A Perspective on the Future

Innovation technologies in all their forms, but especially those labeled web 2.0, are mashing up with existing industries, technologies and businesses at an accelerating rate causing disruptive innovations. The structural changes resulting will cause a lot of dislocation.

Many of our systems have become complex, in the mathematical sense. In complex systems there is no correlation between stimulus and response. Like the sand in the hourglass, we will not know when one grain of sand will cause a landslide. For many systems, the future will be unpredictable.

Because of the previous comments on systems, systems themselves become an integral part of the future. And, those that will be able to perceive broader perspectives of the systems and know how to work with systems will survive better than those that don't

Because our perceptions are being modified by the technologies we develop and use, the most perceptive individuals and organizations will thrive. They will be among the first to realize that altered perceptions will lead to opportunities and threats.