A Brief History of the Future,
The strategic director of trends of Philips Design is a female historian.They use
an interdisciplinary team comprising anthropologists and social scientists as
innovation is driven by people who are passionate about how society and culture
are changing while keeping an eye on the megatrends.One thing they designed
was a non irritating alarm clock.It reminds me of the innovative alarm clock bought
online,a China design that is fun and innovative as the clock has wheels.
While ringing,I cannot hit the stop alarm for the clock circular in shape will roll off
the bedside table and keep on increasing the sound of the alarm until I get out of
bed to shut the damn alarm.
It works so we don't need to reinvent the wheel.
Design thinking and meeting needs of user does the trick.
A product that need reinventing would be the sanitary pad.It's a huge market but
contributes to unsustainable waste and clogs toilet bowls.The person who can
revolutionise the product will strike gold.Tampons are risky as a recent female model
had to have her leg amputated when she had toxic shock from blood poisoning
.How to make it safe,convenient and environmentally friendly?
Megatrend Women showed that increasing levels of female education and working
women mean more financial independence and purchasing power but more stress.
Megatrend health research revealed a demand for wellness products that have a
health benefit and are free of additives. After surveying 15,000 women,they
found women wanted it all.They wanted to be spoilt but to have a clear moral
conscience(a % of the profit goes to Waris Dirie's foundation against FGM in
Africa).The drink gave them self confidence,energy without the calories and a
sense of well being.The design of the bottle is small and sexy,no pear shaped
bottles reminding them of big bottoms or failed diets.
The result was "VERY" all with Dong Quai,a Chinese root with a positive effect on
female hormonal balance.The response was hot when launched in 2004 in Austria
until the man financing the project mysteriously disappeared and the whole project
collapsed.Shows you can plan the future and follow trends but you cannot predict
everything.
My energy is much less compared to the past-so exhausted that I've no energy to cook and clean the house.I skipped Tai Chi as my back
and knees were throbbing with pain.Yesterday,I took out the Chinese herbs
my mom gave me when I complained of tiredness.I boiled the Dong Sum root,
the dried Cordycep flower and goji berry with old chicken to give me a boost of
energy and last night I had a good night's sleep again.Today I'm drinking tiger milk
mushroom tea to boost immunity against flu.Prevention is better than cure.
.Design is the crucial link between people and technology.In ambient intelligence,technology is discreet and unobtrusive.The use of anthropologists and social scientists at Philips Design means innovation is driven by people who are passionate about how society and culture are changing while keeping an eye on megatrends and business.
Green believes that the best futures work is not about looking at what you can
predict,but what you can imagine.Corporate futurism will be more multidisciplinary
with electronic artists,historians,ethicists and philosophers in the team especially
with the rise of AI and terminator soldiers.
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