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The Institute for the Future (IFTF) is an independent, nonprofit research group with nearly 40 years of forecasting experience. The core of our work is identifying emerging trends and discontinuities that will transform global society and the global marketplace. We provide insights into business strategy, design process, innovation, and social dilemmas. Our research generates the foresight needed to create insights that lead to action. Our research spans a broad territory of deeply transformative trends, from health and health care to technology, the workplace, and human identity. The Institute for the Future is located in Palo Alto, CA.
FEATURE
Make the Future! 30 Second Forecasts & Flickr
At our Make the Future! booth at Maker Faire in May, we asked Fairegoers who swung by our booth to record 30 second of their future forecasts. We got some great responses, all of which can be viewed on our Flickr photostream.
Blogs
Exinction Risks Underestimated -- NATURE
A new article in Nature argues that current models for estimating extinction risks underestimate the impact of forces beyond birth-death ratio and environment. As a result, biologists may be missing potentially significant extinction threats.
From the Nature summary:
Global networks for remote clusters
This article from Research Policy provides an excellent analysis of the particular problems of trying to create globally-competitive clusters in geographically isolated areas, using the biotech industry in Melbourne, Australia as its case study.
Courageous or Cheating? Prosthetics in Sports
The Boston Globe has a profile of MIT's Hugh Herr, a specialist in the development of prosthetic limbs. As is typical for current articles about prosthetics, sprint Oskar Pistorius makes an appearance. Herr makes an astute observation about the cultural tension regarding prosthetics and the potential for super-enabled disabled:
Upcoming Events
- 09.16.08 - 09.19.08
Staff spotlight
Anthony Townsend | Research Director
Institute for the Future
Kathy Seddiqui | Executive Assistant
Institute for the Future
