The Nature of the Future

■ Sensemaking: the ability to determine the deeper meaning or significance of what is being expressed ■ Social and emotional intelligence: the ability to connect to others in a deep and direct way, to sense and stimulate reactions and desired interactions ■ Novel and adaptive thinking: proficiency at coming up with solutions and responses beyond th

The socialstructed world is a world in which a few amplified individuals can remake the world.

In their quest for more consumption, people have forgotten about the three virtues Smith observed that best provide for a tranquil lifestyle and overall social well-being: justice, beneficence and prudence. Applying the virtues to modern society may decrease overall consumption but will lead to a more satisfied life.”

Today the World Game continues to be played across universities and is currently being further developed by o.s.Earth. John Hunter, a public school teacher in Virginia, carries the torch lit by Fuller by engaging his grade-school students in playing the World Peace Game, which he describes in a TED Talk.34 In a similar but more far-reaching

High profit margins are not the only problem with the existing academic publishing model. In many ways the model slows down the scientific discovery process and makes many of the results unavailable to the public due to the high cost of access (despite the fact that much of the research supporting publication is funded with public money through gov

But instead of collecting records of dead souls, the modern day Chichikovs may be driven to acquire more followers on Twitter or friends on Facebook or otherwise hoard social connections for money, fame, or reputation.

Participate in allocating California income taxes. Decide how much tax money to collect and how to allocate your budget, then see what sort of neighborhood you’ve created. Listen in as residents tweet about how your decisions affect their health and safety.”18 Later versions of the simulation promise participants the ability to compare their choice

the nascent world in which amplified individuals empowered with technologies and connections with myriad others are able to come together to create, collaborate, and innovate outside of traditional institutional boundaries.

When it comes to big social and economic shifts, no one can predict the future; the level of complexity is just too great. Scenarios let us construct plausible, internally consistent visions that help us frame the range of possibilities and the kinds of issues we are likely to confront along the way.

when we play games, we are working at the “edge of our abilities.” If the task is too easy, it’s boring; if it’s too hard, it’s demotivating.