Category: Recent Ideas from Twitter

Note: This is part of a regular occasional series of blog posts I do that is based on scans of Twitter and elsewhere on the web – and a gathering of interesting things I think social workers, social work educators, folks in higher education and related professions who interested in futures topics might find valuable. It is a digest, and is unapologetically eclectic. Here’s a link to prior posts – check them out too!!

The Future of Law

I’m always interested in news items related to the future of the professions. As we know – this is a fast moving area and many factors are at work in their evolution . (For more on this topic in general see here). This piece is a survey of lawyers all pondering “what’s coming” in their profession and whether or not they feel ready for it.

Black Software

Author Charlton McIlwain has written a terrific book (on my sabbatical reading list) of this same name (Black Software). Here’s a podcast interview with the author that I found a great introduction to his work…you’re going to want to learn more. The history and importance of Black perspectives on tech and society are essential to a true understanding of the power, risks and opportunities of what comes next. Thought provoking!

Future of Work

I’m fans of the Susskind family – they are always putting more interesting things into the world related to the future of work and the professions (see note above). I just ran across a recent TED talk by Daniel Susskind on Three Myths Regarding the Future of Work. It isn’t short…but it is a rigorous, creative and important overview of this topic. I highly recommend!

Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians

Not just because my mom was one (a bookmobile lady to be precise) but I have so much love, respect and appreciation for good librarians and all who work in the sector. The library professionals at my university, like many, are extraordinarily future facing and ever looking ahead to new forms of literacy, information production and how to stay relevant and helpful in our shared academic spaces. While scanning, I ran across this great report – I passed it along to my colleagues but thought others might be interested too.

Climate Change

It can just be paralyzing can’t it? So much to worry about – where to start – how to keep going? At the same time we are having an awakening about the relevance of eco-psychology and the very real needs humans have for nature, we of course are dealing with deep, pervasive and emergent climate change complexity as well. Here’s a piece from the Economist on the “state” of our climate change work to do in here and now, as well as the future. Here’s a piece about “ecological grief” as experienced by climate scientists. It is sobering. Listen, we have no choice but to help each other focus, breathe deeply and KEEP GOING. This article from the NYT this past week is an energizer. Do you what you can, be strategic, get busy. Focus on the right things.

On this same topic, here’s a new and useful piece regarding the emerging importance of acknowledging the mental heath strain and challenges related to climate change. Connecting these dots is important, say these authors. Here’s another piece that breaks down what hope about climate change means now and in the future. Finally, here’s a super creative piece that endeavors to “tell a new story” about climate change by fast-forwarding into the future…and imagining how we solved the climate crisis in the year 2030.

Tech and AI

Here’s a lively piece from one of my favorite futurists Douglass Rushkoff in which he begins by saying: “We’ve spent the decade letting our tech define us. It’s out of control. Technology has grown from some devices and platforms we use to an entire environment in which we function.” Mr. Rushkoff is the author of one of my favorite futures books “Team Human” which is a must-read in my opinion (I especially love the audiobook which he reads). The article is a robust re-centering (as is his speciality) in the future of humans in this world…and how we get back to a vision of the future in which people, cooperation and community are the drivers.

It appears that the White House has come out with some new AI principles – these authors suggest they won’t work. Check it out – important and urgent. Note: Big thumbs up to Amy Webb’s book “The Big Nine” which I reviewed earlier in this space related to this topic – creative and empowering .

Why do we gender AI? These authors break it down...and change is coming.

Overview and analysis of the complexities of the coming “digital ID” centered world. Promising convenience and efficiency – it has a host of predictable an unpredictable risks. As always, I’m asking – how will this impact the most vulnerable? Some discussion of this in this article. Along those lines, another article explores the coming “digital welfare state.” Are social workers and human rights folks involved in the design and implementation of these systems? Not enough…so much work to be done. Pay attention to this space as a major cause of concern for well being and justice in the years to come.

Here’s a nice brief piece about algorithmic justice and the need to keep continual watch and invest democratic energy in oversight and regulation to keep AI ethical in the years to come.

The Future of Our Economy

We know the one we have isn’t working so well – at least as seen by most social workers and the communities they serve. I’m always interested in new ideas about what economic evolution that is human and equity centered might look like. This article goes there…it is an inspiring and thought provoking read.

The Future of Mental Health

How can tech help to address a global mental health crisis? This article answers that question. More social workers need to get in on this conversation. I believe we can be ethical and effective in these spaces…but we have to get in there and participate on purpose. More on this topic here. At this point, I’m neither a promoter or naysayer about these types of tools, but I do feel quite sure we have a lot to learn and a lot to share as futures where these ideas are accelerating and we have shortages of practitioners.

The Future of Work

This particular article is about the future of “not working” – vis a vis the “compelling case for working a lot less.” It is hard to imagine this future, but this piece is part of a continuing (and seemingly growing international conversation) about how working a little less would be a lot better for our health, relationship and community.

Tech Matters

Our city of Portland, Oregon made the news for its plans to have one of the most strict facial recognition bans in the country. I’m a fan of this move.

This piece suggests that “biased algorithms are easier to fix than biased people.” Here’s a piece that notes its making it easier for governments to responsibly adopt AI technology. It’s another effort to come up with some shared ethical and practice guidelines for this powerful technology. It is good to see them coming – it would be even greater to see them adopted widely and used. This piece, for example, suggests we aren’t doing a very good job in that department.

Here’s an interesting article posing the question: Do children think your smart speaker is just another family member? Thoughtful exploration about how the prevalence of technologies in our childrens’ lives is truly changing their experience of childhood in some unexpected ways and with impacts we can’t quite know yet. Without awfulizing, it probably is important to consider.

Should we give our robots citizenship? This piece from 2017 suggest that even as a gag, it probably isn’t a good idea, and is another category of human-tech activity we don’t have legal ground to be ready for what is coming.

Here’s another article that proclaims a crisis in the development of autonomous weapons – and a call to ban them. A slow down doesn’t seem to be coming.

Here’s a new and helpful “Digital Justice Manifesto” developed by a coalition of European data justice activists and organizations. It’s a 2019 document.

Biotech and Genomic Surveillance

We talk a lot about technological surveillance (and it is a concern) but how about “genomic surveillance.” This article suggests it is a growing threat and a human rights evolving story. Without international guidelines, the pace of potential abuses and the prevalence of genetic data is a bad combination.

The 2020 Trends Keep Coming

Tis the season! Here’s a fun overview of “12 themes experts predict will shape the world in 50 years.” (Algae, implantable tech, and lab grown meat anyone??)

What If We Get the Future Right?

Here’s a pretty creative and useful (from a futures practice) article asking the question “what if we get things right? Visions for the year 2030.” I’m excited to use this piece in practice as I think it stretches our creative thinking muscles towards some positive futures. The dystopian futures are a more common feature of our media/entertainment world. I think good positive future ideas are rarer to find and harder to come by. But they lay the groundwork to educate, to stimulate aspiration, to rekindle hope and determination. This is a valuable piece to read for something a little different – and dare I say it – upbeat? Along those lines, here’s a review of a new book by author Joe Tankersley (“Not all futurists are dystopian”) which also lays out a challenge to use our imaginations to build a better future on purpose. I got the book based on this article, but haven’t read it yet!

Also, you may recall that I’m on sabbatical this year. I thought I’d put my sabbatical reading list together to show you the books I’ve accumulated (like a squirrel with a stash of nuts…? Well maybe…) to settle into a cozy winter of some deep review and study. Check it out here.

Interested in looking back to see some of my past posts gathering up interesting items from Twitter? Click here to check them out.

Data Futures with a Feminist Lens

What happens when you cross data science with feminism? Well – you get data feminism. Authors of a new book by this title Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren Klein suggest that the way we approach data science, the way that we view, apply and understand data can be enhanced by careful examination of their (non-feminist) origins and that revisions to our thinking and methods for humanity are warranted. It comes out in March of 2020 – but reading the previews has definitely got me wanting more!

AI for Good – Is it Really?

I’m not sure I agree with each and everything in this piece but I really appreciate the effort to “complicate” the idea that “AI for Good” is just automatically so. In fact many of the challenges presented deserve careful, ethical consideration. I respect and appreciate this article. Here’s another piece that explores some of the same ideas with a slightly different flavor.

Future of Higher Education

Here’s an article about the “new” split higher education economy – that of online and traditional. It echos a lot of other literature on this topic but clearly shows that the shift many have been considering is happening and likely will not turn back.

Also – more sobering projections about the future of higher education and the coming enrollment “crash.” Along those lines – here’s a helpful overview of declining state support of higher education and the stinging impact this has and will have.

Algorithm World

I have seen numerous articles in the last year (and have included a few of them here) regarding a new kind of “privilege” – the privilege to opt out of algorithms and surveillance of various kinds. This new(ish) article is another in that category and worth a quick look. The authors suggest that the new digital divide is between people who opt out of algorithms and people who don’t.

Other explorations are increasingly considering a power analysis of AI now and in this future. This piece explores “when algorithms decide whose voices will be heard” and this one is called “AI ethics is all about power.” This type of power analysis is important and useful as we make sense of and track our work as social workers.

On that note, I did run across an article from our UK social work colleagues about how they view AI-enabled social work practice.

As always, I’m gathering a variety of items that comment on the issue of AI bias and how to counter it. Here, here and here. Lastly, here’s a new piece from the LA Times called “Rules for a new surveillance reality.“

Is Data the New Oil?

Everyone is using this phrase now…and folks are still arguing a bit about its accuracy. Here’s a great article that makes this case for its validity. I found the various categories to help us understand how your data, my data, everyone’s data is being used (not that I’m always a fan of this!!).

Thoughtful AI Requires Intelligent Human Participation

Here’s another review of a new forthcoming book called The Future Computed by Brand Smith and Harry Shum with some thoughtful ideas about a fast arriving future centering AI as significant driver. The discussion of potential AI-related job loss is notable, and the principles they assert (AI should be fair, trustworthy, transparent and controllable” are important.

Eco-Anxiety and Eco-Grief

I’ve had numerous interactions in the past couple of weeks with the concept of eco-anxiety and eco-grief. Here’s a brief piece I ran across online. But additionally, I’ve met a couple of people who are involved in self-help community eco-grief groups organized by the Good Grief Network. CBS did a story about this back in August.

I’m freshly back from the Institute for the Future’s 10-Year Forecast meeting. I’ll do a complete download in an upcoming post. It was, as always, a powerful, fascinating and engaging gathering. For now, here’s things I saw go by on Twitter that inspired, challenged and energized me. Hope they do the same for you!!

Special note: In the last few weeks, I’ve had occasion to meet a number of people who are regular readers of this blog. I just wanted to say that your stories of how you are using this material in social work/social work education spaces is deeply inspiring to me. THANK YOU for your feedback and your comments. Thank you for sharing, boosting an experimenting with these ideas in our shared mission to make the world a better place using new tools and frameworks. I also appreciate the ideas that you have for future social work curriculum, research and community development anchored in democratize futures principles. Let’s keep going and more to come!!!

Young Futurists

Want to feel inspired? Young peoples’ futures/social action movements are growing every day. You’ve heard about Greta (HOORAY) but how about these other extraordinary young people? Let’s boost all their signals. They are demanding brighter futures – let’s lift them up or get out of their way. This article reminds us that 41% of the global population is under the age of 24…and they’re angry.

Equitable Technology

Here’s a piece that is an excellent discussion of the role of technologies that further marginalize or complicate gender non-conforming community members. Here’s one that talks about how “code” is still binary – and provides an extremely narrow way of categorizing (and automating those categories) in a world that is much more complex gender-wise. I found another piece that talks about “the trauma of travel for transgender people” which is worth a read. Given that most folks agree that the gender binary will continue to evolve in the future…we need to get better at being ready for the full range of human expression in the “real world” and through our technologies.

A recent study has come out with lots of mentions regarding inequities found in artificial intelligence in health care spaces. This is definitely concerning, but is another reminder that we can’t assume AI is bias free…evidence continues to mount that old biases show up in new ways. Here’s a good new article about AI bias in general…and some ideas about what to do about it that are actionable. Finally, here’s a new piece out from AI inequity scholar Ruja Benjamin called “Assessing risk: Automating Racism.” This is a fine shorter piece building from her book on the same topic which I’ve spoken about admiringly on this blog before.

Economic Frameworks/Issues of the Future

I’ve been really intrigued with the idea that people should be paid for their data – it strikes me as a contemporary way to guarantee a universal basic income and I’m not alone in that observation/imagining. That said, this author says it won’t actually work. I found it to be a challenging and interesting piece. We have to keep wrestling with this carefully – too much is at stake.

I’m still exploring and learning about cryptocurrencies and how they might fit into the “future of the economy” story. This article says they are the future. I’m not endorsing this point of view – just sharing what I’m reviewing and learning.

The World Economic Forum has a new piece out about the top risks to the global economy – which of course will impact many things that we care about either directly or indirectly. Worth a look.

Art, Speculative Fiction and Science Fiction as Bridges to Futures Understanding

In the category of “one of my new favorite things” is discovering the work of futurist Leah Zaidi. She’s shared her 2017 Master’s Thesis called “Building Brave New Worlds: Science Fiction and Transition Design.” It is fascinating and inspiring from a creative thinking perspective. Do yourself a favor and look through her dynamic work. She’s just getting started! Here’s another of her pieces (from 2019) including some speculative fiction regarding jobs of the future.

This fine article about Afrofuturism as a bridge to a world without violence is inspiring.

Here’s another new to me speculative fiction writer named Cory Doctorow and new book he’s written called “Affordances.” This article reviews the book and draws links to the very contemporary issues it illuminates. I’ve also been hearing a lot about Ted Chaing lately. He’s a writer getting a lot of attention for his “not always dystopian” but more hopeful science fiction offerings. This is a nice overview/review of his newer work.

Climate Change and Global Regeneration

As I write this blog post, California is experiencing yet another season of devastating fires…and other parts of our country, and our planet, are experiencing other significant challenges. It felt especially good to nurture some eco-healing inspiration with some finds from Twitter.

Here’s an article about the future of wind energy – which some suggest, with current tech capability, could meet the world’s energy needs several times over.

This is a powerful article centering the voices of People of Color globally who assert that they will experience climate change disproportionately and have a strong vision for what should happen next. This one is worth a thoughtful read.

I ran across this inspiring “earth design manifesto” focused on asserting earth design-centered principles. Another design-leaning eco-focused article explores ecological design, system complexity, and systemic health. Also noted this wonderful short (12 minute) film about regenerative agriculture.

The Future of War

Powerful special edition of the MIT Technology Review on the future of war. It’s sobering, but important to explore.

Reimagining Community Resilience

This wonderful article is medicine for reading about the future of war in the link above. It’s a feminist vision of the future of community strengths and healing.

This is a regular blog post that I do to simply round up some signals that I see go by on Twitter and think might be of interest to my fellow travelers interested in topics related to social work, health, human rights, community well-being, higher education and other related topics.

You can peek at past “recent idea from Twitter” pages here.

Learn to Think Like a Futurist with IFTF and Coursera!!

The Institute for the Future is declaring the year 2020 the year of the future. In a beautiful and generous effort to “democratize the future” they are offering FREE futures/foresight training through Coursera. Check it out here!! This is information that has fueled my journey – IFTF has some of the inspiring folks globally teaching and guiding. Join in the adventure!!!

Higher Education

There is a new app called “Change Ed” that is promising to “revolutionize” student loan debt. Interesting idea – and good to see some innovation on this topic. Is this an answer? Not clear. Here’s another bit of media coverage. Much more needs to be explored. Worth a look.

There is a steady stream of news coverage exploring, imagining and predicting various futures of higher education. Here’s a new one from Quartz on their take on the Future of College.

Communities and Tech

As readers know, I’m a big fan of efforts to help social workers become more tech savvy and tech enabled in ethical ways. But this article promotes the “importance of citizen data scientists and how to support them.” Democratizing the processes and associated power of understanding and using data for the well-being of all is a future I can get behind. How about you?

This article suggests that left to its own devices, emerging technology that monitors and provides various types of surveillance is disproportionally harmful to already vulnerable populations. Their term “digital dystopias” is powerful. This one is worth a read. Another related piece talks about increasing use of algorithms to make welfare decisions despite it’s limitations. Vital for social workers.

Children’s Digital Rights in Europe

This is from 2018, but here’s a thought provoking look at the European Union’s guidelines to “respect, fulfill and protect the rights of the child in the digital environment.” Here’s is the UN’s report on this same topic where they begin their report by saying that 1 in 3 internet users is a child – something I think we don’t often enough take into account as social workers. While searching for additional information and resources, I also found this from the Child Rights International Network.

As I did a brief search of this, I found very little that was U.S. based – which is not to say it doesn’t exist, but advocacy, policy and other guidelines are more prominently featured internationally.

Tech Ethics and Guidelines

What if we taught human rights law to software engineers? This article suggests that would be an excellent way to embed key ethical principles and related capacity for human rights protections into the software development workforce and ecosystem.

Social Work Tech

Social workers in the UK are taking their responsibility to “skill up” and build tech capability across their profession seriously. This new report gives details and provides inspiration for us to continue to grow our capacity here in the U.S.

Tech and Storytelling

Virtual reality (VR) is exploding as a sector. How will we use these new tools in our work as social workers? Lots of interesting experimentations in play. Here’s an inspiring piece about the emerging role of VR in storytelling and journalism.

Indigenous Futures

Here’s a nice piece about five Indigenous Speculative Futures writers you should know about. Let’s engage!

Other Futures Books to Read

This book came out in 2017 but I’m just learning about it. “Twitter and Tear Gas” is a book about how social media is simultaneously changing, expanding and impairing contemporary social movements. A growing body of knowledge is emerging to study and chronicle how social media is changing patterns, methods and results of new types of communication tools in social change work. This is an important reference.

Sustainability Design

Ran across this certificate program that focuses on preparing people to become “regenerative sustainability design” practitioners. I don’t know a lot about it yet – but I found their materials inspiring and creative. Worth a look!