The Future Is About People
Nicole Baker, Associate – Kedge, LLC.
Orlando, Florida
July 12, 2014
@KedgeTweets
Common Images of the Future
@KedgeTweets
How will a new landscape
influence our interactions with the
world, our collaboration with one
another and our intrapersonal
development?
The Future
Is About People…
People Are About
Communication
	
  
@KedgeTweets
Communication is a constant for humans.
It spans the past, present and future.
@KedgeTweets
We are in the midst
of a rapidly moving and changing landscape.
We must follow the thread of
communication through our emerging futures.
@KedgeTweets
Emerging TrendsCommunication
The Communication Feedback Loop
@KedgeTweets
@KedgeTweets
Trends Shaping the Future of Communication
@KedgeTweets
1 Intentional Evolution
Today’s trends are converging to suggest a movement
toward an “intentional” form of human development
instead of simply letting our collective path unfold
through accidental or even biological means. This is
being largely driven through trends surrounding
human/technology integration, the pervasive “Internet
of Things” and the empowerment of crowds, radically
altering our traditional models and redefining
what it means to be “human.”
@KedgeTweets
Dreamscaping
Do dreams contain the seeds of
life-changing innovations and solutions to global problems?
@KedgeTweets
Neuro-Science
The Internet was a way
to connect computers,
and now it can be the
way to connect brains.
The next step is having a
more equitable two-way
conversation directly
between the two brains.
In 30 to 40 years,
researchers believe
neuro-collaboration will
be completely plausible.
@KedgeTweets
An increased interaction of inanimate and
biological matter, reframes our view of the world.
Internet of Everything
@KedgeTweets
We are in the midst of a transformation into a new
economy (fueled by the Maker or DIY Movement)
where value is derived through participation and
the driving force is innovation. People no longer
seek cookie-cutter products, experiences or
careers, they desire input in the creative process,
and “access to assets” trumps ownership.
2The Creator Economy
@KedgeTweets
Sex Curren$y
Radical Monetary Systems to Engineer Behavior
45% of Japanese women aged 16-24 are not interested in or
despise sexual contact. More than 25% of men feel the same way.
@KedgeTweets
[Image	
  courtesy	
  of	
  mixed	
  media	
  visual	
  ar5st	
  Mike	
  Falcon,	
  "Park	
  and	
  23Red”]	
  
Hyperlocal
Virtual Mirror City
Inhabitants can
collaborate on subject
matter around like-
passions from anywhere
on the globe, while also
stimulating and testing
real-world ideas and
solutions before
physical production.
@KedgeTweets
Open-source talent
sharing will soon become so
common that work is shared,
collaboration is instantaneous,
and “cloud” employees work
for multiple enterprises
simultaneously.
Boundaries between internal
and external networks will
begin to blur, as organizations
embrace the wisdom of the
crowds to execute strategy.
People Cloud
@KedgeTweets
Humans are organic – living, breathing, and often
messy, and we thrive in environments filled with
purpose, deep meaning, creativity, and connection.
Greater distrust is rising around failed quantitative-
heavy measurements, producing a more human-
centric and passion-oriented landscape within society,
business and design and driving the development of
more holistic images of the future.
3Generative Mindsets
@KedgeTweets
The City as Incubator
Cities are where the
pressures of migration,
globalization, economic
development, social inequality,
environmental pollution, and
climate change are most
directly felt. Yet, they are also
the engines of the world
economy and centers of
innovation where many
solutions to global problems
are being piloted.
@KedgeTweets
Long Now Language
A more human-centric, life-giving, future-focused
discourse is emerging with the ability to further connect humanity.
@KedgeTweets
Conservation Communication
Biomimicry – mimicking life
and nature – is used as a design principle to
understand how natural environments work and
living organisms create and solve challenges of
industrial age design. These designs are fostering a
movement toward swarming and hiving in humanity.
@KedgeTweets
Fueled by a desire to fulfill multiple purposes in
one lifetime, Gen Y now expects the ability to live
diverse and blended realities and do not
distinguish between physical as “real” and virtual
as “fake.” The convergence of these worlds adds to
this blurred reality, resulting in what many see as a
co-evolution of humanity and technology.
4 Blurred Reality
@KedgeTweets
Multiple Identities
Our age of increasing complexity and exponential technology is
giving rise to individuals who expect the ability to live multiple,
concurrent lives. Emerging generations are demanding that their
worlds become seamlessly integrated, enabling their adaptation to
the rapidly merging landscapes of education, life, work, and play.
@KedgeTweets
Redefining the
Family Unit
Demographic
changes coupled
with technological
advancements will
transform the
definition of family.
As individuals become more
comfortable with integrating technology into every
aspect of their lives and these tools better mimic human
behaviors, it is likely our families of the future will include
non-carbon based life forms.
@KedgeTweets
What if the exponentially accelerating changes in
technology, social innovation and organizational
practices lead to postdisciplinarity where boundaries
fail to serve humanity in our quest to learn and grow?
Postdisciplinary World
@KedgeTweets
We must fashion your communication and interactions
around them in order to thrive in the changing,
complex and accelerating landscape of the 21st century. 	
  
Whether applying these trends to
organizations, consumers, work, life, or social circles…
@KedgeTweets
Kedge is a global foresight, innovation and
strategic design firm.
We help our clients:
•  Uncover emerging trends and issues that will
impact their business.
•  Discover unseen opportunities for strategic
development and advantage.
•  Thrive in a world of complex ideas and practices.
Contact Information:
Nicole Baker, Associate
Nicole@kedgefutures.com
@KedgeTweets
www.kedgefutures.com

The Future is About People

  • 1.
    The Future IsAbout People Nicole Baker, Associate – Kedge, LLC. Orlando, Florida July 12, 2014 @KedgeTweets
  • 2.
    Common Images ofthe Future @KedgeTweets
  • 3.
    How will anew landscape influence our interactions with the world, our collaboration with one another and our intrapersonal development? The Future Is About People… People Are About Communication   @KedgeTweets
  • 4.
    Communication is aconstant for humans. It spans the past, present and future. @KedgeTweets
  • 5.
    We are inthe midst of a rapidly moving and changing landscape. We must follow the thread of communication through our emerging futures. @KedgeTweets
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Trends Shaping theFuture of Communication @KedgeTweets
  • 9.
    1 Intentional Evolution Today’strends are converging to suggest a movement toward an “intentional” form of human development instead of simply letting our collective path unfold through accidental or even biological means. This is being largely driven through trends surrounding human/technology integration, the pervasive “Internet of Things” and the empowerment of crowds, radically altering our traditional models and redefining what it means to be “human.” @KedgeTweets
  • 10.
    Dreamscaping Do dreams containthe seeds of life-changing innovations and solutions to global problems? @KedgeTweets
  • 11.
    Neuro-Science The Internet wasa way to connect computers, and now it can be the way to connect brains. The next step is having a more equitable two-way conversation directly between the two brains. In 30 to 40 years, researchers believe neuro-collaboration will be completely plausible. @KedgeTweets
  • 12.
    An increased interactionof inanimate and biological matter, reframes our view of the world. Internet of Everything @KedgeTweets
  • 13.
    We are inthe midst of a transformation into a new economy (fueled by the Maker or DIY Movement) where value is derived through participation and the driving force is innovation. People no longer seek cookie-cutter products, experiences or careers, they desire input in the creative process, and “access to assets” trumps ownership. 2The Creator Economy @KedgeTweets
  • 14.
    Sex Curren$y Radical MonetarySystems to Engineer Behavior 45% of Japanese women aged 16-24 are not interested in or despise sexual contact. More than 25% of men feel the same way. @KedgeTweets
  • 15.
    [Image  courtesy  of  mixed  media  visual  ar5st  Mike  Falcon,  "Park  and  23Red”]   Hyperlocal Virtual Mirror City Inhabitants can collaborate on subject matter around like- passions from anywhere on the globe, while also stimulating and testing real-world ideas and solutions before physical production. @KedgeTweets
  • 16.
    Open-source talent sharing willsoon become so common that work is shared, collaboration is instantaneous, and “cloud” employees work for multiple enterprises simultaneously. Boundaries between internal and external networks will begin to blur, as organizations embrace the wisdom of the crowds to execute strategy. People Cloud @KedgeTweets
  • 17.
    Humans are organic– living, breathing, and often messy, and we thrive in environments filled with purpose, deep meaning, creativity, and connection. Greater distrust is rising around failed quantitative- heavy measurements, producing a more human- centric and passion-oriented landscape within society, business and design and driving the development of more holistic images of the future. 3Generative Mindsets @KedgeTweets
  • 18.
    The City asIncubator Cities are where the pressures of migration, globalization, economic development, social inequality, environmental pollution, and climate change are most directly felt. Yet, they are also the engines of the world economy and centers of innovation where many solutions to global problems are being piloted. @KedgeTweets
  • 19.
    Long Now Language Amore human-centric, life-giving, future-focused discourse is emerging with the ability to further connect humanity. @KedgeTweets
  • 20.
    Conservation Communication Biomimicry –mimicking life and nature – is used as a design principle to understand how natural environments work and living organisms create and solve challenges of industrial age design. These designs are fostering a movement toward swarming and hiving in humanity. @KedgeTweets
  • 21.
    Fueled by adesire to fulfill multiple purposes in one lifetime, Gen Y now expects the ability to live diverse and blended realities and do not distinguish between physical as “real” and virtual as “fake.” The convergence of these worlds adds to this blurred reality, resulting in what many see as a co-evolution of humanity and technology. 4 Blurred Reality @KedgeTweets
  • 22.
    Multiple Identities Our ageof increasing complexity and exponential technology is giving rise to individuals who expect the ability to live multiple, concurrent lives. Emerging generations are demanding that their worlds become seamlessly integrated, enabling their adaptation to the rapidly merging landscapes of education, life, work, and play. @KedgeTweets
  • 23.
    Redefining the Family Unit Demographic changescoupled with technological advancements will transform the definition of family. As individuals become more comfortable with integrating technology into every aspect of their lives and these tools better mimic human behaviors, it is likely our families of the future will include non-carbon based life forms. @KedgeTweets
  • 24.
    What if theexponentially accelerating changes in technology, social innovation and organizational practices lead to postdisciplinarity where boundaries fail to serve humanity in our quest to learn and grow? Postdisciplinary World @KedgeTweets
  • 25.
    We must fashionyour communication and interactions around them in order to thrive in the changing, complex and accelerating landscape of the 21st century.   Whether applying these trends to organizations, consumers, work, life, or social circles… @KedgeTweets
  • 26.
    Kedge is aglobal foresight, innovation and strategic design firm. We help our clients: •  Uncover emerging trends and issues that will impact their business. •  Discover unseen opportunities for strategic development and advantage. •  Thrive in a world of complex ideas and practices. Contact Information: Nicole Baker, Associate Nicole@kedgefutures.com @KedgeTweets www.kedgefutures.com