This document discusses the need to archive alternative visions of the future that challenge the dominant narratives coming from Silicon Valley. It notes that concepts like "smart cities" and the "internet of things" may be aimed more at social control than meeting real needs. One goal of archiving different futures is to provide coherent counter-narratives around technology for those on the political left. The document calls for help building a future vision archive through contributions like interviews across different fields, funding, and additional team members with skills like development and design.

1. archiving the
future.
of
es
the
hap
things

2. corporate visions of the future.

3. reality.

4. ?
which future(s)
do we really want

5. ?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
future vision archive.

6. and identity tied together in a single, easy to swallow package. With the
technological narrative today, the themes abound around such concepts as
‘smart cities’ and the ‘internet of things’, which one might argue are not
created from a great societal need, but rather a top down tendency for greater
control over the masses. This cultural narrative is not without an origin. It’s
Silicon Valley that Assange points to as directing this generation’s
technological vision.
One of the causes for our present condition regarding democracy, claims
Assange, is that there is no coherent narrative around technology to
challenge the existing vision, especially for those in the political Left or
How do you feel about living in the ‘smart city’
described by Assange?
pessimistic neutral optimistic

7. and identity tied together in a single, easy to swallow package. With the
technological narrative today, the themes abound around such concepts as
‘smart cities’ and the ‘internet of things’, which one might argue are not
created from a great societal need, but rather a top down tendency for greater
control over the masses. This cultural narrative is not without an origin. It’s
Silicon Valley that Assange points to as directing this generation’s
technological vision.
One of the causes for our present condition regarding democracy, claims
Assange, is that there is no coherent narrative around technology to
challenge the existing vision, especially for those in the political Left or
How do you feel about living in the ‘smart city’
described by Assange?
76%
16%
8%

8. 76%
16%
8%
How do you feel about living in the ‘smart city’
described by Assange?

9. what we need:
• interview subjects- politics, technology,
art, agriculture, finance, etc.
• funding connections / donations
• team members- developer, designer,
writers

10. theshapeofthings.org