The 2012 Global Futures Forecast has been published by Dr. James Canton, CEO & Chairman, Institute for Global Futures for twenty years forecasting the top trends that will shape the next year and beyond. For more info see www.FutureGuru.com 415 563 0720

1. GLOBAL FUTURES FORECAST 2012
GFF 2012
CEO
DR. JAMES CANTON
INSTITUTE FOR
GLOBAL FUTURES
FUTUREGURU.COM
GLOBAL FUTURES FORECAST 2012:
THE TOP TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE THE COMING YEAR
Managing Velocity
and Fast Change
This%year%expect%velocity.%This%is%the% 2012%will%be%characterized%by%a%
year%where%the%speed%of%fast%change% cacophony%of%trends%that%will%
will%be%the%norm.%Leaders%who%can% converge,%explode%and%create%
lead%in%a%climate%of%velocity%will%be% outstanding%opportuni>es%for%
winners.%How%fast%can%you%build%new% organiza>ons%and%individuals%ready%
sustainable%businesses?%How%fast% to%thrive%in%velocity.%Are%you%ready%
can%you%recruit%talent?%How%fast%can% to%thrive?%Velocity%is%change%at%warp%
your%organiza>ons%manage%change?% speed.%The%winners%will%be%those%
How%fast%can%you%predict% agile%organiza>ons%that%don’t%drink%
opportuni>es%to%invest%in?%Each%of% the%World%is%Ending%KoolNAid%and%
the%trends%for%this%year%represents% know%how%to%mone>ze%vola>lity%for%
opportuni>es%and%risks.%Get%it%right% value,%invest%in%innova>on,%learn%
and%it%is%an%opportunity.%Invest% fast,%understand%their%compe>>ve%
smart%and%fast%it’s%an%opportunity.% advantage%and%how%to%benefit%the%
Miss%it%or%go%slow,%or%not%at%all,%it’s%a% customer%and%their%organiza>on.%
risk.%Game%Over. Get%ready%now.%%
[1]

2. A Prosperous Planet
Crea>ng%a%prosperous%and%
sustainable%planet%is%in%the%interest%
of%everyone.%Consumers%need%
prosperity%to%buy.%Business%needs%
prosperity%to%make%and%sell.%
Innovators%need%prosperity%to%
invent%the%future.%Government%
needs%prosperity%to%operate.%A%
Prosperous%Planet%of%vibrant% There%is%no%global%or%regional%
makers,%innovators,%learners,%buyers% economic%recovery%without%
and%sellers%all%genera>ng%value%is% s>mula>ng%growth%by%inves>ng%in%
what%this%year%will%need%an% new%innova>on.%This%means%
abundance%of.% inves>ng%in%educa>on,%training,%
research%and%development.%Jobs%are%
Over%5%billion%cell%phones%of%which% not%materializing%without%a%new%
at%least%a%third%will%be%smart%phones% climate%of%confidence%in%investment,%
will%create%a%vibrant%global% innova>on%and%produc>vity%being%
marketplace%of%buyers%and%sellers:% embraced.%The%faster%that%leaders% We%are%at%the%beginning%of%a%new%
prosperity%on%hyperNdrive.%We%are%in% realize%this%the%faster%we%can%get%on% tech%cycle%in%informa>on%technology%
this%sea%change%now.% with%transforming%the%economy%and% and%mobile%telecom.%Cloud%
crea>ng%a%real%Prosperous%Planet.% compu>ng,%App’s,%Big%Data%and%the%
In%order%to%meet%the%grand% There%is%simply%no%other%strategy%for% Mobile%Web%are%coming%next.%
challenges%that%face%the%planet%we% raising%global%GDP%and%crea>ng%the% Connec>vity%to%people,%communi>es%
need%beUer%communica>ons,% prosperous%future%that%will%bring% and%networks%will%be%essen>al.
modern%educa>on%system,%open% peace,%stability%and%security%to%global%
markets,%free%enterprise%and%a% markets. The%top%tech%innova>ons%are%central%
vibrant%innova>onNdriven%business% to%crea>ng%a%prosperous%planet.%
climate.%Leaders%who%understand% Mobile,%nanotech,%neurotech,%
this%vision%are%ahead%of%the%curve.% informa>on%tech,%robo>cs,%eHealth,%
The Connected Economy green%and%clean%tech,%quantum%tech%
Look%to%business%to%take%the%lead%
and%biotech%will%con>nue%to%be%the%
given%the%agility%and%innova>onNrich% We%con>nue%to%see%emerging%
tool%sets%of%the%future%that%will%
nature%of%global%organiza>ons%of% technology,%especially%Connected%
dominate%inven>on.%The%Innova>on%
today.%Do%not%expect%governments% Mobile%and%Network%Technology%as%a%
economy,%as%a%Global%Change%
to%create%jobs%or%alone%s>mulate% key%driver%of%produc>ve%change,%
Catalyst,%has%been%commonly%held%
growthNNthat%is%what%the%private% compe>>ve%advantage%and%a%strong%
trend%for%the%past%few%years.%%
sector%does%best.%This%is%an% economy.%This%year%an%accelera>on%
important%year%for%governments%to% of%new%innova>ons%will%enable% This%year,%maturing%tool%sets%of%
learn%to%collaborate%with%the% growth%and%produc>vity.%It%is%all% technology,%once%emerging%and%now%
business%community%as%they%create% about%connec>vity—connected% available,%will%be%used%to%create%
growth,%jobs%and%innova>on.% innovators,%connected%supply%chains,% more%jobs,%new%businesses%and%new%
Inves>ng%in%innova>on%would%be%a% connected%employees,%connected% business%models%then%every%before.%%
produc>ve%step.% markets%and%connected%consumers.% Look%for%this%impact%in%health%care,%
logis>cs,%media,%online%retail%and%
entertainment.
[2]

3. The New Future
There%is%a%New%Future%emerging.%This% There%will%also%be%tremendous%
New%Future%maybe%characterized%by% innova>on,%wealth%crea>on%and%
complex%trends,%accelerated%change,% produc>vity%gains%by%individuals,%
hyperNcompe>>on,%disrup>ve% companies%and%governments%that%
innova>on%and%uncertainty.%The%New% know%how%to%adapt%with%velocity%to%
Future%will%demand%a%new%way%of% change.%If%there%was%ever%an%era%that%
opera>ng.%%There%are%those%that%will% begged%for%change,%the%inven>on%of%
see%this%as%crisis%and%those%that%will% the%new,%such%as%innova>ons%in%
see%this%as%opportunity.%We%recognize% finance,%technology,%educa>on,%
that%there%are%headwinds%coming.% energy%and%climate%management,%it%is%
We%think%these%headwinds%are% certainly%now.%
opportuni>es%for%growth%and%not%just%
obstacles.%%Those%leaders%that%know% We%con>nue%to%see%global%business%
how%to%ride%these%winds%and%find%the% as%the%chief%catalyst%and%a%vibrant%
sweet%spots%where%they%can%open% innovator%for%the%New%Future.%Global%
new%markets,%develop%new%products,% business%is%increasing%value%on%the%
forge%new%partnerships%and%rapidly% planet%through%innova>on%and%will%
innovate—will%lead%the%way%to%a%New% con>nue%in%2012%on%this%tact.%Where%
Future%of%prosperity%and%success.% problems%such%as%communica>ons,%
Leaders%must%have%the%courage%to% technology,%climate%and%energy%
invest%and%create%their%future. persist,%business%innova>on%leads%the%
way%with%solu>ons%that%strive%to%
Innova>on%is%the%central%driver%of%US% meet%the%grand%challenges%of%our%
and%global%compe>>ve%advantage—if% day.%
we%con>nue%to%invest%now.%This%will%
help%the%US%and%any%economy% Global%business%organiza>ons,%
achieve%a%more%stable%growth%picture% con>nually%agile%and%innova>ng,%are%
this%year%and%create%jobs%and% moving%with%velocity%to%solve%global%
produc>vity.%Though%the%US%has%a% problems%such%as%climate%change,%
innova>on%economic%ethic%that%is% energy,%poverty%and%security.%
well%established,%there%is%nothing%
magical%or%unique%here.%The%
Eurozone%and%Asia%as%well%as%La>n%
America%and%Africa%are%inves>ng%ever% Becoming Future Ready
more%aggressively%in%their%future%as%
well.% Organiza>ons%could%do%beUer%at% Leaders%need%to%become%more%Long%
looking%to%the%long%view.%Most% Range%Thinkers.%Why?%Accelerated%
leaders%are%missing%this%future% changes%are%bringing%the%future%in%
perspec>ve.%Becoming%Future% faster.%Change%creates%risk.%
Ready,%strategically%thinking%about% Developing%a%predic>ve%awareness%
the%future%is%vital%to%all%leaders.% is%missionNessen>al%to%future%
sustainability.%Become%Future%Ready%
Many%leaders%do%not%have%a%clear% and%make%your%organiza>on%Future%
perspec>ve%on%the%future%of%their% ReadyNNbefore%your%compe>>on%
business,%markets%and%customers%let% does.%
alone%their%organiza>ons%beyond%a%
few%months%or%a%year.%This%is%a%
problem%for%their%employees,%
partners%and%customers.%
[3]

4. Towards an Educated
Planet
Educa>on%has%not%kept%pace%with%
the%needs%in%the%global%business%
community.%This%is%a%problem.%We%
are%educa>ng%for%yesterday%not%
tomorrow.%We%are%not%teaching%
the%tools%and%knowledge%of%today% The Activist Consumer
and%tomorrow.%The%key%to%bringing%
the%next%workforce%on%line%is%a% This%year%a%new%type%of%consumer%will%
massive%global%commitment%to% emerge%empowered%by%technology%
educa>on.% and%vola>lity%in%global%economics.%
The%Ac>vist%Consumer%will%be%one%
A%new%type%of%educa>on%led%by%best% The New Global Middle who%is%encouraged%by%his%or%her%peers%
prac>ces,%stories,%interac>ve%
lessons,%collabora>ve%learning%and%a%
Class to%share%opinions,%post%reviews%
rethinking%of%what%knowledge% online,%text%their%ideas,%talk%back%to%
The%New%Global%Middle%Class%is% companies,%give%their%feedback,%and%
people%will%need%in%the%future%is% coming.%This%is%not%just%in%India,%the%
important%to%get%right.%Computer% interact%with%others%of%a%common%
EU,%China%or%the%US,%but%a%global% shared%experience.%They%will%be%
tablets,%mobile%tech%and%the%web%are% middle%class%is%emerging.%They%are%
transforming%all%communica>ons,% empowered%to%act%on%their%values%
transna>onal%and%mul>cultural.% and%their%opinion%will%have%power%to%
produc>vity%and%especially%learning.% Prosperity%and%security%in%our% influence.%The%Ac>vist%Consumer%is%
This%year%look%for%Apple’s%iPad%and% globalized%world%are%driving%up% one%who%is%deeply%concerned%the%
other%tablets%to%take%the%lead%worldN standards%of%living.% environment,%corporate%
wide%and%transform%learning% responsibility,%government%
Especially%in%Asia,%China%and%India%but%
bringing%educa>on%resources%to%the% accountability%and%has%allot%of%power%
throughout%the%world,%economic%
an%audience%throughout%the%world,% to%move%opinion,%influence%brand%
progress%is%crea>ng%a%global%middle%
from%rich%to%poor%na>ons%alike.%The% loyalty%and%consumer%purchases.%The%
class%of%over%2%billion.%The%World%
ease,%mobility%and%most%important% Ac>vist%Consumer’s%impact%on%other%
Health%Organiza>on%forecasts%that%
the%interac>ve%media%that%makes% consumers%may%be%more%powerful%
more%than%2%billion%people%in%the%
learning%come%alive%will%transform% then%the%impact%of%brands%on%
BRIC%na>ons%(Brazil,%Russia,%India%and%
educa>on%forever. consumers.%Brands%beware.
China)%and%NN11,%or%NextN11%
countries,%are%expected%to%move%into%
the%income%bracket%over%the%next%five%
years.%
This%Global%Middle%Class,%GMC%
represents%a%new%market%for%
business.%The%GMC%are%mobile,%
global,%educated,%connected%online%
and%increasingly%are%consumers%of%
global%brands.%Good%news%for%
companies%expanding%their%global%
reach%this%year.%
[4]

5. The Future of Water
Water%is%integral%to%every%person%on%
the%planet.%Yet%water%is%a%shrinking%
resource%in%peril.%We%need%a%global%
water%infrastructure%plan%that%looks%
to%the%long%view%about%the%future%of%
water.%Water%is%the%latest%strategic%
resource%at%risk%that%affects%
everyone%everywhere.%Climate%
change%aside,%freshwater%is%on%the%
decline%and%it%is%growing%as%a%source%
of%stress%and%conflict%among%and%
within%na>ons.%
Trade%in%water,%even%more%so%then% They%are%smarter%and%faster.%And%
in%other%hard%commodi>es%will%this% they%collaborate%beUer.%The%recent%
year%be%on%the%rise.%Hardest%hit% hacks%by%Anonymous%prove%up%that%
areas%in%Asia,%the%US%and%EU%will% we%are%not%doing%enough%to%protect%
develop%water%policies%that%will%be% the%enterprise%and%government%
inevitably%in%conflict%with%neighbors% from%cyber%intruders.%Poor%
around%them.%The%need%to%refresh% encryp>on,%inept%IT%and%crooked%
global%and%regional%water% workers%lead%to%cyber%trouble.%The%
infrastructure,%will%be%smart% rise%of%Dark%Networks,%criminal/
investments%by%na>ons%looking%to% terrorist%organiza>ons%fueled%by%
head%off%the%destabiliza>on%of%their% cyberNinsecurity%is%on%the%uptrend.%
socie>es%from%the%coming%water% There%is%a%shadowy%global%world%of%
wars.% criminal%and%terrorist%groups%that%
have%found%immense%profit%in%
hacking%organiza>ons.%Dark%
Facebook%now%has%over%845%million%
Network%intrusions%will%accelerate%
Cyber-Insecurity: this%year.%The%enterprise%must%get%
people%and%will%top%out%close%to%
the Rise of Dark billion%soon.%This%makes%Facebook%
serious%about%protec>ng%customers%
the%third%most%populated%na>on%
Networks and%data%from%intrusions%or%suffer.%%
aher%China.%With%over%2.7%billion%
comments,%250%million%photos%
Iden>ty%crime%is%up%1000%.%Over%$2% uploaded%per%day%and%over%100%
billion%US%gets%stolen%online.%Cyber% billion%friendships,%the%company%
criminals%thrive%online.%You%are%the% represents%a%New%Future%of%business.%
Target.%Recent%cyber%intrusions%on% Facebook Nation & the But%this%trend%is%not%about%Facebook%
governments%and%organiza>ons% Rebirth of Marketing but%what%FB%(stock%symbol)%
signal%accelerated%hacking%coming% represents.%This%is%a%new%business%
this%year.%Why?%It%gets%results%and% How%is%Facebook%signaling%a% model%based%on%Connec>vity%that%is%
it’s%profitable.%Secrets,%customer% fundamental%shih%in%business%and% valida>ng%social%media%as%a%hugely%
accounts%and%money,%even%carbon% commerce?%Social%media%has%killed% viable%business.%With%$3%billion%in%
credits%stolen%have%a%big%payday.% tradi>onal%marke>ng.%Social%media,% adver>sing%it%is%dwarfed%by%Google%
Hard%to%catch%online%criminals%are% Web%2.0%for%the%enterprise%is%what%is% sales,%yet%FB%is%part%of%the%new%social%
the%new.%Also,%cyber%security% going%to%be%big%this%year.%Just%as% media%ecosystem%that%is%disrup>ng%
innova>on%has%not%kept%pace%with% Google%did%a%few%years%ago,% business.%Get%ready%for%TwiUer%and%
the%bad%guys.% Facebook%is%next.% whose%next?
[5]

6. Web 3.0: The Semantic
Web
Star>ng%to%emerge%this%year%will%be%
Web%3.0.%Where%2.0%was%about%
social%interac>on,%3.0%is%about%deep%
connec>ons%with%data%and%an%
aUempt%to%make%the%web%more%
accurate,%smarter%and%useful%when%
you’re%searching.%Having%the%web%
become%more%intui>ve%to%know,%
Personalized Medicine,
gemng%to%know%you%and%your% Big%Data%Analy>cs%will%be%used%for% eHealth and Prevention
personalized%needs%as%a%more%useful% beUer%health%care,%energy%or%
front%end.%The%backend%will%be%a% security%and%dozens%of%applica>ons% Medicine%is%in%for%a%revolu>onary%
new%set%of%standards%that%will% that%are%screaming%out%for%solu>ons.% change.%Look%for%innova>ons%in%
aUempt%to%connect%ideas,% There%is%so%much%useless%data%that% medicine%that%can%for%the%first%>me%
sen>ments,%personalized%meanings% lies%unexploited%for%value.%We%live%in% give%doctors%a%glimpse%of%poten>al%
together%in%a%more%learnable% a%sea%of%informa>on%that%is%dumb.% precursors%to%disease%and%will%lead%to%
network—recognizing%what%you% We%need%smart%new%ways%to%analyze% preven>on.%Cheaper%and%smarter%
mean%and%want,%the%personaliza>on% the%Big%Data%we%are%going%to%be% consumer%genomic%diagnos>cs,%
of%informa>on.%Faster,%more% capturing%to%provide%value,%service% digital%health%technologies,%beUer%
accurate,%more%useful%and%intui>ve and%impact%to%customers.% use%of%medical%informa>cs%will%lead%
—maybe%even%more%cogni>ve%and% to%a%move%to%personalized%medicine%
capable%of%learning%in%realN>me% where%the%objec>ve%is%to%understand%
about%what%you%need.%That%is%what% more%how%to%prevent%disease%and%
the%Seman>c%Web%will%aUempt%to% Network Agility promote%health.%With%the%aging%of%
deliver%on.% many%socie>es%preven>on%as%the%
Increasingly%the%Network,%the%web%is% core%approach%to%medicine%is%the%
your%business.%This%is%how% right%fix%for%enhancing%health.%Just%
customers,%employees,%shareholders% moving%bits%over%paper%in%hospitals%
The Intelligent Enterprise: and%partners%all%interact.%This%is%how% would%save%billions.%eHealth%
Big Data & Cloud social%media%happens.%How%agile%is% technologies%from%wireless%to%iPad’s%
.%
your%Network?%Is%it%integrated%for% will%save%billions%and%improve%the%
Computing mobile?%Does%it%support%integra>on% efficacy%of%care%for%billions.%
across%VoIp,%Web,%Telema>c%and%
This%is%the%year%that%Big%Data%and% Transmedia%planorms?%Is%your%
Cloud%Compu>ng%break%out.%We%are% organiza>on%ready%to%move%beyond%
in%for%a%global%change%in%how%we%do% the%legacy%mindset%and%silos%and%
compu>ng%and%analyze%data.%Cloud% move%into%the%future.%What%is%your%
Compu>ng%will%enable%you%to%do%on% Network%Agility%plan%for%this%year?%
any%device%anywhere%what%you%do% You%want%to%be%out%in%front%of%the%
on%your%desktop.%Access%to% customer%in%driving%change,%not%
informa>on%can%be%anyplace%onN playing%catch%up.%Get%agile.
demand%and%accessible.%The%use%
analy>cs%to%mone>ze%data%for%value%
is%an%essen>al%forecast%for%this%year.%
[6]

7. The Talent War
Get%ready%for%the%new%talent%war.%
The%right%talent%aUracts%talent,%
customers,%investors,%capital,%
innova>on%and%profits.%This%year%
talent%will%con>nue%to%be%a%
significant%challenge%and%the% NeuroHacking
opportunity%for%the%enterprise.%
Most%companies%are%screaming%for% We%have%been%analyzing%
talent.%Depopula>on%in%Europe%has% breakthroughs%in%neuroscience%for%a%
led%to%produc>vity%drops.% decade,%which%are%coming%at%a%
Compe>>on%for%talent%will%be%fierce.%
Talented%people%make%the%
Extreme Weather Coming furious%pace%as%Moore’s%Law%hits%
neuroscience—cheaper,%faster%and%
difference%in%every%industry%and% more%powerful%tech.%This%year%we%
they%are%in%short%supply.% Global%warming%is%accelera>ng.%LA%
has%summer%in%winter.%Greenland%is% will%see%solid%progress%that%is%
Finding%the%right%people%with% actually%green.%The%polar%ice%caps%are% jus>fiably%scary%as%well.%A%machine%
advanced%knowledge,%management,% shrinking%faster.%NY%City%had% capable%of%deciphering%people's%
with%global%and%technical%skills%to% tornados.%The%East%Coast%of%the%US% thoughts%could%become%a%reality%
grow%the%enterprise%is%priority%one.% had%earthquakes.%New%Orleans%has% thanks%to%a%breakthrough%by%U.S.%
Companies%will%struggle%and% not%fully%recovered%from%the%storms.% neuroscien>sts%at%the%University%of%
compete%for%talented%workers.%%Jobs% This%is%not%the%manNmade%versus% CaliforniaNBerkeley.%This%innova>on%
will%go%unfilled.%Markets%will%go% nature%argument%anymore.%No,%this% records%and%can%possibly%decode%
untouched.%This%is%a%major%corporate% is%climate%change%on%steroids.%This%is% pa>ents'%brainwaves%and%then%
problem%worldwide.%And% the%reality%that%extreme%weather% translated%the%brain’s%electrical%
outsourcing%is%not%the%only% change%is%becoming%the%norm%as% ac>vity%into%words.%This%means%we%
answer.The%issue%is%not%about%job% climate%models%around%the%world% could%reconstruct%conversa>ons%and%
crea>on%but%talent%crea>on.%We% are%in%flux.%More%unpredictable%risk% insight%from%brain%ac>vity%helping%
need%an%educa>on%system%that% factors%affec>ng%life,%health%and% many%who%suffer%from%brain%injuries%
supports%the%next%genera>on%of% property%as%well%as%security%from% or%Alzheimer’s%disease.%Of%course%we%
Steve%Job’s%and%Steven%Spielberg’s% these%extremes%of%sudden%weather% could%as%well%maybe%“read%peoples%
to%create%economic%value,%wealth% change%are%likely.%More%extremes% minds”.%
and%produc>vity.% from%weather%risk%are%must%be%
watched.%Snowballs%in%Florida?% On%the%posi>ve%side%the%demand%for%
trea>ng%brain%injuries%and%aging%
related%disease%will%offset%Mind%
Control.%Look%for%developments%that%
will%open%a%new%area%of%fantas>c%
new%medical%benefits%and%huge%
privacy%concernsNNNNeuroHacking.%
Madison%Ave%we%reported%two%years%
ago%discovered%neuromarke>ng
—“did%you%really%like%that%new%
Oreo?”%but%this%is%the%next%evolu>on%
of%neuroscience%lit%up.%
[7]

8. Quantum Technology
Quantum%may%be%the%final%fron>er%of%
science%and%technology.%It%may%well%
affect%everything%from%compu>ng,%to%
money%to%health%care.%Quantum% Global Youth Revolt
technology%is%the%next%genera>on%of%
informa>on%science%that%as%a%new% The%rising%youth%movement,%from%
planorm,%could%someday%replace% Paris%to%Egypt,%to%Occupy%Your%
sohware,%hardware%and%all%things% Town%may%be%coming%this%year.%The%
digital.%Sounds%geeky%and%it%is.%Just% Arab%Spring,%the%revolu>on%
like%bits%rule%the%world%of%silicon%and% spreading%from%North%Africa%to%the%
compu>ng%today,%as%well%health% US%and%the%EU%tells%us%that%
informa>cs,%genomics,%energy%design dissa>sfied%youth%are%on%the%move.%
—anything%using%IT,%the%next%gen%is% Youth,%ages%16N26%are%ohen%the%
Quantum.%Why?% most%vulnerable%underclass%without%
jobs,%educa>on%and%access%to%
The%only%way%to%crunch%the% resources%and%capital.%In%a%world%or%
impossibly%fast,%complex%and%large% region%facing%recession,%the%
data%sets%and%deal%with%the%size%of% dissa>sfied%youth%of%the%world,%
the%global%problems%like:%How%will%we% especially%the%developing%world%will%
feed%9%billion%people%in%2050?%Or%how% change%governments%and%social%
can%we%manage%the%oceans?%How%do% agendas%worldwide.
we%invent%the%next%drug?%In%the%
future%we%will%embrace%a%new%super% The%rise%of%dissa>sfied%youth%against%
compu>ng%technology%planorm%that% the%inability%of%na>ons%to%manage%
is%vastly%more%powerful%based%on%the% the%economic%and%democracy%crisis%
Qubit.%The%key%drivers%of%Quantum% will%reach%a%boiling%point%this%year.%
are:%need%for%harder%encryp>on%to% The%linkage%of%global%youth,%into%a%
avoid%hackers;%Something%to%replace% movement,%is%possible%with%a%sense%
silicon%in%chips%that%is%more%powerful% of%social%en>tlement%that%will%change%
and%can%manage%high%complexity%and% government%futures%and%the%future%of%
huge%Exabyte%data%crunching%of%the% governance.%
new%era%Cloud%Compu>ng.%
The Innovation Dividend
This%year%the%Innova>on%Dividend% poverty%and%climate%change%and%
will%become%a%dynamic%and%kine>c% winning%the%market%share%are%about%
global%force%for%economic% crea>ng%global%prosperity.%Over%40%%
advantage.%Those%companies,% of%US%GDP%is%innova>on%oriented.%
individuals%and%na>ons%that%support% Investments%in%innova>on%for%beUer%
and%invest%in%innova>on—the%web,% clean%energy,%smarter%health%care,%
telecom,%social%networks,%wireless,% pervasive%media%communica>ons;%
sohware,%nanotech,%neurotech,% green%ci>es,%local%manufacturing%
biotech—will%get%the%dividend%in% and%other%knowledge%industries%will%
benefits.%They%will%be%the%winners%in% drive%profits,%prosperity%and%
gemng%the%jobs,%aUrac>ng%the% sustainability.%It%is%amazing%how%this%
customers,%aUrac>ng%venture% logic%is%s>ll%not%fully%embraced%as%a%
capital%and%inven>ng%the%future.% compe>>ve%advantage%by%
Mee>ng%grand%challenges%like% companies,%na>ons%and%individuals.%
[8]

9. The Maker Revolution and
3D Printing
There%is%a%manufacturing%revolu>on%
underway.%Small,%distributed%and%
dynamic%manufacturing%labs%are% % We%need%to%rethink%energy%but%
springing%up%around%the%US.%Groups% especially%electricity%and%move%
of%inventors,%creators,% towards%a%smarter%energy%grid%that%
manufacturers—the%Makers%are% can%both%serve%and%propel%
selfNorganizing%places%and%events%to% produc>vity.%What%company%or%
collaborate%in%“making%Stuff”.%From% government%doesn’t%have%a%
industrial%scale%body%parts%to%new% 2012N2030%energy%plan?%Everyone.%
devices%and%objects,%we%are%at%the%
early%stages%of%a%manufacturing% infrastructure%that%has%not%kept%pace%
transforma>on.%3D%prin>ng%of% with%the%needs%of%its%inhabitants.
houses%has%actually%been% Global Forecasting &
demonstrated.%The%US%Government% Ci>es%consume%an%increasingly%huge% Long Range Thinking
is%planning%to%put%1000%produc>onN amount%of%energy,%food%and%water%
quality%3ND%printers%in%high%schools% that%stress%the%limits%of%growth.%A% Organiza>ons%need%to%develop%a%
across%the%United%States.%Even% New%Future%for%Healthy%Ci>es%is% capacity%for%deeper%and%longer%range%
without%access%to%one%of%these%3D% needed%where%technologies%are%the% forecas>ng.%At%the%Ins>tute%for%
printers,%there%will%be%free% keys%to%unlocking%health,%energy% Global%Futures%we%see%the%near%and%
downloads%of%Autodesk%123D,%a%3ND% efficiency,%communica>ons,%safety% far%future%as%a%complex%adap>ve%
computerNaidedNdesign%program,% and%pollu>on%control.%Ci>es%of% system%that%requires%larger,%more%
which%gives%you%modeling%and%pushN tomorrow,%especially%the%megaci>es% flexible,%and%smarter%visual%
buUon%connec>ons%to%online%3NDN of%10%million%or%more,%must%be%green% frameworks%to%beUer%predict%what%
prin>ng%services.%There%are%there% and%produc>ve,%sustainable%and% tomorrow%may%hold.%The%future%can%
are%dozens%of%online%services% dynamic,%secure%and%economically% be%knowable—discoverable%and%
suppor>ng%the%Maker%Revolu>on.% viable%centers%of%life%and%work.%We% therefore%even%at%>mes%manageable.%
Prin>ng%objects%in%2012%will%be%hot.%% need%a%Future%of%Healthy%Ci>es%
What%do%you%want%to%make?% global%plan%for%the%planet.% The%various%scenarios%of%the%future%
come%into%focus%with%more%accuracy%
when%we%apply%tools%to%manage%
The New Future of complex%systems%such%as%simula>on,%
news%modeling,%policy%analysis,%
Healthy Cities Rethinking Energy: research%analysis%and%predic>ve%
We%are%headed%towards%a%vibrant% Smart Grids forecas>ng.%And%we%like%to%actually%
talk%to%people%too%to%figure%out%
new%era%of%ci>es.%The%majority%of%
Most%of%the%infrastructure%that% what’s%coming%next.
the%global%popula>on%lives%in%ci>es%
today.%This%will%increase%to%as%much% provides%energy,%especially%
We%con>nue%to%see%the%convergence%
as%60%%by%2030%and%70%%by%2050.% electricity%to%the%popula>on%
of%trends%that%forge%complexity%and%
Most%of%the%wealth,%jobs,% worldwide%is%not%efficient,%
the%rejec>on%of%the%Silo%Mentality%of%
produc>vity,%GDP%and%innova>on%in% distributed%or%modernized%to%keep%
solving%large%systemic%problems.%We%
the%near%and%far%future%will%happen% pace%with%the%demands%of%today.%
need%to%expand%our%awareness%and%
in%ci>es.%Ci>es%are%the%vibrant% The%electric%grid%is%modeled%aher%a%
think%smarter%and%more%long%term%
economic%engines%of%the%world,%yet% 19th%century%infrastructure%that%in%
about%addressing%global%issues.%
rapid%urbaniza>on%has%leh%ci>es% some%parts%of%the%world%is%actually%
hobbled%with%inefficient% 18th%century—inefficient%and%not%
technologies%and%an%aging% Future%Ready%to%meet%the%coming%
demands.
[9]

10. Trend Convergence
Trend%convergence%is%how%most%
largeNscale%change%occurs.%This%is%the%
fusion%of%trends;%a%combina>on%of%
interlocking%forces—demographics,%
economics,%compe>>on,%culture,%
technology%converging%together%that%
is%the%context%of%what%causes%a%
global%event.%Social%media,%
pervasive%mobile%phone%networks%
and%the%Arab%Spring%are%some%global%
changes%that%are%end%products%of%
trend%convergence.%%We%need%to% ABOUT THE GLOBAL
learn%how%to%think%in%Bigger% FUTURES FORECAST
Frameworks%and%Longer%Time%
Frames%to%solve%grand%challenges%
that%confront%our%world%or%we%will% Since%1990%The%Ins>tute%for%Global%
not%be%able%to%meet%these% Futures,%a%leading%San%Francisco%
challenges%effec>vely. Think%Tank%has%been%forecas>ng%for%
business%and%governments%the%top%
Trends%may%appear%isolated%but% trends%for%the%coming%year.%These%
ohen%reveal%deeper%metaNlevels%of% are%the%top%trends%that%we%think%
change.%Dissa>sfied%youth%in%the% our%clients%should%be%aware%of%that%
Arab%Spring%were%emerging%as%a% will%influence%markets,%business,%
force%of%poten>al%change%years% trade,%brands,%compe>>on,%
before%the%Arab%Spring.%Social%media% economics%and%leadership.%
in%the%forms%of%blogs%was%emerging%
as%a%force%before%Facebook,%TwiUer% Managed%by%CEO,%Dr.%James%Canton%
and%YouTube%reached%a%cri>cal%mass% The%Global%Futures%Forecast%
of%users%that%is%altering%adver>sing% surveys,%researches%and%analyses%
and%marke>ng.%Climate%change%did% what’s%on%the%horizon,%what’s%
not%start%yesterday.%Energy% coming%next%that%organiza>ons,%
disloca>on%did%not%happen% governments%and%individuals%need%
overnight.%Mobile%smart%phones% to%know%about%now.%We%pull%from%
were%not%invented%yesterday.% current%research%and%compile%it%into%
Develop%a%longer%view%for%a%smarter% the%GFF.
more%sustainable%future.% We%also%provide%a%series%of%
consul>ng%services,%books%and%
reports:%TekForecast:%The%Global%
Technology%Outlook,%Trend%
Trakker:%Global%Trends%Watch,%and%
The%Global%Risk%Monitor.%%Books:%
The%Extreme%Future%and%
TechnoFutures.%Give%us%a%call%to%
learn%more%or%see%
www.FutureGuru.com%
[10]