TOOLS FOR BATTLING TERRORISTS
Improvements in intelligence gathering over the next decade will make
battling terrorism far more effective, predict researchers at Battelle. Among the top
terrorism-fighting innovations they forecast:
- Biological and chemical sensors that mimic nature--e.g., sniffing out
weapons like a beagle.
- Electronic money tracking to thwart terrorist operations.
- Forward-looking intelligence that includes cross-cultural communication
and language translation.
- Using mass communications better to break down cultural barriers and
improve public diplomacy.
DETAILS: Battelle,
http://www.battelle.org/news/04/5-10-04TopTenTerrorInnova.stm
CHILDREN'S HEAD INJURIES CAUSE LONG-TERM PROBLEMS
Head injuries in children can have significant effects on their future
behavior, personality development, and learning ability, according to a study of 500
children (ages 5 to 15) at Britain's University of Warwick.
After even mild head injuries, about 43% of children studied over a
six-year period were described as having "moderate disability," and one in five
had a change in personality. Parents reported it was "like having a different
child."
Most children with mild head injuries do not receive follow-up
examinations after initial treatment, but the potential for long-lasting developmental
problems could put these children at a disadvantage in school, warns Carol Hawley of the
Warwick Business School.
SOURCE: The University of Warwick,
http://www.newsandevents.warwick.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=pressrelease&id=1912
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ATTENTION CONSULTANTS
A listing of consulting futurists is published in every issue of THE
FUTURIST and online at http://www.wfs.org/consult.htm.
To include your future-oriented services (lectures, workshops,
consultation, writing, planning, analysis, etc.), contact WFS business manager Jeff
Cornish, mailto:jcornish@wfs.org.
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MICROSCOPIC PLASTIC POLLUTES OCEANS
The world's oceans and shores may become increasingly contaminated with
microscopic plastic fragments and fibers, reports a team of British scientists.
Among the materials recovered from samples collected around the British
coastline were nylon, polyethylene acrylic, and other synthetic polymers commonly used in
clothing, packaging, and rope, indicating that the microfragment contamination is the
result of larger items disintegrating.
"Given the durability of plastics and the disposable nature of many
plastic items, this type of contamination is likely to increase," says marine
ecologist Richard Thomas, head of the research team. "Our team is now working to
identify the possible environmental consequences of this new form of contamination."
DETAILS: University of Southampton,
http://www.soton.ac.uk/Press/PressReleases/Name,2382,en.php
PREVIEW FORECASTS FROM THE FUTURIST
Here are a few forecasts you'll find in the next issue of THE FUTURIST:
- Ambient intelligence could lead to automatic law enforcement, as
authorities download laws into our computer-enhanced stuff. (Marcel Bullinga,
"Intelligent Government: Invisible, Automatic, and Everywhere")
- Coal may become the fuel of choice for jets. (Tomorrow in Brief)
- Hip-hop music is undergoing a values shift: The latest Hip-Hop Forum
prohibited vulgar language during its rap competition. (Optimistic Outlooks)
- More than a million species will be lost to climate change in the next 50
years. (World Trends & Forecasts, Environment)
- A computer-generated "virtual womb" will reduce premature
births. (World Trends & Forecasts, Technology)
- Fully one-third of the world's population will be online within a decade.
(David Pearce Snyder, "Five Meta-Trends Changing the World")
The July-August 2004 issue of THE FUTURIST mails to subscribers after
June 7. Join or renew your World Future Society membership to receive your copy:
http://www.wfs.org/member.htm
ORDER single copy: https://www.wfs.org/futuristorder.htm
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THE FUTURE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
Meeting other futurists live and in person--and getting the chance to
share a wealth of new ideas--is what makes the World Future Society's annual meetings one
of the most exciting benefits of membership.
If you haven't already signed up, register now and save $50 off the
onsite registration fee.
"WorldFuture 2004: Creating the Future Now!" will be held July
31 through August 2 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.
DETAILS: http://www.wfs.org/2004main.htm
HOTEL REGISTRATION: http://grandwashington.hyatt.com/groupbooking/wofs
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CLICK
OF THE MONTH: WORD SPY
http://www.wordspy.com
"Rightshoring": Restructuring a company's
workforce to find the optimum mix of jobs performed locally and jobs moved to foreign
countries.
"Nearshoring": Restructuring a company's
workforce by moving jobs to a nearby foreign country.
"Inshoring": Gaining local jobs when foreign
companies add or expand upon local operations.
These are among the new terms that Word Spy has uncovered from a variety
of media sources.
Wordspy.com "is devoted to lexpionage, the sleuthing of new words
and phrases," according to the greeting from Web author Paul McFedries. This valuable
service could help keep futurists' vocabularies current and consistent.
Visit the site to discover more trend-revealing terms, such as
"fiduciary capitalism" (in which corporations are influenced by shareholders'
beliefs and values), "technosexual" (a male with a strong aesthetic sense and a
love of technology), and "poop fiction" (potty humor for children).
WFS ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT
Timothy C. Mack, a Washington, D.C., based attorney and long-time
volunteer with the World Future Society, has been named the Society's new president,
effective June 7. Mack is the chairman of the 2004 annual conference and the editor of the
Society's professional journal, FUTURES RESEARCH QUARTERLY.
Mack succeeds founding president Edward Cornish, who will continue as a
member of the Board of Directors and editor of THE FUTURIST magazine.
Mack's selection by the Board is a significant step in the development
of the Society as the world's largest association of people seriously interested in the
future, according to Cornish. "Tim's proven abilities and relevant experience ensure
that the Society will have outstanding leadership during the coming years," he said.
Kenneth W. Hunter and Dennis Pirages have been elected co-chairs of the
Society's Board of Directors, succeeding acting chairman William E. Halal. Also elected to
the Board were Jack Gottsman and Arnold Brown.
DETAILS: http://www.wfs.org/prfuturingmay04.htm
SUBMIT FEEDBACK for Futurist Update at http://www.wfs.org/fbjun04.htm
FUTURIST UPDATE: News & Previews from the World Future Society is an
e-mail newsletter published monthly as a supplement to THE FUTURIST magazine. Copyright ©
2004, World Future Society, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Telephone 1-301-656-8274; e-mail mailto:info@wfs.org; Web site http://www.wfs.org.
Editor: Cindy Wagner
Assistant Editor: Clifton Coles
Network administrator: Jeff Cornish
Webmaster: Sarah Warner
Membership director: Susan Echard,
To subscribe, send an e-mail message to mailto:majordomo@wfs.org with
"subscribe futurist-update" in the BODY of the message.
To unsubscribe or change your e-mail address, send message to Jeff
Cornish, mailto:jcornish@wfs.org.
The WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY is a nonprofit, nonpartisan scientific and
educational association with a global membership. Regular membership in the Society,
including a subscription to THE FUTURIST, is $45 per year, or $20 for full-time students
under age 25. Professional and Institutional membership programs are also offered; contact
Society headquarters for details: http://www.wfs.org
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