Design consultancy Frog design showcases their concept for the future of personal healthcare entitled Aura. The concept breathes core values such as simplicity, tranquillity, lightness, calmness, poetry etc.
Aura was modelled against a backdrop shaped by trends such as an ageing population, the shift from remediation to prevention, a multidisciplinary (mind-body) but also more holistic approach to healthcare(Western & alternative) etc.
“Much of life is composed of daily routine: brushing your teeth, washing your face, preparing your meals. Once learned, such routines can offer more than the practical benefits; they can help people center their lives, providing a small assurance of simplicity within a rapidly changing world. Many cultures have traditional, repetition-based tools with which to meet the uncertainties of the world at large: Zen gardens, calligraphy, yoga massage. All treat the body and soul as one, using physical motion or non-motion to focus the mind. The Aura taps into this tradition in a new way, focusing the mind while examining the body to promote a holistic model of individual health.”
Aura combines monitoring, therapeutic and security modes of personal health care.
The monitoring ritual consists of looking into a bowl and humming. In the meantime Aura performs facial, saliva and voice scans to monitor mood, health, tension levels/fatigue etc. Through the touching of a semi-soft sculptural form the user’s skin, blood, heartrate, temperature etc. are monitored. Colour, sound, scent and vibrations give feedback to the senses: informative, yet also therapeutic, since they influence physical and psychological health. Moving a white chime mallet across the edge of the bowl makes images, forms, colours, etc. appear in the vessel. The user can control what appears, yet the device also learns which items aid in positively influencing a person’s mood, physical or psychological state. Repeated usage over longer periods of time allow Aura to provide security, by learning about and keeping an eye on the user’s personal health and advert him/her of problems or warn medical professional straight away when necessary.
The whole february issue of their design mind blog/zine is focussed on health, btw. Sit back and enjoy a fascinating read!
In the recently released scifi movie Jumper, a young man is able to teleport himself from one place to another in the blink of an eye. Hollywood publicist Warren Betts organized an evening putting on stage director Doug Liman and actor Hayden Christensen to meet & discuss with MIT physics professors Dr. Max Tegmark and Dr. Edward Fahri.
In physics teleportation stands for the transfer of quantum states from one atom to another. No Star Trek ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ yet, though progress is being made at the atomic level.
“Dr. Tegmark said that even inaccurate science fiction movies could inspire scientists to think. You could see something that you think is impossible, he said, but that might start you thinking. “Why is that impossible? It can trigger a train of thought,” he said.”
This resonates somehow with Nicolas‘ line ‘I do really prefer reading sci-fi, instead of so-called “futurists”.’ a while ago. The element of plot, narrative, the immersion & the engagement factor etc. are all elements central to the different way in which people deal with information differently when presented as an experience vs. as a rational series of info/data to process. Different kinds of triggers and carrier waves lie at the basis of different trains of thought.
Part two of our 2057 coverage. This time: 2057, the city. We bathe in datastreams as we walk through our city. Cars, streets & clothing exchange data around the clock and act intelligently to support us in whatever we do.
According to an AP article, Disney – the company which invented the fantastic term imagineering – has decided to relaunch their House of the Future concept. Originally set up in 1957, sponsored by Monsanto, the original house closed in 1967. A new 5000 square foot home is in the making.
“The $15 million Innoventions Dream Home is a collaboration of The Walt Disney Co., Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., software maker LifeWare and homebuilder Taylor Morrison.”
Many cities around the world, yet also companies such as Microsoft, Philips, HP, etc. , have set up houses of the future in the past decennia. In Brussels and Amsterdam, for example, the Living tomorrow initiative showcases how we might come to live, work, play in the future according to technologies from several companies.
In the Disney case, focus will lay on projecting visitors into a lifestyle of the future rather than giving them the traditional tradeshow lookahead.
“Visitors will experience the look of tomorrow by watching Disney actors playing a family of four preparing for a trip to China.”
Reading up on the Disney initiative, it seems that the imagination of the future in such settings keeps falling back on the same stereotypical ideas such as the automated kitchen of the 60 etc.
We already signaled you the BBC documentary Visions of the future. Now, physicist and futurologist Michio Kaku takes us on another voyage into the fascinating world of possible tomorrows. This time, in a coproduction between Gruppe 5 ZDF and Discovery Channel (visual effects by 422 South), three stories are told set in the year 2057, each addressing a different scale level: the world, the city, the body. The videos combine a tech-inspired, integrated view of the future by means of a storyline, with documentary style lab-visits with scientists & engineers and their inventions.
It is probably because the series is aimed at a broad audience, that the storyline appears to serve as a binding element between the flashes about technological developments, rather than as a deeper, more integrated rendering of a future scenario. Storyline and acting clearly take a secondary position compared to the technological developments themselves.
We saw the episode, filtered out and put together the links to most of the science and tech projects mentioned (and added some of our own). Stay tuned for more news from 2057. (more…)
City of Sound‘s Dan Hill – former head of interactive technology and design at the BBC and currently director of web and broadcast at Tyler Brûlé’s Monocle – reflects on the street of the future and sees the Street as a platform.
The author projects himself into a street of the future and describes what he sees and experiences. Visibly the street is still much recognizable, yet some of the biggest changes are invisible. The air is thick with the manifold of data streams & clouds logging and interacting with human behaviour (individual & group). Current-day mostly off-the-shelf technologies have entered the mainstream, they have become incorporated into the lives of people and society’s ubiquitous systems.
“This somewhat banal sketch of an average high street is very deliberately based on the here and now; none of the technology lurking in the background behind this passage is R&D. Most of it is in use in our streets, one way or another, and the technology that isn’t could be deployed tomorrow. As such, given the time from lab to street, it represents the research thinking of over a decade ago.”
Dan’s view is interestingly lifelike as it also hints at system failures, rough-around-the-edges technologies, wear and tear, friction as old and more recent tech mixes etc.
Be sure to read not just the storyline but also Dan’s remarks, explanations and open-ended questions at the end of the article. They add a deeper, critical & knowledgeable dimension to his storyline. For example, Dan also adds a bifurcation to his story, two directions in which systems could shape the future street : locked down street, open source street.
The story reads a bit like a near-future (meets today), walk-by, narrative version of Tom & Irene’s map, yet for the smarttech-assisted common men and women on the streets.
Scarcity makes for economy, makes for politics, makes for geopolitical power, the world of energy plays the game mainstage these days and will continue to do so for a while.
Nevertheless, according to Exclusive-Analysis’James Howarth over at OpenDemocracy.net, the Middle East is anticipating times at which oil might no longer be their main cashcow. In order to maintain their strategically powerful position in a world seeking oil/energy-independence, countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE etc. are diversifying their portfolios.
Aside from oil, a ‘gas OPEC‘ (an extended GECF) is already taking shape (cf. Iran, Russia, Qatar, Algeria cover 70% of the world’s gas reserves and 40% of output) but working along a different model of decisionmaking. Iran invests in nuclear power. Many would bet on solar energy to be the next big thing in countries with plenty of sun and desert, yet not all share that opinion/enthusiasm (see for example video on Energy Wars).
Not only on the production side, also on the consumption side the Middle East is changing . Although sitting on top of large reserves, the economic boom of for example the UAE, gives rise to ‘massive change’ projects such as Abu Dhabi’s $15bn Masdar, investing in building carbon neutral cities (e.g. Masdar city together with Foster+partners), the world’s largest hydrogen energy plant (a project together with BP), massive solar fields etc.
A few days ago we mentioned the wide spread of the microchip, new possibilities and possible privacy issues ensuing from current and future applications, e.g. RFID sniffing etc.
Near field communication (NFC) is a technology allowing short-distance (-20cm), bidirectional wireless communication between devices such as mobile phones, RFID chips, smartcards, prints etc. Applications range from electronic keys, ticketing, payment and identity services, to personalized marketing, wayfinding, smart posters etc.
In case you live/work in Antwerp (Belgium) and would like to explore and co-invent/co-design the future of (NFC) communication with and within your city, feel free to join the SmartTouch City project (part of the SmartTouch initiative).
Click here for a readable (dutch) version of the invitation.
Royal Dutch Shell, home to several scenario planning pioneers, takes another look into the future of energy and the related climate change challenge. In an open letter distributed in cooperation with Project Syndicate, CEO Jeroen van der Veer sees two major pathways to a possible future of a more sustainable energy mix (i.e. including wind, solar, hydro, bio and nuclear): the scramble way and the blueprints way. In any case, the shift is necessary as it is foreseen that easily accessible oil and gas reserves will most likely not be able to keep up with demand after 2015. In a nutshell :
scramble scenario: nations hurry to secure their energy reserves, local coal & biofuels rise, policy makers basically sit back and wait until things go wrong as energy consumption and and greenhouse-gas emissions are not mitigated, result: spikes & volatility in energy prices. Sounds familiar?
blueprints scenario: new coalitions emerge to tackle energy-, economy- and environment-related challenges together, local authorities/policymakers, industry players and R&D/innovators work together, national governments adjust their instruments (taxes, incentives, standards, etc.) to help curb things in the right direction (especially in terms of buildings, vehicles & transport fuels), at a world level harmonization increases, cars run increasingly on electricity & hydrogen, CO2 is increasingly captured and stored underground
Shell sees the blueprints scenario as the best move in terms of the energy, economy, environment equation, but does mention some requirements for it to succeed.
The approach taken in the blueprints scenario follows a path similar to that in transition management initiatives (Pantopicon is involved in several such projects at the moment, e.g. Plan C), in which common challenges are explored and ideals shared, new cross-boundary coalitions are formed bottom up, innovative pathways to the ideal are explored, experiments are set up, to explore not one but a series of possible solutions and spark innovation, etc. Succesful solutions will be scaled up gradually through society-wide capacity building.
“The world faces a long voyage before it reaches a low-carbon energy system. Companies can suggest possible routes to get there, but governments are in the driver’s seat. And governments will determine whether we should prepare for bitter competition or a true team effort.”
In your car, in your furniture, in your electronic appliances, your tools and kitchen utensils, in your paperwork, in packaging, in food, in your body … printable, biodegradable, implantable, edible … microchips of every kind are becoming – in some context they already are – pervasive.
More than for real computation – e.g. health-related ‘labs-on-a-chip’ technology – most microchips are/will probably be there to render the world more ‘addressable’. They (e.g. RFID tags) will allow us to identify, count, localize and keep track of our ‘stuff’ (fyi: IPv6 allows for 6.5 x 1023 IP addresses per square meter on the surface of our planet). As space seems a keyword in this equation, it is time which is even more central to this whole discussion. As Bruce Sterling already mentioned as he spoke of spimes, imagine a future in which you can trace items, components, etc. throughout their lifecycle, learn who or what they encountered where and at which moment. In other words, you will be able to know (and who knows, meet or speak to) the sheep that grew your sweater.
Obviously, who gets to know (and remember) what in which context remains up for debate. Enjoy this Washington Post article about some of the RFID developments in store for us and the possible dangers they pose.
A while ago, we highlightedTom Klinkowstein and Irene Pereyra‘s fascinating project depicting a day in the life of a networked designer’s smart things or a day in a designer’s networked smart things, 2030. The future, design, technology, a fascinating approach … more than enough good ingredients for an even better interview with both designers.
A few months ago, we blogged about Craig Venter’s team’s first step in the creation of an artificial life or rather a ‘synthetic lifeform’, i.e. the transplantation and kickstarting the genome of one species of bacterium into another. In the meantime, step two has been taken, i.e. the creation of the first synthetic genome by stringing several DNA strands together using yeast, and step three – putting 1 and 2 together + inserting the synthetic genome in a standard bacterium, in other words: man-made life – is around the corner. A synthetic human genome is estimated to be in reach by 2014.
“With the new ability to sequence a genome, scientists can begin to custom-design organisms, essentially creating biological robots that can produce from scratch chemicals humans can use. Biofuels like ethanol, for example.”
“The J. Craig Venter Institute will be able to take a file stored on a computer and using synthetic chemistry, turn that information into life,” said Chris Voigt, a University of California at San Francisco synthetic biologist. “I would be shocked if it doesn’t come out in six months. I think they’ve done it.”
The discourse concerning this scientific and technological breakthrough is heated to say the least. While the opportunities are huge, the threats unfortunately are more top of mind for many people. Management, scaling and speeding up of the societal debate concerning such technologies is crucial for a smooth and reasonable future. Sociologists sometimes refer to a ‘timebomb‘ metaphor when discussing the inability of societal debate to keep up with the speed and acceleration of new developments, re: the huge problems to which this could lead. Reason is a precious balance.
Image is a fragment of Gerhard Richter‘s amazing code-of-life-based stained glass window in the Dom in Cologne, Germany
Alex and Dominic Michaelis and several researchers from the University of Southampton are working on a proof of concept prototype of their energy island.
The structure is an all-in-one solution featuring (open cycle) Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, i.e. making use of the temperature difference of water at different depths in the ocean to generate electricity via a turbine. The process desalinates water, providing drinkable water as well. But there is more, the modular energy islands would also feature energytech to generate power from sun, wind, waves and underwater currents. Furthermore, vegetable farms could grow food.
“Each energy island would operate in a similar way to an oil rig, with about 25 people living there to operate the energy systems and food farms,” said Alex Michaelis. ‘Teams of workers would spend six weeks on the island and six weeks off. The islands can be linked together so if you wanted a bigger power output you could simply build a bigger settlement. In the future these energy islands could be linked together to become eco-tourism attractions.’”
The energy island is also in the running for Branson’s Virgin Earth Prize. Especially the way in which the concept tackles several challenges (food production, energy, drinkable water) in a combined fashion, is fascinating.
From February 1st until March 30th, FACT – the Foundation for Art & Creative Technology in Liverpool – is organising the exhibition ‘sk-interfaces’.
“A groundbreaking exhibition on the uncertain limits between art and science, sk-interfaces explores, materially and metaphorically, the concept of skin as a technological interface. This multi-disciplinary exhibition launches FACT’s Human Futures programme.”
The Human Futures programme is divided into 4 main themes myBody (the biological environment and our relationship to the body), myMind (the digital environment and our relationship to artificial life), myWorld (the physical world and our relationship to the natural and built environment). The MyBody programme to be kickstarted with sk-interfaces, also includes film evenings (e.g. Peter Greenaway’s “The Pillow Book“ on Feb 6, “ORLAN, Carnal Art“ on Feb 27, “Strange culture“ on March 19).
Among the work on showcase at sk-interfaces are “designer hymens by medical artist Julia Reodica [vivolabs], a coat made of blended skin cultures by legendary French artist ORLAN, Jun Takita‘s model brain infused with glowing moss, and biotechnological ‘leather’ growing in the galleries by the Tissue Culture & Art Project“. The exhibition is curated by bio-art specialist Jens Hauser, tapping into science, politics, philosophy and architecture.
On February 8th and 9th, a conference will provide the forum for a more in depth discussion of aesthetic, philosophical, scientific and medical.
The notions of technology moving from 3rd (building, e.g. ambient intelligence) to 2nd (clothing, e.g. smart textiles) to first skin (e.g. dermal interfaces) to within (e.g. implants) is a powerful stimulant for future-oriented thought dealing not only with issues of new patterns of interaction etc. but also of notions of identity, humanity etc.
Meet Idoya, a 12 pound, 32 inch monkey on a treadmill in a lab in North Carolina. Idoya managed to make a 200 pound, 5 foot tall humanoid robot (CB) in Kyoto (Japan) walk … using only her mind.
“It’s walking!” Dr. Nicolelis said. “That’s one small step for a robot and one giant leap for a primate.”
In a joint experiment between Duke University’s lab of Dr. Miguel A. L. Nicolelis and the ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, neurosignals from Idoya’s brain along with visual data interpreted by the computer were transmitted over a high-speed internet connection to CB.
As the treadmill was stopped after a while, live visual feedback of CB walking alone was enough for Idoya’s brain to keep sending ‘walking’ signals to the robot. Look ma’, no hand, no legs … just brainpower.
Think of the possibilities, such as brainpowered exoskeletons, people freed from the limitations of their dysfunctional bodies, etc. Also imagine possible futures opened up by brain-machine interfacing combined with trends in virtual worlds, avatars, neurocybernetics (e.g. Warwick‘s experiments re: human to human neural signal transfer), telepresence, hybrid societies, etc.
Via New York Times, image by Jeremy M. Lange for The New York Times
Design consultancy Frog design showcases their concept for the future of personal healthcare entitled Aura. The concept breathes core values such as simplicity, tranquillity, lightness, calmness, poetry etc.
In the recently released scifi movie 
Part two of our 2057 coverage. This time: 2057, the city. We bathe in datastreams as we walk through our city. Cars, streets & clothing exchange data around the clock and act intelligently to support us in whatever we do.
According to an AP 
We already signaled you the BBC documentary 
Scarcity makes for economy, makes for politics, makes for geopolitical power, the world of energy plays the game mainstage these days and will continue to do so for a while.
A few days ago we mentioned the wide spread of the microchip, new possibilities and possible privacy issues ensuing from current and future applications, e.g. RFID sniffing etc.
In your car, in your furniture, in your electronic appliances, your tools and kitchen utensils, in your paperwork, in packaging, in food, in your body … printable, biodegradable, 
A while ago, we 
A few months ago, we blogged about Craig Venter’s team’s 
Alex and Dominic Michaelis and several researchers from the University of Southampton are working on a proof of concept prototype of their 
From February 1st until March 30th, 
Meet Idoya, a 12 pound, 32 inch monkey on a treadmill in a lab in North Carolina. Idoya managed to make a 200 pound, 5 foot tall humanoid robot (CB) in Kyoto (Japan) walk … using only her mind.