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Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
41–50 of 78 posts
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#42Sounds kinda like this strategic forecasting group cofounded by Steward Brand, GBN had many awesome sci fi and cyberpunk authors in its retinue until 2013, both Gibson and Sterling if I recall but it's all described in the book The Art of the Long View https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Business_Network
I thought the exact same thing reading this -- this sort of science fiction prototyping reminds me of the kind of Scenario Planning practiced initially by Royal Dutch Shell, GE, and various militaries. GBN had a big business doing futures work for Fortune 100 companies for quite some time. This kind of engagement is pretty high-end business strategy work, but can be very compelling to a leadership team or a board that is working on long-term planning.
Clearly articulated potential futures can help large companies identify signals that a particular future is coming to pass or plan responses should that scenario become true.
In a world where technology seems to be "disrupting" almost every industry, it makes sense to me that science fiction futures would be especially relevant.
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#43This is nothing new. I know a number of other SF writers who are professional futurists, with selling books as their side hustle; others who do consulting gigs for industry from time to time. In general, corporations pay more than publishers …!
A certain amount of cross-pollination is not unknown, either:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/a21238129/seveneves...
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#44Other posters have noted that this isn't new at all. One could almost say that what's been predicted by futurologists over time is what Sci-Fi can see. To me, what's interesting is the ways the lens of Sci-Fi can distort one's ideas. The flying car is the most classic, wrong science fiction prediction ever (even if it should come to pass). The way that the flying car fails is that ground motion doesn't translate dire…
Not only many, I'd say the very defining aspects. It sends chills down my spine.
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#45Other posters have noted that this isn't new at all. One could almost say that what's been predicted by futurologists over time is what Sci-Fi can see. To me, what's interesting is the ways the lens of Sci-Fi can distort one's ideas. The flying car is the most classic, wrong science fiction prediction ever (even if it should come to pass). The way that the flying car fails is that ground motion doesn't translate dire…
I know the flying car is a terrible idea and it's not practical or great, but the little boy inside of me still wants it every day!
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#46Other posters have noted that this isn't new at all. One could almost say that what's been predicted by futurologists over time is what Sci-Fi can see. To me, what's interesting is the ways the lens of Sci-Fi can distort one's ideas. The flying car is the most classic, wrong science fiction prediction ever (even if it should come to pass). The way that the flying car fails is that ground motion doesn't translate dire…
I believe that is because the best Sci-Fi always struck a balance of being magical or whimsical, of course, but not being so farfetched that one couldn't imagine how they could be created. Imagine all the hobby scientific research done by scientists to determine if lightsabers were actually possible, or if warp speed could be obtained!
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#47[deleted]
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#48Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#49Other posters have noted that this isn't new at all. One could almost say that what's been predicted by futurologists over time is what Sci-Fi can see. To me, what's interesting is the ways the lens of Sci-Fi can distort one's ideas. The flying car is the most classic, wrong science fiction prediction ever (even if it should come to pass). The way that the flying car fails is that ground motion doesn't translate dire…
I know the flying car is a terrible idea and it's not practical or great, but the little boy inside of me still wants it every day!
That's why it makes great scifi but terrible business.
Re: Nike and Boeing Are Paying Sci-Fi Writers to Predict Their Futures
#50Sounds kinda like this strategic forecasting group cofounded by Steward Brand, GBN had many awesome sci fi and cyberpunk authors in its retinue until 2013, both Gibson and Sterling if I recall but it's all described in the book The Art of the Long View https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Business_Network
I thought the exact same thing reading this -- this sort of science fiction prototyping reminds me of the kind of Scenario Planning practiced initially by Royal Dutch Shell, GE, and various militaries. GBN had a big business doing futures work for Fortune 100 companies for quite some time. This kind of engagement is pretty high-end business strategy work, but can be very compelling to a leadership team or a board tha…
Yeah, it's hard to sell this to anyone except c-levels with the most discretionary of budgets, but it's very important work. FWIW it's nice to find someone else who's heard of this.
A few years ago Bruce Sterling was calling his sort of sci fi inspired strategic forecasting 'diagetic prototyping', or 'design fiction'. Less defense- or tech- oriented than film and product development. But it works in a similar way. We hire the oracles to inhale the vapors and tell us what they see.
https://www.wired.com/2011/02/design-fiction-diegetic-protot...
edit: I did work for monitor for a short time and my views don't necessarily reflect those of the organization