Cody Wilson of Defense Distributed delivered a real “shot heard around the world” last week when he demonstrated an operational 3D printed gun. As profound as this event is, the future is about to become even stranger–and more frightening. This is because researchers at Duke University have just created a simple invisibility cloak using a…

Innovation requires risk. Risk, by its very nature, implies an element of failure. But nobody–most especially companies and corporations that must stay profitable to remain in business–enjoys failure. This leads to a paradoxical situation: Everyone recognizes the importance of innovation but few are willing to pay the real price (i.e. occasional failure.) What then is…

The future may be unknowable. This does not, however, imply it can’t be prepared for. Below are just five future risks I have—and will—address in various keynote presentations to the insurance industry in the coming months. 1. Economic instability: Foxconn, the large Chinese electronic manufacturer, recently announced a hiring freeze. Eventually, this “freeze” will turn…

Unlearning Lesson #16 “Don’t wanna learn from nobody what I gotta unlearn.” –Bob Dylan Question #16: Which of the following characteristics has a higher correlation to the success of a Hollywood movie: the involvement of a famous movie star or the location(s) where the movie is shot? The answer, to the surprise and chagrin of many…

Before Philippe Petit could undertake his daring 1974 tightrope walk across the World Trade Center Towers, my guess is that he fell off a lot of ropes while practicing. It might be obvious but it’s worth remembering that a person can only learn to balance by falling. Related Post Practice Intentional Imperfection

As someone who has written two books on the topic of nanotechnology, including The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business, I’m well aware of the field’s immense potential. As a professional futurist, however, I am always cautioning my clients to be aware of “black swans”–or large…

Look for certainty? Here it is … there is always risk. Related Posts A Risky Proposition Danger: Prevention Has a Risk All of Its Own Bite the Hand That Feeds You Unlearn or Die  

I'm not a neat freak and I'm certainly not a germophobe but this recent article on germs does highlight an area where I believe a great many people need to do some unlearning: Risk assessment. Did you know, for example, that your desk at work (or home) may have 400 times more germs than a…

Did you know that after childproof lids on medicine bottles were introduced, it led to a significant increase in the number of child poisonings? The reason is because parents became less careful about keeping the bottles away from their children. I am all for taking preventative action — especially to protect kids — but we…