AN ALPHABET OF TOMORROW (Future Maps)

The Future A-Z is intended to provide a rapid introduction to a range of challenges, technologies and trends. It is also intended to encourage holistic thinking, in that no entry in its "alphabet of tomorrow" stands in isolation. It is therefore possible to pick any Future A-Z entry and to draw a map radiating from it that links to many other entries.

For example, and as shown in the Future A-Z Video, if we pick teleworking, we can draw a Future Map as follows:

The above indicates that Internet developments and ubiquitous computing are what make teleworking possible. Dematerialization will also increasingly help people to work remotely using a computer, as may virtual reality. Climate change, the oil shortage and other resource depletion may also drive teleworking as people seek to cut down on travel. Teleworking is also likely to be a mass response to a flu pandemic.

Taking another example, we could pick genetic engineering as the focus of a Future Map as below:

This diagram reminds us that genetic engineering involves working at the same atomic scale as nanotechnology, will further enable xenotransplantation, may help with life extension, could be a tool for eugenics, and will assist in the creation of biocomputers.

That leaves just 24 letters to go. So get your thinking cap on!