Patrick Tucker's blog

Futurists got up close and personal with ten novel ideas and inventions at Futurists:BetaLaunch (F:BL), the World Future Society's first idea and solution expo and competition. F:BL was moderated by event partner Disruptathon and held in Vancouver July 8-10 during WorldFuture 2011: Moving from Vision to Action, the Society’s annual conference.

Launching in 1975, BYTE was the flagship magazine of the personal computer era and remained a highly popular and acclaimed voice in consumer technology until it was shut down in 1998. Byte's now back, as of last week. Executive news editor Eric Mack took a moment from his busy day covering next generation consumer technology to introduce Byte's readers to Futurists:Beta Launch and WorldFuture 2011. Thanks for this great piece Eric, I couldn't have put it better myself. The piece in it's entirety is below. Check out byte at http://www.informationweek.com/byte/

Hello! Welcome to the new World Future Society Web site, the work of our art director Lisa Mathias and director of membership Jennifer Boykin. We're also unveiling a new logo reflecting the tremendous renewal we're experiencing at WFS. In the past few months, we've been sharing ideas with our members from around the world on how WFS can be of more value to them and to the general public.

Writing from Kyoto--I’ve delayed updating as I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to say something that might contribute to--rather than simply repeat--what’s been said in the international media. For four days, we in Japan have been bombarded with headlines indicating a slowly unfolding apocalypse.

Update: 6:57 AM, Tuesday, March 27th
Annoying concerns about water quality have taken the place of the initial (mostly media) panic about the reactor situation. Indications are the radioactivity level in the water is elevated but far from dangerous for adults but parents are urged not give their children tap water or baby formula made from tap water. The situation with the reactor remains very dire, but the government and others are providing constant radiation information showing that levels remain at healthy around Tokyo and elsewhere. The death toll in the north continues to climb with the mayor of Miyagi anticipating 15,000 deaths there alone.

Interested in helping or volunteering? Peace Boat Japan is, as far as I can tell, the best charitable organization with boots on the ground now in the affected area, distributing necessities. Here's a great blog.

Update: 11:44 AM Monday, Japan Time
From NHK: "Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says a hydrogen and oxygen explosion occurred Monday morning at the No.3 reactor at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture." Residents within a 20 KM radius are being urged to stay indoors.

Edano--"Low possibility of radiation leakage, container is still safe."

Update: 9:00 AM Monday, Japan Time
The death toll has climbed to 1500. It is assumed that many of the residents of Sendai, a town that apparently no-longer exists, are also gone. At this hour, there is growing concern about supplying those in remote areas in the north with food and water. Shelters are full.

Every year, some 800 companies and inventors from around the world gather for "nano tech," billed as the world's largest nanotechnology product expo. I caught the action this year at the Big Site center in Tokyo. Here are my standout pics.

In a recent interview with USA TODAY, inventor and World Future Society member Ray Kurzweil discussed IBM's Watson computer, which is set to play former Jeopardy champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter on the popular game show. The match-up is being called the most significant public test of AI since world chess champion Garry Kasparov lost to IBM's Deep Blue in 1997. It will take place February 14, 15, and 16th.

Nick Bilton of the New York Times recently did an experiment; he purchased a digital copy of WIRED on his iPad. While the magazine was downloading, he drove twelve blocks to his neighborhood magazine shop (Brooklyn), bought a paper copy of the same magazine, and drove home. The iPad version was still downloading.

I know, I know, you're shocked.

Every day in Kyoto carries with it the promise of a rare visual sighting; a geisha moving in graceful but hurried steps between the tea houses in Gion; maple leaves crisping red at their tips beneath the awnings of Shinto shrines.

I just returned from the annual American Magazine Conference, or AMC, this year in Chicago, where I got a front row view of the future of my industry. In one presentation after the next, the heads of such giants as Hearst, Condé Nast, and Time (along with Oprah Winfrey) reassured one another that the future was increasingly bright.