Contents of the Current Issue

Executive Summaries

Time in Our Hands
by John Robinson and Geoffrey Godbey
Americans have more time than they think they have, according to the long-term use-of-time study. The difference between leisure time now versus a few decades ago is that it is more broken up, giving us less extended time for leisure and making us feel more stressed out about it. In the future, time will become a commodity that more people will control to meet their individual needs, as the concept of flextime extends to more aspects of our lives. Technologies that let us manage our time better (such as TiVo) are made to order for our future leisure. But other forces will make time more contingent on things out of our control, like traffic jams and security hang-ups at airports.

Aging and Public Institutions
by Konrad M. Kressley
Forecasts for the future of public and private institutions are typically based on technology change. Meanwhile, insufficient attention has been given to demographic factors, notably the aging population in advanced societies. Specifically, a substantial number of organizations, some even conceived with young people in mind, can anticipate a dramatic "make-over" in response to the aging phenomenon. This essay offers insights for institutional managers using the examples from higher education, corrections, military installations, and health care.

The Outlook for Alzheimer's Disease
by Tyler A. Kokjohn and Kimbal E. Cooper
Alzheimer’s disease is an unintended side effect of one of humanity's great success stories: increased longevity. While there is no cure in the foreseeable future, we are learning more about the interrelated factors leading to Alzheimer's, which could give us a step up in preventing it.

Faith for the Future: Updating Religious Paradigms for the Infotech Age
by Don C. Davis
Religious leaders need to accept the new knowledge and capabilities presented by information technologies and other advances. This acceptance will help guide individuals to a global consciousness and to a better understanding of humans' responsibilities toward each other and toward their own futures.

Biotech on the Farm: Realizing the Promise
by Clifton E. Anderson
We need genetic engineering to help meet our resource needs for future populations. But there are concerns about GM crops. This article calls for a Genetic Science Commission and/or Regulatory Agency to create the framework for applying biotechnologies in agriculture. This will help overcome the fears, real and imagined, about genetic engineering.

Your Personal Information: Managing Your Most Valuable Asset
by Brian Mulconrey
High demand for your personal information--and for your attention--exposes you to both information overload and the potential for identity theft. A new profession may emerge to help you manage your most valuable asset: you.

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