In this video, I explore a few practical changes we could see in the short to mid-term following these unusual times. You might think viral self-testing in smartphones seems far fetched? It’s worth noting that Sharp introduced Geiger counters in their ‘Pantone‘ range of phones following the Tohuku earthquake in 2011. What changes do you […]
In recent weeks, I’ve been working to finish a first draft of a second book ‘The Roaring 2020s: How to be Future Ready‘. This week is all about the impact of Automation on work. The corporate world is awash with the AI Zeitgeist ‘Robotic Process Automation‘, most of which you can’t see as it’s about […]
I’ve spent a fair amount of time this week developing new writing and ideas for the forthcoming ‘Roaring 2020’s’ book mentioned here a short while ago. As I dig further into technological shifts and the resulting social changes, it’s more apparent than ever that the work of Piers Thurston and other ‘Inside-Out’ practitioners is essential […]
Originally written for UNISON. Republished with kind permission here. It’s impossible to explore the future of industrial relations without first looking at how the world of work is evolving. Traditional models of full-time employment are being eroded by the growth of self-employment. Included in this is the rise of freelancing. Of the 4.8m self-employed people in […]
One of the macro-trends driving a dramatic shift in lifestyle towards 2025 is the growth of the ‘Access Economy‘. Goods and services are rented temporarily rather than being sold permanently. Younger generations especially recognise the merits of owning less, yet having access to more products and services than ever before. From the green-conscious user’s perspective, […]
Since the late 1990s, the Internet Connected Fridge has symbolised the beginning of Smart Homes. While ridiculed for its impracticality and expense, it popularised the idea of connected devices within our homes. The current definition of a Smart home is ‘a home equipped with lighting, heating, and electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by smartphone or computer.‘ You’ll […]
The Future of Housing and Lifestyle will affect us all and is particularly pertinent to me as I’m currently working with a housing association to help them explore future strategies. By today’s standards, there are some radical approaches being considered in housing that could overcome the lack of land in urban areas: Super-skyscrapers and earth-scrapers, underwater habitats. Also the […]
Synthetic biology involves the engineering and design of biological systems with a practical purpose in mind. Another way of describing it is the creation of biological machinery. To accomplish it successfully, it requires a multidisciplinary and integrative approach. This includes the disciplines of biology, computer science, engineering, genetics and medicine. Much of it is an extension of […]
You may be unfamiliar with the term ‘Neural interfaces‘ (NI). Let’s start by defining what they are. Very simply, they are interfaces that facilitate a direct connection between our nervous system and computers. The system requires machines to interpret electromagnetic signals from the brain and in return to send modulated signals back to us in a […]
It was a pleasure to participate in Garry Turner’s ‘Value Through Vulnerability‘ podcast recently. Garry is a passionate, purpose-driven human being who seeks to make the workplace more human centred. He lives his values every day and has proven with his current employer that caring about teams yields better financial results. “I loved this chat with […]
