The document discusses shaping the future rather than just predicting it. It argues that our task is to design a sustainable and acceptable future world characterized by living in peace with nature, sharing resources broadly and fairly, and eliminating divisions between groups. The key points are that achieving a sustainable future depends more on addressing people's basic desires than technology alone, and that through present efforts we can determine how sustainable the future will be by focusing on shaping the future rather than just forecasting it.

1. Forecasting or
Shaping the Future?
Siti Zulaiha Bte Kamarudin, G13

2. Background
 Predicting the future = Know and observe the
future
 Shaping the future = Determine the future

3. Background
 Our task is not to predict the future but to,
Design a future for a sustainable and acceptable
world

4. Sustainable and Acceptable
world
 Living at peace with all of nature
 Find a way for sharing broadly and fairly
 Eliminate “we” from “they”

5. Interesting Points
 Achieving the sustainable world is not mainly
dependent on technology but,
Dependent on people’s simple desires
“We want enough to eat, warm relations with some
other people, pleasant and intellectually challenging
tasks and surroundings, and freedom from pain, fear
and hate.”

6. Interesting Points
 Technology = knowledge
 We ultimately decide the
extent of advancing to the
sustainable future.

7. Key Takeaway Messages
 Only through present efforts do we determine
how sustainable our future will be
 Focus should shift from forecasting the future to
shaping our future

8. Personal Rating
8/10
 Comprehensive and an easy read
 Unique perspective on technology
 Too idealistic

9. Discussion
 Do you think that it is possible to achieve this
sustainable future?
 Does technology help us in achieving a future we
would like or does it hinder us from achieving it?