a day offline, they are acutely aware of the issues and challenges happening in the world around them. As a result, they are 54% more likely to say they want to have an impact on the world as compared to millennials. Also noteworthy is their attitude towards work and employers; almost half consider what the company does to make the world a better place as important as the salary.
By becoming familiar with Gen Z, and by understanding the different era and experiences they’ve grown up with, you’ll gain a better understanding of how to effectively collaborate with them. Whether it’s through asking questions, doing research, or understanding current trends, you won’t fully see eye-to-eye with this generation until you put yourself in their shoes.
2. Pay attention to what’s important
In the next decade, Gen Z is expected to cause an influx of roughly 60 million job seekers, effectively transforming the workplace. Concerning their careers, Gen Z-ers are very driven and competitive. Nothing motivates them more than achieving success and being rewarded for their good efforts. They value skill development and appreciate feedback, as they are always hoping to improve their performance. A controversial topic amongst Gen Z is the debate over work-life balance. It can be argued that this generation struggles the most with this – 24% say they feel guilty for taking time off work. On the other hand, 39% view work-life balance as a top priority when choosing an employer. Knowing these statistics as an employer can help foster a healthy work environment for future employees.
When choosing where to work, Gen Z will base their decision on the company’s values. This generation’s passion for sustainability, diversity, and inclusion reflects in their expectations for their future employers. Studies show that 77% of Gen Z believes a company’s level of diversity affects their decision to work there.
3. Stay up to date on trends
As any futurist knows, one of the most important ways to prepare for the future is to stay up to date with the latest trends. This applies to Gen Z trends as well. The more informed you are, the more prepared you will be to work with this generation.
Here are some resources for futurists to better understand Gen Z:
We can all benefit from learning from one another. As this new generation enters the workforce, preparing through a lens like this will allow us to better understand and support them in their journey as they embark on this new chapter.
Andrew Bolwell 