Enhancing Future Consciousness with cognitive tools: Technologies and practices Jonathon Richter, Ed.D. Center for Future Consciousness Eugene, Oregon

Future Consciousness is developed as a consequence of personal adaptation to the rhythm of goals and tasks that one repeatedly commits to in particular environments. Because of a number of factors, some believe this capacity should be purposefully enhanced.

as a consequence of personal adaptation to the rhythm of goals and tasks that one repeatedly commits to in particular environments.

Because of a number of factors, some believe this capacity should be purposefully enhanced.

Future Consciousness varies by: Task characteristics : linearity, complexity, novelty, coherence of engaged events. Environmental factors : cultural values, expectations, policies, standards, practices, etc. Personal variables : motivation, attention, goal-setting, commitment, work habits, etc.

Task characteristics : linearity, complexity, novelty, coherence of engaged events.

Environmental factors : cultural values, expectations, policies, standards, practices, etc.

Personal variables : motivation, attention, goal-setting, commitment, work habits, etc.

Future Consciousness

One’s Future Consciousness develops through transactions… Events require future thinking - more or less Contexts elicit future thinking - more or less Repeated events and contexts create a milieu for or against future-focused thinking. “ what is your temporal ecology?”

Events require future thinking - more or less

Contexts elicit future thinking - more or less

Repeated events and contexts create a milieu for or against future-focused thinking.

“ what is your temporal ecology?”

Days add up to years, adding up to create habitual frames of temporal reference... Cultural frames Organizational frames Familial frames Interpersonal frames Intrapersonal frames

Cultural frames

Organizational frames

Familial frames

Interpersonal frames

Intrapersonal frames

If we became aware of the impact of the designed world on our Future Consciousness... We could see how we affect people’s FC through our policies, practices, and built environments. We could intentionally alter the built environment to match the temporal frames we wish for; and Even, perhaps, design whole systems to create Temporal Frames consistent with the FC that we need.

We could see how we affect people’s FC through our policies, practices, and built environments.

We could intentionally alter the built environment to match the temporal frames we wish for; and

Even, perhaps, design whole systems to create Temporal Frames consistent with the FC that we need.

Future Consciousness-extending Environments Work rhythms with extended future foci Active and regular personal goal oriented behavior Future-focused communities Critical thinking in a discipline that requires extended future consciousness

Work rhythms with extended future foci

Active and regular personal goal oriented behavior

Future-focused communities

Critical thinking in a discipline that requires extended future consciousness

Future Consciousness Personality variables Optimism Capacities to Perceive and Reflect Goal Setting, Motivation and Commitment Virtuosity Perseverance Creativity Foresight

Optimism

Capacities to Perceive and Reflect

Goal Setting, Motivation and Commitment

Virtuosity

Perseverance

Creativity

Foresight

Event-based Future Consciousness Setting goals, committing to, and being successful at tasks that require a relatively extended temporal horizon within relevant contexts.

Setting goals, committing to, and being successful at tasks that require a relatively extended temporal horizon within relevant contexts.

Future Consciousness can be extended somewhat by Engaging in tasks that will extend your FC in particular ways Immersing oneself in environments that encourage / require an enhanced FC Developing psychological capacities for FC

Engaging in tasks that will extend your FC in particular ways

Immersing oneself in environments that encourage / require an enhanced FC

Developing psychological capacities for FC

Digital impacts on Future Consciousness... Technology as a driver of change and as a moderator on the human lived experience. Modern technologies can be used as a cognitive tool. Modern technologies can be lived in as an immersive environment.

Technology as a driver of change and as a moderator on the human lived experience.

Modern technologies can be used as a cognitive tool.

Modern technologies can be lived in as an immersive environment.

Technology as tool Can be used for a specific job or application Well defined parameters, not whole milieu Useful for a Scaffold Instrument Model or Simulation Communication

Can be used for a specific job or application

Well defined parameters, not whole milieu

Useful for a

Scaffold

Instrument

Model or Simulation

Communication

Technology as context Increasing instrumentality Increasing contingency Increasing proximity Increasing degree of abstraction Increased demand on personal productivity Increased demand on efficiencies Increased demand on response time from demand to delivery

Increasing instrumentality

Increasing contingency

Increasing proximity

Increasing degree of abstraction

Increased demand on personal productivity

Increased demand on efficiencies

Increased demand on response time from demand to delivery

Motivation and Goal-setting Technology as context: Much knowledge work can be done via technology today Tasks can be designed and monitored Environments can have goal-setting embedded An intentionally constructed future-focused milieu can be developed Human use can be monitored and presentation adjusted according to the level, degree, and/or quality of the input.

Technology as context:

Much knowledge work can be done via technology today

Tasks can be designed and monitored

Environments can have goal-setting embedded

An intentionally constructed future-focused milieu can be developed

Human use can be monitored and presentation adjusted according to the level, degree, and/or quality of the input.

Motivation and Goal-setting Technology as cognitive tool: Inspirational support Feedback mechanisms Connections with supporting community Technology as cognitive tool: Futureme or Hassleme 43 Things LifeTango

Technology as cognitive tool:

Inspirational support

Feedback mechanisms

Connections with supporting community

Technology as cognitive tool:

Futureme or Hassleme

43 Things

LifeTango

Critical & possibility thinking Technology as context: MUVEs, MMPORGs, Listservs, threaded discussions, communities of practices, etc. Technology as cognitive tool: Models, scaffolds, examples, simulations, problem-solving, concept mapping, and brainstorming tools

Technology as context:

MUVEs, MMPORGs, Listservs, threaded discussions, communities of practices, etc.

Technology as cognitive tool:

Models, scaffolds, examples, simulations, problem-solving, concept mapping, and brainstorming tools

Creativity & Foresight Technology as context : modeling, MUVEs, MMPORGs, simulations, etc. Technology as cognitive tool : Mindmapping, Cross-impact matrices, Drawing, Graphics, Scenario builders, STELLA, etc.

Technology as context : modeling, MUVEs, MMPORGs, simulations, etc.

Technology as cognitive tool : Mindmapping, Cross-impact matrices, Drawing, Graphics, Scenario builders, STELLA, etc.

creativity

creativity

Planning and productivity Technology as context: Microsoft Office :) Technology as cognitive tool: Blackberry, Palm, Cell phone, Outlook, OmniOutliner Pro,

Technology as context: Microsoft Office :)

Technology as cognitive tool: Blackberry, Palm, Cell phone, Outlook, OmniOutliner Pro,

Planning and productivity David Allen’s Getting Things Done ... view your commitments by: task / project environment / context

David Allen’s Getting Things Done

... view your commitments by:

task / project

environment / context

OmniOutliner Pro

Future-focused narrative Technology as context: ePortfolios can provide a landscape for integrating your goals and the images that make up the story of your future consciousness. Who am I? Who do I want to be? How do I get there? Technology as cognitive tool: Storyboarding, ComicLife, Blogging, Podcasting, Facebook, MySpace, etc.

Technology as context:

ePortfolios can provide a landscape for integrating your goals and the images that make up the story of your future consciousness.

Who am I?

Who do I want to be?

How do I get there?

Technology as cognitive tool:

Storyboarding, ComicLife, Blogging, Podcasting, Facebook, MySpace, etc.

In the use of cognitive tools to enhance Future Consciousness Many parts, loosely joined Or Comprehensive framework

Many parts, loosely joined

Or

Comprehensive framework

As goes the universe, so must go consciousness

May your future be bright and full possibility!

The Center for Future Consciousness [email_address]