Trends Identified
Technology Accelerates Change
The accelerating cycles of exploration, discovery and exploitation of technologies, along with the innovative fusion of existing, emerging and new technologies will combine to bring about change rapidly in the future. These changes will be seen in diverse areas ranging from resource exploration to biotechnology and manufacturing. Advances in biotechnology will continue to extend life expectancy, improve health and cure illnesses, while extending these benefits to broader segments of the world. The transition to digital additive manufacturing (i.e. 3D printing) and fabrication could impact settlement patterns, labour, education, transportation, public health, the environment, and the conduct of war.38 Providing a foundation for all these advances, vast improvements in information and communications technology will progressively influence all aspects of economic, political and social interactions.
2013
Strategic Foresight Analysis 2013 Report
NATO
Access to information and ideas
The ability to tap information and ideas from anyone, anywhere, is multiplying exponentially, both for individuals and for businesses. As the cost of technology—including both hardware and data—continues to fall and global internet penetration expands, recent advances in cloud computing and storage are lowering the cost of access and processing. The implications are wide-ranging: people can be continuously connected, access data from any location, work remotely with ease, and collaborate with their global colleagues in real time.
2017
Twelve Forces That Will Radically Change How Organizations Work
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Harvesting clean water from air
The ability to extract clean water from air is not new, however existing techniques require high moisture levels and a lot of electricity. This is changing. A team from MIT and University of California, Berkeley has successfully tested a process using porous crystals that convert the water using no energy at all. Another approach, by a start-up called Zero Mass Water from Arizona is able to produce 2-5 litres of water a day based on an off-grid solar system.
2017
These are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2017
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Brain-computer Interfaces
The ability to control a computer using only the power of the mind is closer than one might think. Brain-computer interfaces, where computers can read and interpret signals directly from the brain, have already achieved clinical success in allowing quadriplegics, those suffering “locked-in syndrome” or people who have had a stroke to move their own wheelchairs or even drink coffee from a cup by controlling the action of a robotic arm with their brain waves. In addition, direct brain implants have helped restore partial vision to people who have lost their sight. Recent research has focused on the possibility of using brain-computer interfaces to connect different brains together directly. Researchers at Duke University last year reported successfully connecting the brains of two mice over the Internet (into what was termed a “brain net”) where mice in different countries were able to cooperate to perform simple tasks to generate a reward. Also in 2013, scientists at Harvard University reported that they were able to establish a functional link between the brains of a rat and a human with a non-invasive, computer-to-brain interface. Other research projects have focused on manipulating or directly implanting memories from a computer into the brain. In mid-2013, MIT researchers reported having successfully implanted a false memory into the brain of a mouse. In humans, the ability to directly manipulate memories might have an application in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, while in the longer term, information may be uploaded into human brains in the manner of a computer file. Of course, numerous ethical issues are also clearly raised by this rapidly advancing field.
2014
Top 10 emerging technologies for 2014
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Access to technology
The ability of individuals, non-state actors to access technology has significantly increased.
2017
Strategic foresight analysis
NATO
The immigrant share of the U.S. population is approaching a record high but remains below that of many other countries.
The 44 million foreign-born people living in the U.S. in 2017 accounted for 13.6% of the population, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the American Community Survey. That is the highest share since 1910, when immigrants were 14.7% of the total population. The record share was in 1890, when immigrants were 14.8% of the total. According to United Nations data, 25 nations and territories have higher shares of immigrants than the U.S. They include some Persian Gulf nations with high shares of temporary labor migrants, as well as Australia (29%), New Zealand (23%) and Canada (21%). The role of the U.S. in accepting refugees has diminished, according to an analysis of data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The number of refugees resettled in the U.S. – 33,000 in 2017 – decreased more than in any other country over the previous year. The same year also marked the first time since the adoption of the 1980 U.S. Refugee Act that the U.S. resettled fewer refugees than all other countries combined (69,000).In most top destination countries for migrants, majorities of people say immigrants strengthen their countries rather than burden them, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of 18 countries that host half of the world’s migrants. Immigrants were viewed positively in 10 of those nations, including the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia. Majorities in five countries viewed immigrants as a burden: Hungary, Greece, South Africa, Russia and Israel.
2019
6 demographic trends shaping the U.S. and the world in 2019
Pew Research Center
Fake news
The 2016 election not only brought up concerns about cybersecurity, but there has also been widespread debate about the impact of fake news on social media – both in the presidential contest and beyond. Over the last year, social media companies have looked into new ways to address this issue.
2017
Key trends shaping technology in 2017
Pew Research Center
A changing workplace for women
The #MeToo movement has caused an abrupt shift in acceptable workplace behavior. Some worry that could result in a backlash, but I’m betting 2018 will mark a turning point for women in the workplace.
2018
Five Big Business Trends to Watch in 2018
Fortune
Home is where the ‘brain’ is
The “internet of things” will have considerable impact on homes, but at its core will be the need to make sense of all the information being generated. Homes will
be able to combine, interpret and relay the information coming in from a variety of new sensors
in appliances, fixtures and fittings, information that ranges from specific needs and monitoring of occupants, to basic system diagnostics. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the “internet of things” will move us from the age of the home computer to the age of the “computer home.”
2013
Metascan 3 emerging technologies
Canada, Policy Horizons Canada
Bridging global skills gaps
The ‘war for talent’ was declared more than 10 years ago, but few CEOs are prepared to declare victory. They know talent isn’t just a numbers game. It means finding, retaining and motivating employees whose skills really fit the company’s strategy. Given that 84% of CEOs have changed strategies in the past two years, companies’ talent needs are changing, too. So talent is now at the top of the CEO agenda for 2011, across all regions (see Figure 7).
2011
14th Annual global CEO Survey
PWC