May-June 2010
By Richard Yonck
The word interface is defined as a connection between systems, equipment, or people. It’s most commonly associated with computing, but it is applicable to practically any human–machine activity. Interfaces exist to facilitate interaction. As Apple Computer put it, “The less alike two entities are, the more obvious the need for a well-designed interface becomes.”
From processing codes punched out on cards to interpreting our brain waves, our computers are progressively learning how to read our minds. Future interfaces will help man and machine understand each other better.
By McKinley Conway
The economic recession has prompted many to duck and cover, and many economists are making very pessimistic short-term and long-term forecasts. However, scrutiny of the factors at play reveals that the coming decade will bring a great deal of opportunity. Get ready for a period of unprecedented global development that will provide new opportunities for billions around the world. New economic growth is being driven by emerging industries ranging from nanotechnology to solar and wind power.
Economic and Social Trends and Their Impacts
For nearly half a century, Forecasting International has been tracking the forces that shape our future. Some 20 years ago, we codified our observations into a list of trends that forms the basis for much of our work. For each of our projects, we compare the specific circumstances of an industry or organization with these general trends and project their interactions. This often allows us to form a remarkably detailed picture of what lies ahead. Part One of the latest edition of FI’s periodic trend report tracks economic, population, societal, family, and work trends, illustrating the multifaceted challenges facing individuals and their institutions at all levels, from the household to the globe at large.
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