Module 3 Think Like a Futurist: Resources
As you dive into the remaining Module 3 resources, it's time to start thinking about your final badge assignment. So far
you've learned how futurists think and what elements they take into account when planning for the future.
Soon, it will be your turn to "think like a futurist."
The culminating project in this MOOC will be to construct an infographic, digital poster, visual-type of presentation (i.e. PowerPoint), video, or other digital format about the future to share with your fellow participants. As you move through the remaining resources and Modules, think about what you imagine the future holds and start gathering ideas and information to include in your final project.
TOP 10 RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
- Videos:
- Ross Dawson and Gerd Leonhard: What is a Futurist and what do they do?
Ross Dawson and Gerd Leonhard on the role of the futurist
Links to an external site.
- Ray Kurzweil
- TED talks Links to an external site. (several videos available)
- Popular videos from the Ray Kurzweil YouTube Channel Links to an external site.
- Glen Hiemstra (numerous videos on page)
- Beyond 2020: The Shape of Things Links to an external site. - Seattle Interactive Conference 2013
- Eric Schmidt at Princeton
Eric Schmidt of Google talks at Princeton about the future of technology
Links to an external site.
- Articles & Reports:
- A Scientist Predicts the Future Links to an external site. (2013) by Michio Kaku, International Herald Tribune
- Future Trends in Information Technology Links to an external site. (May 2013)
- A report identifying 15 trends expected to influence the workforce in the future identified by North Texas Industry Thought Leaders.
- The Futurist's Magazine Top Ten Forecasts for 2014 and Beyond Links to an external site. (2014) by Patrick Tucker, IEET
- There’s a Future: Visions for a Better World Links to an external site., BBVA (2012)
- Science and Technology (several authors), Section II, pp. 97-195
- Vision 2020+ A Future to Be Built chapter, Bartolomé Beatriz A. Lara, Section VI, pp. 447-508.
- U.S. Views of Technology and the Future: Science in the next 50 years Links to an external site.
- 2014 Pew Research Center and Smithsonian Magazine report based on a national survey.
- Organizations & Websites:
- See Module 3 Thinking Like a Futurist: Futurist Organizations & Websites section for links to specific resources.
-
Listed are numerous websites and organizations, including the World Future Society, whose mission is "to enable thinkers, political personalities, scientists and lay-people to share an informed, serious dialogue on what the future will be like." They hold meetings, events and publish the magazine THE FUTURIST.
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED RESOURCES
Noted Futurists:
- See Module 3 Think Like A Futurist: Noted Futurists section for extensive list of and links to prominent futurists
Books:
- Recent Developments in Foresight Methodologies Complex Networks and Dynamic Systems 1 Links to an external site. (Editors: Maria Giaoutzi Links to an external site., Bartolomeo Sapio..2013) Links to an external site.
- Table of Contents Links to an external site. provides an overview of the breadth of this work. The focus of Chapter 5 is on New Emerging Issues.
- 24 [FIction] Books That Forecast the Future Links to an external site. (Fun Infographic of Fiction books written between 1735 and 1990)
- "How can you really say a book predicted the future if it didn’t in some way inspire the discovery?
Printerinks.com created a fantastic infographic that tried to answer this question. It shows the timeline of seemingly precognitive books, as well as the actual discoveries they predicted."
- A Futurist’s Top 10 Futurist Books for 2013 Links to an external site.: Futurist Jack Uldrich provides a yearly list of top futurist books.
- Foresight 20/20 - A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow Links to an external site. (2012) by Jack Uldrich & Simon Anderson
- Think Like A Futurist: Know What Changes, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next Links to an external site. (2012) by Cecily Sommers
- The Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind Links to an external site.(2014) by Michio Kaku
- The New Digital Age Links to an external site. (2014) by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen
- Teaching about the Future: The Basics of Foresight Education Links to an external site. (2012) by Peter Bishop & Andy Hines
- The RAND Corporation, Pardee Center "50 Books for Thinking About the Future Human Condition Links to an external site."
- World Future Society Book Picks Links to an external site.
- Richard Watson's Book Suggestions Links to an external site. for the future of technology, Scenario Planning, Strategic Foresight, Futurology, and more.
Articles & Reports:
- A 10-Step Process for Environmental Scanning Links to an external site. (2010) Guion, Lisa A. Journal of Extension. Vol. 48, No. 4, Article No. 4IAW2. Retrieved from Journal of Extension website. Links to an external site.
- America's Most Famous Futurist Has a Radical Plan to Be the First Man to Achieve Immortality Links to an external site. (2014) by Ray Kurzweil, mic.com
- Causal Layered Analysis Defined Links to an external site. (2014) by Sohail Inayatullah from The Futurist, January-February 2014 (Vol. 48, No. 1)
- Complementary TEDxNoosa Links to an external site. talk by Sohail Inayatullah explaining causal layered analysis
- Strategic Roadmaps Links to an external site.: A White Paper by Technology Futures, Inc.
- Visualizing the Future Links to an external site. (2014) by Gray Scott from The Futurist, July-August 2014 (Vol. 48, No. 4)
Videos & Recordings:
- Brian David Johnson, Intel Futurist
- Johnson joins HuffPost Live to discuss how computers and technology will conform to future needs. Links to an external site.
- Daniel Burrus (technology futurist and author of Flash Foresight):
- Michio Kaku:
- "How Science will Affect Computers, Medicine, Jobs, Our Lifestyles and the Wealth of our Nations" from CUNY Queensborough Community College:
"The World in 2030"
Links to an external site.(according to Dr. Michio Kaku)
The Future of the Mind
Links to an external site.
(Kaku discusses his newest book)
Examples of Institutions with Professional Futures Programs:
- Foresight Graduate Programs – Global List Links to an external site. from Acceleration Studies Foundation
- This list of "graduate programs offer education in foresight (also known as strategic foresight, futures studies, prospective studies, prognostics, futurology, futuring, and futuristics) and related disciplines."
- Regent University School of Business and Leadership
- Online Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL): Strategic Foresight Major Links to an external site." offers students a unique preparation for leading strategic initiatives that require a future perspective rooted in strong character qualities."
- Swinburne University of Technology:
- Master of Strategic Foresight Links to an external site., incorporates the Graduate Certificate of Management Studies and the Graduate Diploma of Strategic Foresight and provides "a sound theoretical and practical foundation for the successful practice of strategic foresight in many fields."
- Executive Education Specialized Program in Strategic Foresight Links to an external site. - 2-day program for organization leaders
- Turku School of Economics and Business Administration:
- Masters Program in Futures Studies Links to an external site., Finland Futures Research Centre offers a two-year Master’s Degree Programme in Futures Studies (FUTU) together with the Turku School of Economics in the University of Turku.
- This program "is designed to educate foresight experts who help organisations to harness future opportunities and avoid unnecessary risks."
- University of Hawai'i Manoa, College of Social Sciences, Department of Political Science: Futures Studies:
- Alternative Futures MA option Links to an external site., "Designed for students who wish to engage in futures research professionally from a political science perspective."
- University of Houston, College of Technology: Foresight (FORE) Graduate Program (began in 1975 as the first futures studies graduate program in the U.S.)
- Master of Science in Foresight Links to an external site., As a Foresight graduate, students will "enter an emerging professional field helping clients and employers anticipate significant changes that lie ahead and to influence those changes to achieve their long-term goals."
- Certificate in Foresight Links to an external site.: "A 5-day, project-based, face-to-face workshop. Participants learn to anticipate disruptive change and work towards the creation of transformational change in order to influence the future of their organizations, companies and communities."
Conferences:
- AppDev Trends Links to an external site.
- Brought to you by the publishers of Application Development Trends (ADTmag.com), App Dev Trends is a new technology conference - open to the public, but focused toward enterprise software professionals.
- It aims is to "provide talented technology movers and shakers with the information they need on a wide range of trends, tools, and best practices to meet the ever-evolving demands of their organizations. We're all about what's next, acquiring new skills, and enhancing organizational efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness."
- CES International Links to an external site.: The Global Stage for Innovation
- This conference is the "world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Held in Las Vegas every year, it has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years."
- GeekWire Summit Links to an external site.
- This third annual one-day conference is "the premier technology conference in the Pacific Northwest, bringing together engineers, entrepreneurs and business leaders for a conversation about the future of business and technology."
- MIT EmTech Links to an external site.
- Annual conference where "technology, business, and culture converge. It’s the showcase for emerging technologies with the greatest potential to change our lives. It’s an access point to the most innovative people and companies in the world. Most of all, it is a place of inspiration."
- Technology Horizons 2014 Conference + Public Festival Links to an external site.: Institute for the Future
- Exploring the future of technology, art, science, and making (for members only some days; public others)
- TechWeek Links to an external site. Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit
- Their "mission is to showcase, celebrate and enable emerging innovation ecosystems." This conference "brings together a mixture of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and thought leaders for a week long celebration of all things tech."
- World Future Society Conferences Links to an external site.
- A "variety of small and large conferences that have brought together futurists from around the world to share ideas and vital information about the trends and events that will affect the world tomorrow."
- WorldFuture Conference 2014 offered interactive, participatory activities, fascinating speakers on cutting-edge topics with keynote speaker Paul Saffo, co-founder and managing director of Foresight at DISCERN.