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July-August 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4

Articles

Technology’s Role in Revolution: Internet Freedom and Political Oppression

By Evgeny Morozov

Revolutions depend on people, not on social media, and the Internet both promotes democracy and thwarts it, says a foreign-policy scholar. Cyber-utopians be warned: Authoritarian regimes are adapting to the Internet age.

Eroding Futures: Why Healthy Soil Matters to Civilization

Lester R. Brown

The earth beneath our feet is the Earth’s infrastructure for the resources that sustain our civilizations—and our futures. A leading agricultural policy expert shows what we must do to save the soil.

My First Meltdown: Lessons from Fukushima

By Patrick Tucker

Japan’s nuclear disaster carries a number of important lessons, such as how and when to deploy a worst-case scenario. While working in Kyoto, THE FUTURIST’s senior editor observed Japan’s nightmare and the costs of poor communication during a crisis.

Treading in the Sea of Data

By Richard Yonck

Information: Our world is swimming in it. With each passing day, our lives become more dependent on it. Yet, the very magnitude of this torrent of data compromises its benefits to us. New strategies and technologies are now evolving that may save us from drowning—and even help us thrive.

Augmented, Anonymous, Accountable: The Emerging Digital Lifestyle

By Erica Orange

From social networking to location-based mobile applications, our digital devices are increasingly shaping our lives. A business futurist examines what this will mean for organizations and individuals in the coming decade, highlighting some of the key “beads” on the “data abacus.”

Our Naked Data

By William H. Saito

The ease of communicating on modern networks has meant a rise in data vulnerability. A security specialist outlines the steps that the IT industry should take to protect consumers from data attacks—and itself from reactionary regulators.

The Case Against Cash

By David R. Warwick

Alternatives to cash would not only reduce violent crime, but also deter underground economic activity that goes untaxed. An advocate for a cash-free economy asks why the U.S. government isn’t promoting it.

Departments

Tomorrow in Brief (July-August 2011)

  • Detecting Callers’ Stress Levels
  • WordBuzz: Followee
  • 3-D Movies Go Mobile
  • Supersizing Microscopes
  • From Album to App

Futurists and Their Ideas: Visionary Forecasting with Graham T. T. Molitor

By Edward Cornish

One futurist ventures where few other forecasters dare to go, offering forecasts for the next thousand years and explaining how he does it.

Future Active (July-August 2011)

Edited by Aaron M. Cohen

  • Mapping New Zealand’s Long-Term Future
  • Delphi 2.0: Wild Cards and Weak Signals
  • A Playful Utopia

As Tweeted: Science Fiction Futures: Aliens and Robots Need Not Apply

On a recent afternoon on Twitter, we pondered some of the stereotypes about how the future is depicted in science fiction books and movies.

World Trends & Forecasts

Search The Futurist Archives for material going back to 1992.

July-August 2011, Vol. 45, No. 4