Values, Goals, Vision. European Futurists Conference Lucerne 10-12 July 2005 Dr. Wendy L. Schultz Infinite Futures http://www.infinitefutures.com/

Stories from the future. “… let us tell -- and listen to -- stories where people can hope, love, and cry…” Story telling engages provokes stimulates dialogue, and generates change.

“… let us tell -- and listen to -- stories where people can hope, love, and cry…”

Story telling

engages

provokes

stimulates dialogue, and

generates change.

Scenarios Scenarios are futures for the HEAD: they allow us to explore our assumptions about possibilities.

Scenarios are futures for the HEAD: they allow us to explore our assumptions about possibilities.

… vs. Visions Visions are futures for the HEART: allowing us to voice our most deeply felt values and goals.

Visions are futures for the HEART: allowing us to voice our most deeply felt values and goals.

Binocular vision: adding depth of field Powerful organisations colonise the future: do you share Microsoft’s vision? We know from biology that monoculture creates vulnerability: Strength in choice among competing images of the future; Let’s try an open source approach.

Powerful organisations colonise the future: do you share Microsoft’s vision?

We know from biology that monoculture creates vulnerability:

Strength in choice among competing images of the future;

Let’s try an open source approach.

Rangefinding our vision. An open source approach begins with each of us articulating and clarifying our own visions -- and then sharing. Let’s borrow a vision test format from opticians: Focus your vision (preferred future) by comparing contrasting possible futures, and choosing among them:

An open source approach begins with each of us articulating and clarifying our own visions -- and then sharing.

Let’s borrow a vision test format from opticians:

Focus your vision (preferred future) by comparing contrasting possible futures, and choosing among them:

Is this better? A rural future?

Or this? An urban future?

Is this better? A future transformed by technology?

Or this? A future transformed by mental and spiritual attainments?

A large-scale, nuclear energy future? Is this better?

Or this? A small-scale, solar-powered future?

Is this better? A future of increasing digital pervasiveness and invasiveness?

Or this? A future of biological manipulation and transformation?

From either/or to both/and. Either/or forced choices are artificial and unrealistic -- we want both . Searching for both/and solutions to conflicting goals and colliding trends: Generates creativity and Inspires transformational change.

Either/or forced choices are artificial and unrealistic -- we want both .

Searching for both/and solutions to conflicting goals and colliding trends:

Generates creativity and

Inspires transformational change.

3-minute vision, 5-minute share: Envision what YOU want: imagine and write down 3 short, vivid, positive changes you want to see by 2025: Be specific; Be colourful; Surprise yourself! Share with a person near you -- find at least one common change to create.

Envision what YOU want: imagine and write down 3 short, vivid, positive changes you want to see by 2025:

Be specific;

Be colourful;

Surprise yourself!

Share with a person near you -- find at least one common change to create.

Thank you! Dr. Wendy L. Schultz Infinite Futures http://www.infinitefutures.com/ [email_address]

Thank you!

Dr. Wendy L. Schultz

Infinite Futures

http://www.infinitefutures.com/

[email_address]