Leadership Lookout

There are a ton of reasons to live on the “3^rd Coast” — West Michigan. One reason is the great Chamber of Commerce in Holland, where today I took the opportunity at an early-bird breakfast to hear a thought-provoking perspective on what is coming at us from the technology front, and details on the rapid transformation expected ahead. Entrepreneur and technologist Keith Brophy, General Manager at RCM Technologies, a highly regarded futurist and software book author, highlighted how future technical trends will impact lives for many across the nation within the next 5 years.

Here are my notes on the waves of change Keith confidently predicts:

Within 5 years…

• #1. Video: 50% of us will watch 10 or more video segments on the web per day!
• #2. Phones: 50% of us will have signed up to be tracked via our cell phones,
• #3. Advertising tracking: 50% of adults will be targeted and tracked by advertising they’ve agreed to, over 10 times a day.
• #4. Paper: Only 1/3 as many newspapers and books will be published on paper, as people access information on e-paper and through e-books.
• #5. Social Networking: Social networking will become as predominant as electricity over all age ranges.
• #6. Heat to Electric Generation: Heat to Electric Generation technology will be ubiquitous. (You’ll charge your cell phone by holding it to your cheek!)
• #7. Computing: Desktops and laptops will fade into the background (except for gamers) as other devices come up into play. (You’ll check your email on your coffee table surface!)
• #8. Personal Data: Over 50% of us will allow selective access to personal aspects of our lives. (Our toothbrushes will upload information to our health provider!)
• #9. Cyborgs: Simple cyborgs will appear (likely outside the US) and social and legal issues will rage.
• #10. Seniors: Shifts in workplace demographics will occur as workers’ expectations change and the value of seniors’ wisdom is recognized.

“The future exists today. It is just unevenly distributed.” William Gibson, sci-fi author

These predictions challenge any notion I might have that I am ready for the technology future. A chip in my toothbrush??? Please take me back to the days of “Beam me up, Scotty!”

Filed under: Discussion, From Rebecca