Posted by Futures Lens in the World
Short-termism: Civilization’s greatest threat? This is a far reaching article that will stretch your thinking beyond today, next week and next year. What is our obligation to future generations? I spend a lot of time (obviously) wondering how and where social works’ most important responsibilities lay in this work, in this thinking. This article is worth the time to read…it will provoke more questions and ideas!
Society and Technology
What is a “public interest technologist” and why do we need more of them? I’ve included brief pieces on this before in this curated list – but here is another great one. I’m definitely continuing to feel like this is a space where social workers of the future have enormous opportunities. Our colleagues who have been leading the #socialworktech charge for years now are great folks to follow on Twitter if you are interested in this area. I definitely expect lots of development and increasing activity in this space.
How virtual reality helps neurosurgery patients to “tour” their own brains. Utterly amazing. One never knows which of these kinds of prototype experiments will go to scale…but this is the kind of thing we might wish for all folks to have access to should they need it.
Data and the future of the economy. What does it mean when data is the most valuable resource (outpacing oil) on the planet? How does power shift? This article explores.
What is the future of cyberattacks in the world? What do we know – and what are we doing to prevent?Tech and Gender-Based Violence
Great overview and helpful (mind-expanding) ways to think about how gender based violence can be heightened through use of technology. As social workers – we ever need to grow our capacity to both see, prevent and address such issues in new online and technologically-enhanced spaces. Good and helpful read!
The Future of Education
Interesting and thought provoking ideas about the evolution of learning in the present and future.
What does it look like when a whole university campus commits to futures practice and a futures lens? Check this out for a glimpse at what California State University at Long Beach has been up to.
Artificial Intelligence
Who wants to argue with a computer? These folks can make that happen. The mind boggles with the implications.
Is artificial intelligence entering a “golden age?” These authors think so – but persistent questions remain that for all the good that may come of these remarkable technologies, are we ready for the shifts in power and in exacerbating inequity that may also likely occur? Much more discussion, debate and dialogue is needed.Where racism and AI intersect. Huge work to be done in this space with exceptional people leading the way. Learn more about the brilliant and dedicated leaders taking on racism in artificial intelligence.
Design Thinking
I have been a fan of design thinking, but I’ve also been somewhat unsettled by its overwhelmingly corporate tone and its lack of self-reflection about its limitations and even dangers. I continue to believe it in because I think it introduces (if deployed without a profit-seeking agenda) methods and pathways for new ideas that have transformational potential. That said, this is among the first such “reflexive” article I’ve come across that challenges design thinkers to go deeper, be more courageous and note the risks and dangers associated with our blinders.
Social Work Futures 