Global Futures Forecast 2012

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GFF 2012GLOBAL FUTURES FORECAST 2012

CEO DR. JAMES CANTON INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL FUTURESFUTUREGURU.COM

GLOBAL FUTURES FORECAST 2012:THE TOP TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE THE COMING YEAR

This%year%expect%velocity.%This%is%the%year%where%the%speed%of%fast%change%will%be%the%norm.%Leaders%who%can%lead%in%a%climate%of%velocity%will%be%winners.%How%fast%can%you%build%new%sustainable%businesses?%How%fast%can%you%recruit%talent?%How%fast%can%your%organiza>ons%manage%change?%How%fast%can%you%predict%opportuni>es%to%invest%in?%Each%of%the%trends%for%this%year%represents%opportuni>es%and%risks.%Get%it%right%and%it%is%an%opportunity.%Invest%smart%and%fast%it’s%an%opportunity.%Miss%it%or%go%slow,%or%not%at%all,%it’s%a%risk.%Game%Over.

2012%will%be%characterized%by%a%cacophony%of%trends%that%will%converge,%explode%and%create%outstanding%opportuni>es%for%organiza>ons%and%individuals%ready%to%thrive%in%velocity.%Are%you%ready%to%thrive?%Velocity%is%change%at%warp%speed.%The%winners%will%be%those%agile%organiza>ons%that%don’t%drink%the%World%is%Ending%KoolNAid%and%know%how%to%mone>ze%vola>lity%for%value,%invest%in%innova>on,%learn%fast,%understand%their%compe>>ve%advantage%and%how%to%benefit%the%customer%and%their%organiza>on.%Get%ready%now.%%

Managing Velocity and Fast Change

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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%makers,%innovators,%learners,%buyers%and%sellers%all%genera>ng%value%is%what%this%year%will%need%an%abundance%of.%

Over%5%billion%cell%phones%of%which%at%least%a%third%will%be%smart%phones%will%create%a%vibrant%global%marketplace%of%buyers%and%sellers:%prosperity%on%hyperNdrive.%We%are%in%this%sea%change%now.%

In%order%to%meet%the%grand%challenges%that%face%the%planet%we%need%beUer%communica>ons,%modern%educa>on%system,%open%markets,%free%enterprise%and%a%vibrant%innova>onNdriven%business%climate.%Leaders%who%understand%this%vision%are%ahead%of%the%curve.%

Look%to%business%to%take%the%lead%given%the%agility%and%innova>onNrich%nature%of%global%organiza>ons%of%today.%Do%not%expect%governments%to%create%jobs%or%alone%s>mulate%growthNNthat%is%what%the%private%sector%does%best.%This%is%an%important%year%for%governments%to%learn%to%collaborate%with%the%business%community%as%they%create%growth,%jobs%and%innova>on.%Inves>ng%in%innova>on%would%be%a%produc>ve%step.%

There%is%no%global%or%regional%economic%recovery%without%s>mula>ng%growth%by%inves>ng%in%new%innova>on.%This%means%inves>ng%in%educa>on,%training,%research%and%development.%Jobs%are%not%materializing%without%a%new%climate%of%confidence%in%investment,%innova>on%and%produc>vity%being%embraced.%The%faster%that%leaders%realize%this%the%faster%we%can%get%on%with%transforming%the%economy%and%crea>ng%a%real%Prosperous%Planet.%There%is%simply%no%other%strategy%for%raising%global%GDP%and%crea>ng%the%prosperous%future%that%will%bring%peace,%stability%and%security%to%global%markets.

We%con>nue%to%see%emerging%technology,%especially%Connected%Mobile%and%Network%Technology%as%a%key%driver%of%produc>ve%change,%compe>>ve%advantage%and%a%strong%economy.%This%year%an%accelera>on%of%new%innova>ons%will%enable%growth%and%produc>vity.%It%is%all%about%connec>vity—connected%innovators,%connected%supply%chains,%connected%employees,%connected%markets%and%connected%consumers.%

We%are%at%the%beginning%of%a%new%tech%cycle%in%informa>on%technology%and%mobile%telecom.%Cloud%compu>ng,%App’s,%Big%Data%and%the%Mobile%Web%are%coming%next.%Connec>vity%to%people,%communi>es%and%networks%will%be%essen>al.

The%top%tech%innova>ons%are%central%to%crea>ng%a%prosperous%planet.%Mobile,%nanotech,%neurotech,%informa>on%tech,%robo>cs,%eHealth,%green%and%clean%tech,%quantum%tech%and%biotech%will%con>nue%to%be%the%tool%sets%of%the%future%that%will%dominate%inven>on.%The%Innova>on%economy,%as%a%Global%Change%Catalyst,%has%been%commonly%held%trend%for%the%past%few%years.%%

This%year,%maturing%tool%sets%of%technology,%once%emerging%and%now%available,%will%be%used%to%create%more%jobs,%new%businesses%and%new%business%models%then%every%before.%%Look%for%this%impact%in%health%care,%logis>cs,%media,%online%retail%and%entertainment.

A Prosperous Planet

The Connected Economy

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Organiza>ons%could%do%beUer%at%looking%to%the%long%view.%Most%leaders%are%missing%this%future%perspec>ve.%Becoming%Future%Ready,%strategically%thinking%about%the%future%is%vital%to%all%leaders.%

Many%leaders%do%not%have%a%clear%perspec>ve%on%the%future%of%their%business,%markets%and%customers%let%alone%their%organiza>ons%beyond%a%few%months%or%a%year.%This%is%a%problem%for%their%employees,%partners%and%customers.%

Leaders%need%to%become%more%Long%Range%Thinkers.%Why?%Accelerated%changes%are%bringing%the%future%in%faster.%Change%creates%risk.%Developing%a%predic>ve%awareness%is%missionNessen>al%to%future%sustainability.%Become%Future%Ready%and%make%your%organiza>on%Future%ReadyNNbefore%your%compe>>on%does.%

There%is%a%New%Future%emerging.%This%New%Future%maybe%characterized%by%complex%trends,%accelerated%change,%hyperNcompe>>on,%disrup>ve%innova>on%and%uncertainty.%The%New%Future%will%demand%a%new%way%of%opera>ng.%%There%are%those%that%will%see%this%as%crisis%and%those%that%will%see%this%as%opportunity.%We%recognize%that%there%are%headwinds%coming.%We%think%these%headwinds%are%opportuni>es%for%growth%and%not%just%obstacles.%%Those%leaders%that%know%how%to%ride%these%winds%and%find%the%sweet%spots%where%they%can%open%new%markets,%develop%new%products,%forge%new%partnerships%and%rapidly%innovate—will%lead%the%way%to%a%New%Future%of%prosperity%and%success.%Leaders%must%have%the%courage%to%invest%and%create%their%future.

Innova>on%is%the%central%driver%of%US%and%global%compe>>ve%advantage—if%we%con>nue%to%invest%now.%This%will%help%the%US%and%any%economy%achieve%a%more%stable%growth%picture%this%year%and%create%jobs%and%produc>vity.%Though%the%US%has%a%innova>on%economic%ethic%that%is%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%more%aggressively%in%their%future%as%well.%

There%will%also%be%tremendous%innova>on,%wealth%crea>on%and%produc>vity%gains%by%individuals,%companies%and%governments%that%know%how%to%adapt%with%velocity%to%change.%If%there%was%ever%an%era%that%begged%for%change,%the%inven>on%of%the%new,%such%as%innova>ons%in%finance,%technology,%educa>on,%energy%and%climate%management,%it%is%certainly%now.%

We%con>nue%to%see%global%business%as%the%chief%catalyst%and%a%vibrant%innovator%for%the%New%Future.%Global%business%is%increasing%value%on%the%planet%through%innova>on%and%will%con>nue%in%2012%on%this%tact.%Where%problems%such%as%communica>ons,%technology,%climate%and%energy%persist,%business%innova>on%leads%the%way%with%solu>ons%that%strive%to%meet%the%grand%challenges%of%our%day.%

Global%business%organiza>ons,%con>nually%agile%and%innova>ng,%are%moving%with%velocity%to%solve%global%problems%such%as%climate%change,%energy,%poverty%and%security.%

The New Future

Becoming Future Ready

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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%and%tomorrow.%The%key%to%bringing%the%next%workforce%on%line%is%a%massive%global%commitment%to%educa>on.%

A%new%type%of%educa>on%led%by%best%prac>ces,%stories,%interac>ve%lessons,%collabora>ve%learning%and%a%rethinking%of%what%knowledge%people%will%need%in%the%future%is%important%to%get%right.%Computer%tablets,%mobile%tech%and%the%web%are%transforming%all%communica>ons,%produc>vity%and%especially%learning.%

This%year%look%for%Apple’s%iPad%and%other%tablets%to%take%the%lead%worldNwide%and%transform%learning%bringing%educa>on%resources%to%the%an%audience%throughout%the%world,%from%rich%to%poor%na>ons%alike.%The%ease,%mobility%and%most%important%the%interac>ve%media%that%makes%learning%come%alive%will%transform%educa>on%forever.

The%New%Global%Middle%Class%is%coming.%This%is%not%just%in%India,%the%EU,%China%or%the%US,%but%a%global%middle%class%is%emerging.%They%are%transna>onal%and%mul>cultural.%Prosperity%and%security%in%our%globalized%world%are%driving%up%standards%of%living.%

Especially%in%Asia,%China%and%India%but%throughout%the%world,%economic%progress%is%crea>ng%a%global%middle%class%of%over%2%billion.%The%World%Health%Organiza>on%forecasts%that%more%than%2%billion%people%in%the%BRIC%na>ons%(Brazil,%Russia,%India%and%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.%

This%year%a%new%type%of%consumer%will%emerge%empowered%by%technology%and%vola>lity%in%global%economics.%The%Ac>vist%Consumer%will%be%one%who%is%encouraged%by%his%or%her%peers%to%share%opinions,%post%reviews%online,%text%their%ideas,%talk%back%to%companies,%give%their%feedback,%and%interact%with%others%of%a%common%shared%experience.%They%will%be%empowered%to%act%on%their%values%and%their%opinion%will%have%power%to%influence.%The%Ac>vist%Consumer%is%one%who%is%deeply%concerned%the%environment,%corporate%responsibility,%government%accountability%and%has%allot%of%power%to%move%opinion,%influence%brand%loyalty%and%consumer%purchases.%The%Ac>vist%Consumer’s%impact%on%other%consumers%may%be%more%powerful%then%the%impact%of%brands%on%consumers.%Brands%beware.

Towards an Educated Planet

The New Global Middle Class

The Activist Consumer

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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%in%other%hard%commodi>es%will%this%year%be%on%the%rise.%Hardest%hit%areas%in%Asia,%the%US%and%EU%will%develop%water%policies%that%will%be%inevitably%in%conflict%with%neighbors%around%them.%The%need%to%refresh%global%and%regional%water%infrastructure,%will%be%smart%investments%by%na>ons%looking%to%head%off%the%destabiliza>on%of%their%socie>es%from%the%coming%water%wars.%

Iden>ty%crime%is%up%1000%.%Over%$2%billion%US%gets%stolen%online.%Cyber%criminals%thrive%online.%You%are%the%Target.%Recent%cyber%intrusions%on%governments%and%organiza>ons%signal%accelerated%hacking%coming%this%year.%Why?%It%gets%results%and%it’s%profitable.%Secrets,%customer%accounts%and%money,%even%carbon%credits%stolen%have%a%big%payday.%Hard%to%catch%online%criminals%are%the%new.%Also,%cyber%security%innova>on%has%not%kept%pace%with%the%bad%guys.%

They%are%smarter%and%faster.%And%they%collaborate%beUer.%The%recent%hacks%by%Anonymous%prove%up%that%we%are%not%doing%enough%to%protect%the%enterprise%and%government%from%cyber%intruders.%Poor%encryp>on,%inept%IT%and%crooked%workers%lead%to%cyber%trouble.%The%rise%of%Dark%Networks,%criminal/terrorist%organiza>ons%fueled%by%cyberNinsecurity%is%on%the%uptrend.%

There%is%a%shadowy%global%world%of%criminal%and%terrorist%groups%that%have%found%immense%profit%in%hacking%organiza>ons.%Dark%Network%intrusions%will%accelerate%this%year.%The%enterprise%must%get%serious%about%protec>ng%customers%and%data%from%intrusions%or%suffer.%%

The Future of Water

Facebook Nation & the Rebirth of Marketing

Cyber-Insecurity: the Rise of Dark Networks

How%is%Facebook%signaling%a%fundamental%shih%in%business%and%commerce?%Social%media%has%killed%tradi>onal%marke>ng.%Social%media,%Web%2.0%for%the%enterprise%is%what%is%going%to%be%big%this%year.%Just%as%Google%did%a%few%years%ago,%Facebook%is%next.%

Facebook%now%has%over%845%million%people%and%will%top%out%close%to%billion%soon.%This%makes%Facebook%the%third%most%populated%na>on%aher%China.%With%over%2.7%billion%comments,%250%million%photos%uploaded%per%day%and%over%100%billion%friendships,%the%company%represents%a%New%Future%of%business.%But%this%trend%is%not%about%Facebook%but%what%FB%(stock%symbol)%represents.%This%is%a%new%business%model%based%on%Connec>vity%that%is%valida>ng%social%media%as%a%hugely%viable%business.%With%$3%billion%in%adver>sing%it%is%dwarfed%by%Google%sales,%yet%FB%is%part%of%the%new%social%media%ecosystem%that%is%disrup>ng%business.%Get%ready%for%TwiUer%and%whose%next?

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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,%gemng%to%know%you%and%your%personalized%needs%as%a%more%useful%front%end.%The%backend%will%be%a%new%set%of%standards%that%will%aUempt%to%connect%ideas,%sen>ments,%personalized%meanings%together%in%a%more%learnable%network—recognizing%what%you%mean%and%want,%the%personaliza>on%of%informa>on.%Faster,%more%accurate,%more%useful%and%intui>ve—maybe%even%more%cogni>ve%and%capable%of%learning%in%realN>me%about%what%you%need.%That%is%what%the%Seman>c%Web%will%aUempt%to%deliver%on.%

.%

This%is%the%year%that%Big%Data%and%Cloud%Compu>ng%break%out.%We%are%in%for%a%global%change%in%how%we%do%compu>ng%and%analyze%data.%Cloud%Compu>ng%will%enable%you%to%do%on%any%device%anywhere%what%you%do%on%your%desktop.%Access%to%informa>on%can%be%anyplace%onNdemand%and%accessible.%The%use%analy>cs%to%mone>ze%data%for%value%is%an%essen>al%forecast%for%this%year.%

Big%Data%Analy>cs%will%be%used%for%beUer%health%care,%energy%or%security%and%dozens%of%applica>ons%that%are%screaming%out%for%solu>ons.%There%is%so%much%useless%data%that%lies%unexploited%for%value.%We%live%in%a%sea%of%informa>on%that%is%dumb.%We%need%smart%new%ways%to%analyze%the%Big%Data%we%are%going%to%be%capturing%to%provide%value,%service%and%impact%to%customers.%

Increasingly%the%Network,%the%web%is%your%business.%This%is%how%customers,%employees,%shareholders%and%partners%all%interact.%This%is%how%social%media%happens.%How%agile%is%your%Network?%Is%it%integrated%for%mobile?%Does%it%support%integra>on%across%VoIp,%Web,%Telema>c%and%Transmedia%planorms?%Is%your%organiza>on%ready%to%move%beyond%the%legacy%mindset%and%silos%and%move%into%the%future.%What%is%your%Network%Agility%plan%for%this%year?%You%want%to%be%out%in%front%of%the%customer%in%driving%change,%not%playing%catch%up.%Get%agile.

Medicine%is%in%for%a%revolu>onary%change.%Look%for%innova>ons%in%medicine%that%can%for%the%first%>me%give%doctors%a%glimpse%of%poten>al%precursors%to%disease%and%will%lead%to%preven>on.%Cheaper%and%smarter%consumer%genomic%diagnos>cs,%digital%health%technologies,%beUer%use%of%medical%informa>cs%will%lead%to%a%move%to%personalized%medicine%where%the%objec>ve%is%to%understand%more%how%to%prevent%disease%and%promote%health.%With%the%aging%of%many%socie>es%preven>on%as%the%core%approach%to%medicine%is%the%right%fix%for%enhancing%health.%Just%moving%bits%over%paper%in%hospitals%would%save%billions.%eHealth%technologies%from%wireless%to%iPad’s%will%save%billions%and%improve%the%efficacy%of%care%for%billions.%

Web 3.0: The Semantic Web

Network Agility

The Intelligent Enterprise: Big Data & Cloud Computing

Personalized Medicine, eHealth and Prevention

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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%opportunity%for%the%enterprise.%Most%companies%are%screaming%for%talent.%Depopula>on%in%Europe%has%led%to%produc>vity%drops.%Compe>>on%for%talent%will%be%fierce.%Talented%people%make%the%difference%in%every%industry%and%they%are%in%short%supply.%

Finding%the%right%people%with%advanced%knowledge,%management,%with%global%and%technical%skills%to%grow%the%enterprise%is%priority%one.%Companies%will%struggle%and%compete%for%talented%workers.%%Jobs%will%go%unfilled.%Markets%will%go%untouched.%This%is%a%major%corporate%problem%worldwide.%And%outsourcing%is%not%the%only%answer.The%issue%is%not%about%job%crea>on%but%talent%crea>on.%We%need%an%educa>on%system%that%supports%the%next%genera>on%of%Steve%Job’s%and%Steven%Spielberg’s%to%create%economic%value,%wealth%and%produc>vity.%

Global%warming%is%accelera>ng.%LA%has%summer%in%winter.%Greenland%is%actually%green.%The%polar%ice%caps%are%shrinking%faster.%NY%City%had%tornados.%The%East%Coast%of%the%US%had%earthquakes.%New%Orleans%has%not%fully%recovered%from%the%storms.%This%is%not%the%manNmade%versus%nature%argument%anymore.%No,%this%is%climate%change%on%steroids.%This%is%the%reality%that%extreme%weather%change%is%becoming%the%norm%as%climate%models%around%the%world%are%in%flux.%More%unpredictable%risk%factors%affec>ng%life,%health%and%property%as%well%as%security%from%these%extremes%of%sudden%weather%change%are%likely.%More%extremes%from%weather%risk%are%must%be%watched.%Snowballs%in%Florida?%

We%have%been%analyzing%breakthroughs%in%neuroscience%for%a%decade,%which%are%coming%at%a%furious%pace%as%Moore’s%Law%hits%neuroscience—cheaper,%faster%and%more%powerful%tech.%This%year%we%will%see%solid%progress%that%is%jus>fiably%scary%as%well.%A%machine%capable%of%deciphering%people's%thoughts%could%become%a%reality%thanks%to%a%breakthrough%by%U.S.%neuroscien>sts%at%the%University%of%CaliforniaNBerkeley.%This%innova>on%records%and%can%possibly%decode%pa>ents'%brainwaves%and%then%translated%the%brain’s%electrical%ac>vity%into%words.%This%means%we%could%reconstruct%conversa>ons%and%insight%from%brain%ac>vity%helping%many%who%suffer%from%brain%injuries%or%Alzheimer’s%disease.%Of%course%we%could%as%well%maybe%“read%peoples%minds”.%

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.%

The Talent War

Extreme Weather Coming

NeuroHacking

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This%year%the%Innova>on%Dividend%will%become%a%dynamic%and%kine>c%global%force%for%economic%advantage.%Those%companies,%individuals%and%na>ons%that%support%and%invest%in%innova>on—the%web,%telecom,%social%networks,%wireless,%sohware,%nanotech,%neurotech,%biotech—will%get%the%dividend%in%benefits.%They%will%be%the%winners%in%gemng%the%jobs,%aUrac>ng%the%customers,%aUrac>ng%venture%capital%and%inven>ng%the%future.%Mee>ng%grand%challenges%like%

poverty%and%climate%change%and%winning%the%market%share%are%about%crea>ng%global%prosperity.%Over%40%%of%US%GDP%is%innova>on%oriented.%Investments%in%innova>on%for%beUer%clean%energy,%smarter%health%care,%pervasive%media%communica>ons;%green%ci>es,%local%manufacturing%and%other%knowledge%industries%will%drive%profits,%prosperity%and%sustainability.%It%is%amazing%how%this%logic%is%s>ll%not%fully%embraced%as%a%compe>>ve%advantage%by%companies,%na>ons%and%individuals.%

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%technology%is%the%next%genera>on%of%informa>on%science%that%as%a%new%planorm,%could%someday%replace%sohware,%hardware%and%all%things%digital.%Sounds%geeky%and%it%is.%Just%like%bits%rule%the%world%of%silicon%and%compu>ng%today,%as%well%health%informa>cs,%genomics,%energy%design—anything%using%IT,%the%next%gen%is%Quantum.%Why?%

The%only%way%to%crunch%the%impossibly%fast,%complex%and%large%data%sets%and%deal%with%the%size%of%the%global%problems%like:%How%will%we%feed%9%billion%people%in%2050?%Or%how%can%we%manage%the%oceans?%How%do%we%invent%the%next%drug?%In%the%future%we%will%embrace%a%new%super%compu>ng%technology%planorm%that%is%vastly%more%powerful%based%on%the%Qubit.%The%key%drivers%of%Quantum%are:%need%for%harder%encryp>on%to%avoid%hackers;%Something%to%replace%silicon%in%chips%that%is%more%powerful%and%can%manage%high%complexity%and%huge%Exabyte%data%crunching%of%the%new%era%Cloud%Compu>ng.%

The%rising%youth%movement,%from%Paris%to%Egypt,%to%Occupy%Your%Town%may%be%coming%this%year.%The%Arab%Spring,%the%revolu>on%spreading%from%North%Africa%to%the%US%and%the%EU%tells%us%that%dissa>sfied%youth%are%on%the%move.%Youth,%ages%16N26%are%ohen%the%most%vulnerable%underclass%without%jobs,%educa>on%and%access%to%resources%and%capital.%In%a%world%or%region%facing%recession,%the%dissa>sfied%youth%of%the%world,%especially%the%developing%world%will%change%governments%and%social%agendas%worldwide.

The%rise%of%dissa>sfied%youth%against%the%inability%of%na>ons%to%manage%the%economic%and%democracy%crisis%will%reach%a%boiling%point%this%year.%The%linkage%of%global%youth,%into%a%movement,%is%possible%with%a%sense%of%social%en>tlement%that%will%change%government%futures%and%the%future%of%governance.%

Quantum Technology

The Innovation Dividend

Global Youth Revolt

[9]

There%is%a%manufacturing%revolu>on%underway.%Small,%distributed%and%dynamic%manufacturing%labs%are%springing%up%around%the%US.%Groups%of%inventors,%creators,%manufacturers—the%Makers%are%selfNorganizing%places%and%events%to%collaborate%in%“making%Stuff”.%From%industrial%scale%body%parts%to%new%devices%and%objects,%we%are%at%the%early%stages%of%a%manufacturing%transforma>on.%3D%prin>ng%of%houses%has%actually%been%demonstrated.%The%US%Government%is%planning%to%put%1000%produc>onNquality%3ND%printers%in%high%schools%across%the%United%States.%Even%without%access%to%one%of%these%3D%printers,%there%will%be%free%downloads%of%Autodesk%123D,%a%3ND%computerNaidedNdesign%program,%which%gives%you%modeling%and%pushNbuUon%connec>ons%to%online%3NDNprin>ng%services.%There%are%there%are%dozens%of%online%services%suppor>ng%the%Maker%Revolu>on.%Prin>ng%objects%in%2012%will%be%hot.%%What%do%you%want%to%make?%

We%are%headed%towards%a%vibrant%new%era%of%ci>es.%The%majority%of%the%global%popula>on%lives%in%ci>es%today.%This%will%increase%to%as%much%as%60%%by%2030%and%70%%by%2050.%Most%of%the%wealth,%jobs,%produc>vity,%GDP%and%innova>on%in%the%near%and%far%future%will%happen%in%ci>es.%Ci>es%are%the%vibrant%economic%engines%of%the%world,%yet%rapid%urbaniza>on%has%leh%ci>es%hobbled%with%inefficient%technologies%and%an%aging%

%

infrastructure%that%has%not%kept%pace%with%the%needs%of%its%inhabitants.

Ci>es%consume%an%increasingly%huge%amount%of%energy,%food%and%water%that%stress%the%limits%of%growth.%A%New%Future%for%Healthy%Ci>es%is%needed%where%technologies%are%the%keys%to%unlocking%health,%energy%efficiency,%communica>ons,%safety%and%pollu>on%control.%Ci>es%of%tomorrow,%especially%the%megaci>es%of%10%million%or%more,%must%be%green%and%produc>ve,%sustainable%and%dynamic,%secure%and%economically%viable%centers%of%life%and%work.%We%need%a%Future%of%Healthy%Ci>es%global%plan%for%the%planet.%

Most%of%the%infrastructure%that%provides%energy,%especially%electricity%to%the%popula>on%worldwide%is%not%efficient,%distributed%or%modernized%to%keep%pace%with%the%demands%of%today.%The%electric%grid%is%modeled%aher%a%19th%century%infrastructure%that%in%some%parts%of%the%world%is%actually%18th%century—inefficient%and%not%Future%Ready%to%meet%the%coming%demands.

The Maker Revolution and 3D Printing

Rethinking Energy: Smart Grids

The New Future of Healthy Cities

We%need%to%rethink%energy%but%especially%electricity%and%move%towards%a%smarter%energy%grid%that%can%both%serve%and%propel%produc>vity.%What%company%or%government%doesn’t%have%a%2012N2030%energy%plan?%Everyone.%

Organiza>ons%need%to%develop%a%capacity%for%deeper%and%longer%range%forecas>ng.%At%the%Ins>tute%for%Global%Futures%we%see%the%near%and%far%future%as%a%complex%adap>ve%system%that%requires%larger,%more%flexible,%and%smarter%visual%frameworks%to%beUer%predict%what%tomorrow%may%hold.%The%future%can%be%knowable—discoverable%and%therefore%even%at%>mes%manageable.%

The%various%scenarios%of%the%future%come%into%focus%with%more%accuracy%when%we%apply%tools%to%manage%complex%systems%such%as%simula>on,%news%modeling,%policy%analysis,%research%analysis%and%predic>ve%forecas>ng.%And%we%like%to%actually%talk%to%people%too%to%figure%out%what’s%coming%next.

We%con>nue%to%see%the%convergence%of%trends%that%forge%complexity%and%the%rejec>on%of%the%Silo%Mentality%of%solving%large%systemic%problems.%We%need%to%expand%our%awareness%and%think%smarter%and%more%long%term%about%addressing%global%issues.%

Global Forecasting & Long Range Thinking

[10]

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%learn%how%to%think%in%Bigger%Frameworks%and%Longer%Time%Frames%to%solve%grand%challenges%that%confront%our%world%or%we%will%not%be%able%to%meet%these%challenges%effec>vely.

Trends%may%appear%isolated%but%ohen%reveal%deeper%metaNlevels%of%change.%Dissa>sfied%youth%in%the%Arab%Spring%were%emerging%as%a%force%of%poten>al%change%years%before%the%Arab%Spring.%Social%media%in%the%forms%of%blogs%was%emerging%as%a%force%before%Facebook,%TwiUer%and%YouTube%reached%a%cri>cal%mass%of%users%that%is%altering%adver>sing%and%marke>ng.%Climate%change%did%not%start%yesterday.%Energy%disloca>on%did%not%happen%overnight.%Mobile%smart%phones%were%not%invented%yesterday.%Develop%a%longer%view%for%a%smarter%more%sustainable%future.%

Since%1990%The%Ins>tute%for%Global%Futures,%a%leading%San%Francisco%Think%Tank%has%been%forecas>ng%for%business%and%governments%the%top%trends%for%the%coming%year.%These%are%the%top%trends%that%we%think%our%clients%should%be%aware%of%that%will%influence%markets,%business,%trade,%brands,%compe>>on,%economics%and%leadership.%

Managed%by%CEO,%Dr.%James%Canton%The%Global%Futures%Forecast%surveys,%researches%and%analyses%what’s%on%the%horizon,%what’s%coming%next%that%organiza>ons,%governments%and%individuals%need%to%know%about%now.%We%pull%from%current%research%and%compile%it%into%the%GFF.

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%

Trend Convergence

ABOUT THE GLOBAL FUTURES FORECAST