Supertrends (50 Things You Need To Know About The Future)

Take a look into the future and discover the trends that are shaping our world

Futurists are in the business of predicting the future. What do the most efficient futurists know? You’ll find the answer inside Supertrends: 50 Things You Need to Know About the Future. Discover how we can expect the world to evolve in terms of demographics, economics, technology, environment and beyond. Whatever it is that you do, you will be able to better prepare for the future if you can just get a clear view of it.

These are turbulent times, and we all need to be ready for what’s coming if we hope to thrive. This book addresses what we can expect in the coming decades, and how companies and government should adapt to accelerating change. You will also see improvement in your own ability to predict the next big thing – a valuable skill in any walk of life.

• Discover the core principles of efficient forecasting
• Identify underlying drivers and recurring social patterns which help explain and predict events
• Learn about evolving and expected future technologies and lifestyles, and how they will be applied in the coming decades
• See how companies and governments can become more future-proof by adopting new and innovative management principles

Author Lars Tvede is a serial entrepreneur and currently works as founding partner in the successful venture fund Nordic Eye, the think tank Futures Institute and the forecasting company Supertrends. Throughout his career, he has found success through his uncanny ability to predict the trends that will take our world forward. Read this book to benefit from his insights and get a handle on what’s coming next in our dynamic world. Anyone who needs to understand the future – from financial executives, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to journalists and politicians – will benefit from Supertrends.

About Sources and Contributors xi

1. Feeler, Thinker, Hedgehog, Fox – On Predictions 1

Are you a feeler or a thinker? 2

Hedgehogs and foxes – which are best at seeing the future? 7

No! As in never! 7

Our knowledge at double speed 14

The creative design field 21

The world’s a much better place than people think 26

2. Demography and Prosperity 33

The West versus the rest 35

Population growth is actually decreasing rapidly 37

Huge growth in prosperity continues 41

A massive elderly boom 44

Depopulation of rural areas 45

Increased global equality and local inequality – but will this continue? 45

A more peaceful world 49

The lost billion people – the world’s biggest problem? 51

3. The Biotechnological Revolution – Life as Computer Technology 53

CRISPR – the new genetic word processing 56

New genetically engineered species 60

Recreation of extinct species – the real Jurassic Park 60

Tomorrow’s genetically modified humans 66

A healthier, safer world 69

Revolutions in the fight against cancer 70

New cells for old lives 74

Wearables, self-diagnoses, biohacking, and lifestyle medicine 77

The intelligent healthcare of the future 79

4. Computers, Software, and Electronic Networks 81

From exceptional to magical 83

Bell’s Law of new computer classes 86

Cloud computing and the as-a-service movement 88

AI – the career cul-de-sac that suddenly got hot 89

IoT – nerve fibres for the mechanical world 95

Big data = big deal 99

Smart robots – the new ecosystem 103

Smart remote control – the magic wands of reality 107

Quantum computers – billions of times faster 108

VR – dream worlds for real 111

AR – Pokémon GO on steroids 111

Ambient user experience – the frictionless tot