PRESENTED BY
Brian David Johnson, Futurist in Residence, Center for Science and the Imagination, Arizona State University
SESSION ABSTRACT
The future isn’t an accident. The future is built everyday by the actions of people, organizations and corporations. But how do we build the future? What are the actionable steps we can take today to imagine, model, communicate and build these visions? In his talk, Johnson explored over-arching trends and even some wild ideas that will impact industry and the human race.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS:
• A fresh perspective on the technological advances and cultural trends that will affect the future
• Insight on what steps you can take today to start shaping the future
• Techniques for creating an organization that is focused on the future but that also delivers results today
Brian David Johnson, an engineer by training, is also a futurist. He works with corporations, government, the military, and trade companies to help them look far into the future, as well as into the marketplace and their client’s lives. He helped Intel understand how people will interact with technology in the future. He also helps companies answer questions like: Where are things are going? What is the positive vision? What are the things that we need to do today and tomorrow, and every day after, within the organization? He advised today’s enterprises to ensure the future you plan for is delivered to the world.
Analyzing and visualizing the technologies of tomorrow, including a “data driven marketplace” and the evolution of customer interactions in a world of “The Internet of Things,” Brian looked far ahead and challenged participants to look even further. He presented examples of companies that have implemented a futurist agenda in order to maximize sales, adapt to technology, engage with customers and revolutionize the
impact in their client’s lives.
He stressed that it is important to start having discussions about the future now. This can spark the creation of new ideas. Brian reminded participants that if you can solve a problem for someone, then you can do great business. He recommended looking five to ten years into the future, and then looking even further.
KEY INNOVATION CHALLENGES
Living in a world with ever-changing technologies and growing consumer expectations, we must devote ourselves to intellectual and innovative conversations about where things are going and the way we perceive the future. We need to engage in a platform to literally start building the future.
• Ask: How are we going to make people happier, more productive, and healthier?
• How are our technologies going to interact in the future?
• When you are challenged to look into the future and imagine the technologies of tomorrow, what do you see?
Big Data is in between all of our technologies and relationships. Surrounded by all of this computational power, our devices will become the window on how we tap into the future. We build the future by our actions. What do we want to do with the future?
