| ROBOT ROUND UP: RISE OF THE MACHINES |
All of us will have to get used to working and living alongside robots as they become more and more a part of our daily lives. If you can think of a job that is physically demanding, you can bet robots will eventually take over or supplant that job. Some 47% of all U.S. jobs, blue collar and white-collar, could be automated by 2020.
As early as 2016, robots will be patrolling the streets as "security officers." The world's first hotel staffed entirely by robots is scheduled to open in Japan this year.
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20 LARGE U.S. CITIES AT RISK FOR SEA LEVEL RISE
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An independent study by scientists at the University of Arizona have identified and ranked 20 large U.S. cities that are most vulnerable to sea level rise over the next 50 years. (Houston ranked 19th on the list.) "We believe these are the first estimates of vulnerability to sea level rise covering each and every major coastal city in the Lower 48 - the places where Americans live in our highest concentrations," says Dr. Benjamin Strauss , a national expert and author of numerous scientific papers and reports on sea level rise.
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MARS ONE MISSION MOVES CLOSER TO LAUNCH
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In 2013, we told you about
Mars One, a Dutch non-profit organization determined to establish permanent human life on Mars by 2035. In an update, we later reported that thousands of applicants were signing up for the one-way trip and organizers were hoping to turn the endeavor into a reality TV show to cover costs.
The latest news from Mars One is they have narrowed down more than 200,500 applicants to 100: 50 men and 50 women
-- 39 from the Americas, 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, 7 from Africa and 7 from Oceania.Skeptics and critics abound regarding the plan's viability. And you might suspect the volunteer Martians to harbor death wishes, or be more than a little kooky. But interviews by the Washington Post reveal them to be fairly normal.
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FUTURIST RAY KURZWEIL'S TAKE ON THE NEXT 25 YEARS
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Ray Kurzweil is a really, really smart guy (20 honorary doctorates, 5 national best-selling books and awards from three presidents) who is really, really good at predicting the future of artificial intelligence (says Bill Gates) and technology. For example, in 1999, Kurzweil predicted we would be telling our computers what to do by 2009. In 2005, he predicted that by the 2010s, words spoken in a foreign language would be translated into text for users of special glasses (Microsoft Skype Translate and Google Translate).
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IMAGINE THE FUTURES OF YOUR BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY
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Staying competitive in today's ever-changing marketplace challenges even the most successful businesses. Yet, one futurist believes any executive can draw from his techniques and learn to be more strategic, creative and forward-thinking in its business planning process. "It's important to understand futurists explore plausible and possible futures -- that's future with an s," says Sandjar Kozubaez, a consultant with Sparks Grove, who fuses design, economics and futures to help companies grow. "It's not about predictions," he says. It's more about exploring potentials.
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Scenarios as Learning
By Dr. Peter C. Bishop
One of the first questions people ask me when they find out that I am a futurist is how accurate I have been. Unfortunately, that's not the right question. First of all, I am not really a professional forecaster; I just play one in the classroom! But more importantly, who cares? Was I surprised by the fall of the Soviet Union? Yes. Was I surprised by the rise of the Internet? No. But again, who cares? If I were picking horses in a race or stocks in the market, then people might need to know how accurate I was. But statements made 20 years ago?
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Saurage Research is a full-service marketing research firm. Which means we not only provide the answers - accurate, usable data - but we package it in a way that you can understand it. And act on it. We've been around since 1987, providing relevant revelations to grateful clients in many industries. We've helped advertising agencies redirect foundering campaigns. We've helped business-to-business clients define and reach new customers. We've helped energy companies tap into new markets and have given healthcare companies a shot in the arm.
To find out how we can help you with your marketing research needs email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-800-828-2943
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| The Next Digital Growth Spurt...will be different The next billion consumers to come online will be making their digital decisions on a mobile device -- very different from the practices of the first billion that helped build the foundation of the current Internet economy. However, know that world populations are traveling at different speeds on their journey toward a digital planet. (hbr.org) The Value of Fresh Data Emerges with Internet of Things Over the next five years, most new data will be generated by the Internet of Things (IoT) -- smart phones, traffic lights, smart energy grids and various appliances and other systems using sensors and processes to connect and communicate online. According to one data analyst, Big Data to date has been about organizing and managing large volumes of historical data or static data, in trying to understand past human behaviors as a predictor of future actions. "In the context of the IoT," says Randy Bean, CEO of New Vantage Partners, a data and analytics consulting firm, "Big Data now is also about data in motion -- the velocity and highly interactive nature of data captured by sensors and intelligence devices, in addition to data captured via unstructured content and social media." Bean believes this fresh data, which is newly captured, highly interactive and reflective of the now has potential for being highly relevant and valuable to executives. (sloanreview.mit.edu)
Inside Your Home in 2020 and Beyond
If the World Health Organization is right, most people will be living in increasingly crowded urban areas in the years ahead. As our living spaces shrink, our furniture will need to adapt. Marcus Engman, head of design for IKEA Sweden, believes multiuse furniture is wave of the future. "A stool might be one of your most important pieces of furniture because you can use it as a bedside table, a seat, an end table, or a step ladder; you can also design them to nest or stack when not in use." On the horizon for IKEA? Personalized mass-produced home furnishings -- because furniture is still how we express our personalities. (fastcodesign.com)
You Too Can Become a Futurist!
So has all this chatter about the future got you thinking...about trying your hand at being a futurist? Well, that kind of opportunity is closer than you may think. In fact, the University of Houston offers a Master of Science in Foresight if you are really serious about it. However, if you only want to stick your toe in the water of imaging what tomorrow may bring, there's always the popular 5-day, Foresight Certificate Course offered twice annually. Celebrating its seventh year, the program now boasts nearly 400 graduates. In the project-based, face-to-face workshop, participants learn to anticipate disruptive change and proactively influence the future of their organizations, companies and communities. In exchange, they receive a professional certificate and four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from UH. The next certificate class begins May 11, 2015. For details, email Dr. Andy Hines .
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Sustainable Brands 2015 Conference
June 1-4, 2015
San Diego, CA
Learn how to successfully innovate your brand for sustainability. Brand, sustainability & design leaders find inspiration, tools and partnerships to drive business success and positive impact.
American Marketing Association Advanced Research Techniques (ART) Forum
June 14-17, 2015
San Diego, CA
Whether you're a researcher, academic or practitioner, we invite you to join us in June for the AMA's 26th Advanced Research Techniques (ART) Forum. This is your chance to explore latest developments in marketing analytics, learn about the tools that work and the ones that don't, and develop a network of colleagues who are serious about solving problems and advancing the field of marketing.
International Association of Business Communicators Annual International Conference
June 14-17, 2015
San Francisco, CA
With this year's theme, "Changing the Landscape: Informing the future," you will experience sessions that will stimulate your thinking. Gain ideas you can put to work now.
American Marketing Association Non-Profit Marketing Conference
July 13-15, 2015
Washington, D.C.
The 2015 AMA Nonprofit Marketing Conference will zero in on today's marketing essentials to help you better engage your constituents and meet your mission-critical objectives. This year's program is organized into four tracks and will focus on motivating the generations, getting personal with storytelling, making cause marketing work, and amping up integrated communications.
WorldFuture 2015
July 24-26, 2015
Hilton San Francisco Union Square
San Francisco, CA
Our theme this year is Make the Future! Futurists don't just report on the future; they help create it by shaping how individuals, communities, firms and nations see the world and its potential. This year we link the dynamism of foresight to the energy of makers and other entrepreneurs creating the future today.
American Marketing Association Inspired Marketing Conference
September 27-29, 2015
Austin, TX
Join us at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas for the American Marketing Association's 2015 Annual Conference. Marketers will be inspired with rich content and expert insights from some of the nation's best marketing minds.
Public Relations Society of America Annual International Conference
November 8-10, 2015
Atlanta, GA
At the PRSA 2015 International Conference, enhance your personal and professional network, while engaging with some of the world's most influential companies and organizations that call Atlanta home.
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