future trends

Future TrendsProjects Competition 2012

IS Briefing

Daniel Siew

[email protected]

Distinguished Scientists and Technologists once said…

1932Albert Einstein

“There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable.”


1943IBM

“I think there is a world market for maybe 5 computers.”


1949Popular Mechanics, predicting the relentless march of technology

“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”


1962Dennis Gabor, British physicist and author of Inventing the Future

"Transmission of documents via telephone wires is possible in principle, but the apparatus required is so expensive that it will never become a practical proposition."

On the other hand, these were some crazy ideas by Science Fiction Writers

1968 – iPad?Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey

“He would plug in his foolscap-size newspad into the ship’s information circuit and scan the latest reports from Earth…the postage-stamp-size rectangle would expand until it neatly filled the screen and he could read it with comfort.”

On the other hand, these were some crazy ideas by Science Fiction Writers in their time.

1950 – Earphones?Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

“And in her ears the little seashells, the thimble radios tamped tight, and an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music and talk coming in, coming in on the shore of her unsleeping mind.”

On the other hand, these were some crazy ideas by Science Fiction Writers in their time.

1893 – Escalator?Robert Heinlin, The Roads Must Roll

“They glided down an electric staircase, and debouched on the walkway which bordered the north-bound five-mile-an-hour strip. “Have you ever ridden a conveyor strip before?” Gaines inquired. “It’s quite simple. Just remember to face against the motion of the strip as you get on.”

Arthur Clarke’s Three Laws of Prediction

• Law 1: When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right; when he states that something is impossible, he is probably wrong.

• Law 2: The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

• Law 3: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

That said…

• Predictions about the future are always heavily researched on.

• This involves research on current technology, an examination of technological progress, and a bold but measured projection of technology in the future based on trends.

• Hence, Future Trends is about imagination PLUS research.

Working Principles of Cat 11: Future Trends

While divergent thinking is highly encouraged, students must also be able to take on an evaluative function, hence a balance between originality and research is advocated.

Focus on both process (documented research) + product (creatively-applied research).

“creative activity is made possible by a critical assessment of the existing body of knowledge” – K.P. Mohanan, 1997.

“ideational flow must also be critically censored” – G. J. W. Smith, 2005.

6-Step Future Trends Process

1 Identify Potential Problems2 Identify Fundamental Problem3 Identify Potential Solutions4 Select Best Solution5 Design Action Plan6 Evaluate Action Plan

Projects Competition PrelimsRequirements for Students

Students have been presented with a scenario set in the future

Complete Steps 1 – 2, with research, in online portfolio.

Presentation:Present Steps 1 – 2:

Select 5 most significant potential problems substantiated with current and future trend research.

Present Fundamental Problem and rationale.



Projects Competition SemisRequirements for StudentsUpdate Steps 3 – 4, with research, in online portfolio.

Presentation:Present Steps 3 – 4:

Present 5 most significant solutions (Step 3), each substantiated with research on current as well as future trends

Explain decision-making process (Step 4), including list of criteria to evaluate solutions as well as ranking of potential solutions.



Projects Competition FinalsRequirements for Students

Update Steps 5 – 6 and complete online portfolioEvaluate feasibility and effectiveness of action plan through research and/or expert validation.

Presentation:Component 1: Creative skit that encapsulates the gist of action plan. Teams will also have to incorporate:

• An impromptu tagline and mystery object

• An original futuristic visual (either video or computer graphic) that has to be infused into their skit.



Component 2: Formal presentation that evaluates Action Plan.

Inspired by:

FPS: Future Problem Solving (an internationally-recognised problem-solving programme)“The aim of Future Problem Solving is essentially to develop critical, creative and futuristic thinking skills. It challenges students to apply their imagination and thinking skills to some of the significant issues facing both the world of today, and the future, equipping them with the skills and vision needed to anticipate, comprehend and solve problems associated with these issues, helping them to have a positive impact in the society of the future.” – FPSP Australia

But there are critical differences between FPS and Future Trends, as you will find out for yourselves in the next 2 to 3 weeks, and during the course of your project.

Training for students

Sec 1 students will undergo mandatory foundational training in FPS. (Aphelion, Ortus, iSpark – next Friday during IS. ProEd – during IDS)

All students (incl. Sec 2s) who sign up for Cat 11 will participate in research studies sessions tailored for Cat 11 to provide them with the necessary skills to cope with Cat 11 requirements.

Thank You

Futurists, watch out for updates on EMB.Bookmark the Future Trends wiki for constant reference.Check out the scenario on the Future Trends wiki.

Cat 11 – Future Trends Category Managers:

Category Manager Asst. Category ManagerDaniel Siew Ng Mui [email protected] [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

future trends

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