About Sources and Contributors xi
 
1. Feeler, Thinker, Hedgehog, Fox - On Predictions 1
 
Are you a feeler or a thinker? 2
 
Hedgehogs and foxes - which are best at seeing the future? 7
 
No! As in never! 7
 
Our knowledge at double speed 14
 
The creative design field 21
 
The world's a much better place than people think 26
 
2. Demography and Prosperity 33
 
The West versus the rest 35
 
Population growth is actually decreasing rapidly 37
 
Huge growth in prosperity continues 41
 
A massive elderly boom 44
 
Depopulation of rural areas 45
 
Increased global equality and local inequality - but will this continue? 45
 
A more peaceful world 49
 
The lost billion people - the world's biggest problem? 51
 
3. The Biotechnological Revolution - Life as Computer Technology 53
 
CRISPR - the new genetic word processing 56
 
New genetically engineered species 60
 
Recreation of extinct species - the real Jurassic Park 60
 
Tomorrow's genetically modified humans 66
 
A healthier, safer world 69
 
Revolutions in the fight against cancer 70
 
New cells for old lives 74
 
Wearables, self-diagnoses, biohacking, and lifestyle medicine 77
 
The intelligent healthcare of the future 79
 
4. Computers, Software, and Electronic Networks 81
 
From exceptional to magical 83
 
Bell's Law of new computer classes 86
 
Cloud computing and the as-a-service movement 88
 
AI - the career cul-de-sac that suddenly got hot 89
 
IoT - nerve fibres for the mechanical world 95
 
Big data = big deal 99
 
Smart robots - the new ecosystem 103
 
Smart remote control - the magic wands of reality 107
 
Quantum computers - billions of times faster 108
 
VR - dream worlds for real 111
 
AR - Pokémon GO on steroids 111
 
Ambient user experience - the frictionless total experiences 113
 
Cyberattack - crime-as-a-service and lots more besides 114
 
The new stalker economy 115
 
5. The Path to Infinite Energy 119
 
Fossil fuels - the culmination is approaching 120
 
Vast, constantly growing reserves 122
 
Nuclear power - a renaissance on the way? 128
 
Nuclear fusion - the ultimate energy solution 132
 
6. The Importance of Innovation for Resources and Environment 139
 
Innovation, dear friends. Innovation! 142
 
Ideas - the ultimate resource 146
 
Meat produced without animals 156
 
Greater prosperity, better environment 161
 
Global warming in perspective 163
 
The world is actually getting greener 172
 
The sixth mass extinction? 173
 
7. New Networks and Decentralised Technologies 177
 
Geosocialisation. Who - and where! - you are 178
 
The e-commerce revolution - far from over 179
 
Influencer marketing 182
 
The wild decentralised autonomous organisations 182
 
Blockchain - the Internet of Value 184
 
The rating economy - good for markets and culture 188
 
The global village and its new cyber rock stars 190
 
Share, care, and save (sharing economy) - hot, hot, hot 191
 
Exponential organisations: big money! 194
 
8. The Transport, Houses, and Cities of the Future 197
 
The transport of the future - faster and more flexible 198
 
Innovation in the construction sector 205
 
Tomorrow's jet-set nomads 209
 
9. The New Lifestyles - Experiences and Self-realisation 213
 
The experience economy - all the world beco