The Futureproof Series.
Postcards
From the Future.
Postcards From the Future
Part of designbivouac’s Futureproof Series, this futurecasting series is a collection of future visualizations and brief narratives exploring possible preferred futures.
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Methodology
Futurecasting is a creative process where designers explore various social, cultural, economic, political, and ecological factors to envision potential futures. Rather than predicting the future with certainty, futurecasting focuses on imagining possible and preferable scenarios that inform long-term strategies. It helps businesses understand the forces shaping the future, anticipate changes, and create proactive strategies. Preferable futures align technology with human needs while ensuring sustainability from a planetary perspective.
Frameworks
The Futureproof: Postcards From the Future series draws on frameworks, such as Joseph Voros’s Futures Cone and backcasting, to guide its exploration. By working backward from a desirable future state to our current reality, backcasting helps identify the necessary conditions to achieve a preferred vision. The aim is to encourage thoughtful consideration of our shared future and inspire active participation in shaping it.
Visual and Narrative Approach
The series' visual approach integrates AI tools into the creative process, blending visuals with written narratives that evolve organically as each postcard from the future takes form. The series is designed to inspire deeper reflection on the necessary actions to make our collective preferred future a reality.
Futureproof: ThinLane Autonomous People Movers
Our visit to Austin last weekend was great. There was so much to do, and it was easy to get around. The ThinLane electric people movers can accommodate up to four people in the bike lanes that run all over the city. We downloaded the app and used them all weekend to get around town.
Future Narrative
Our visit to Austin last weekend was great. There was so much to do, and it was easy to get around. The autonomous ThinLane electric people movers can accommodate up to four people in the bike lanes that run all over the city. We downloaded the app and used it throughout the weekend to navigate around town. The city has established a micromobility strategy and policies. A few repurposed parking spaces in front of downtown businesses now serve as ThinLane loading and unloading zones. This keeps bicyclists happy as the ThinLane vehicles either keep pace or are out of the way. There are fewer cars downtown, and the streets seem smoother, too.
Technology
Autonomous, narrow, electric vehicles provide easy-on/easy-off mobility utilizing dedicated bike lanes. Occupants are safely transported up to 20 miles per hour and use an app to set pick-up and drop-off locations and make payments.
Implications
Many areas within a city require moving people in core areas at consistent but lower speeds or shifting them along a loop. These narrow electric vehicles provide significant bandwidth to the overall mobility system and use existing infrastructure.
Cities' policymakers must collaborate with businesses to understand the optimal flow of pedestrian traffic in dense areas.
Policies that allow a diverse micro-mobility ecosystem to thrive have to be adopted.
How can utilization fees offset some or most infrastructure costs associated with micromobility solutions?
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.
Futureproof: USGS Monitor
Future USGS locations may be supplemented with Monitor technology that collects data related to weather, vegetation conditions, wildfire management, wildlife migration, and more.
Future Narrative
On a recent cross-country motorcycle trip, I stopped north of Moab, Utah, to bivouac for an evening. The dry creekbed and a nearby rock formation protected me from the gentle overnight breeze. I took a short hike at sunrise and came across one of those new USGS markers with a solar-powered camera Monitor kit anchored next to it. I scanned the badge to access the viewpoint later. It was strange to have felt so alone and isolated the evening before, only to discover a Monitor station a quarter of a mile away. It is beneficial that these resources are available for those who need assistance. I can also view the camera feed from this location remotely, which is excellent as it is now one of my favorite bivouacking sites. Still, I wonder what it takes to get off the grid for a while.
Technology
AI-enabled, solar-powered image monitoring for fire prevention, weather forecast augmentation, vegetation monitoring, and remote assistance services
Implications
With new off-grid support infrastructure in place, what does getting away from it all mean?
How might this seldom-seen support network impact the human spirit?
How might USGS Monitor technology save lives and communities as we see more significant weather and wildfire events?
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.
Futureproof: Crowdcasting AI Sports Coverage
Seeing the Tour de France through the eyes of so many who attended this summer was amazing! Crowdcasting AI technology provided unprecedented opportunities to view riders through the thousands of Crowdcast spectator cameras lining the race route.
Future Narrative
Seeing the Tour de France through the eyes of so many who attended this summer was amazing! Crowdcasting AI technology provided unprecedented opportunities to view riders through the thousands of Crowdcast spectator cameras lining the race route. Crowdcast AI instantly parsed together images from thousands of cameras, passing off the feed to the next spectator camera as riders passed by. It works kind of like an inverse zoetrope. The larger the crowd, the better the results tend to be. We have full course coverage this year, and Crowdcasting has made the routes much safer. Gone are all those outstretched arms and selfie sticks holding the smartphones riders had to avoid in past tours. And, of course, the first-person camera views from riders were terrific!
Technology
AI-enabled, broadcast camera view parsing, mesh high-speed Wi-Fi with larger camera units, solar visor battery power augmentation for mesh Wi-Fi units, cranium shielding SafeWave technology, and a fully transparent capable display. Customizable crowd casting allows spectators to watch individual participants of their choice.
Implications
How might AI further enable compelling coverage of sporting events at large venues and over large distances via massive point-of-view crowdcasting?
What companies are well-positioned to provide the needed technologies to make crowdcasting possible?
Related Links
See the remarkable classic Zoetrope at speed work done to promote Forza’s racing game.
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.
Futureproof: AI Powered Woodworking
AI-enabled, precision power tools transform garages into micro-factories. What will the value of future craftsmanship involve in terms of automation? How will the definition of “hand-crafted” evolve?
Future Narrative
I walked into my woodworking shop this morning, and my new tabletop AI-powered wood rendering setup had completed the batch I programmed the night before. There are a few unexpected things I will have to touch up, but this saved me hours of repetitive work. It is almost as good as the one we have at work. Measurements and tolerances are precise, and everything fits together perfectly. Now, I can focus on the details. This one is for the local museum. I might create another one in time for the Fine Arts Fair. Once I dial things in, I’ll try the “print to Etsy” feature. But first, I’ll use this setup to create soundproofing panels so I can run it all night without upsetting the neighbors.
Technology
AI, personal computer interfaces, and motorized precision woodworking tools transform garages into micro-factories.
Implications
What will the value of future craftsmanship involve in terms of automation? How will the definition of “hand-crafted” evolve?
If you are a tool company, what are you doing today to integrate digital and AI capabilities into your offerings?
Early Signals
www.shapertools.com
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.