Think: We have all heard the old saying about there being no need to “reinvent the wheel.” Well, apparently there is and researchers in South Korea have quite literally reinvented the wheel and it may soon have some practical applications–especially for people in wheelchairs. The wheels go from solid to fluid when they encounter impediments and this feature (along with flexible spokes) allows them to navigate things such as curbs much more easily.
Think Hard & Harder: For those readers involved in the farming and agricultural industry, I encourage you to read this piece on Microsoft’s large investment in regenerative agriculture. I don’t have definitive proof but I suspect Microsoft’s aggressive push into agriculture is, in part, because the company is struggling to meet its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and Microsoft sees agriculture — and, in particular, regenerative agriculture — as a way to reduce its carbon footprint by storing excess carbon in the soil. For those readers interested in learning more about regenerative agriculture, I found this article on the rise of regenerative agriculture balanced and informative.
Think Fast: I enjoyed this post by fellow futurist Akeem Azhar in which he showed 10 charts to understand the exponential age. One technology he did not mention was nuclear fusion. As “Interesting Engineering” reported earlier this week, this technology is also growing by leaps and bounds. Last year, researchers demonstrated they could sustain a nuclear fusion reactor for 48 seconds. The latest reaction lasted 24 hours. Put another way, that’s a 30-fold increase in less than 12 months. Does this mean that nuclear fusion will arrive soon? No, but it could arrive faster than many skeptics believe possible.
Think Again: Three years ago, I shared this article and stated it could mark the beginning of how major CO2 emitters–such as Shell Oil– could be held liable for their role in contributing to climate change. Well, the case has now been dismissed by the courts in the Netherlands. Does this mean that all corporations will continue to receive a free pass for their emissions? For the time being, it appears that way. Having said that, just as I was wrong three ago, it is possible that in the near future the tides will turn and major corporations will again be in the “crosshairs” of courts, the public and politicians. The future has a curious way of changing and leaders must understand that a one-time decision does not always dictate the direction of the future. Nevertheless, I am filing this article in my “counterpoint file”–I thought the future was headed in a certain direction but it appears I was wrong or, at best, premature in my prediction of the future. (To this point, Exxon Corporation is encouraging President Trump NOT to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords.)
Think Different: Personally, I don’t know quite what to think of this article: Throne’s toilet camera takes pictures of your poop. (The company claims the insights it garners from these photos can help people take preventive action to stay healthy). I don’t claim to speak for everyone but my guess is that most people would not be comfortable with a camera in their toilet–despite assurances from the company that the camera is always “pointed down.” Still, the product may find a niche among people who suffer from chronic diseases such as Crohn’s Disease. If the technology proves itself helpful in this market, it could find new markets. In time, it is even possible the public could become more comfortable with the technology assuming that it can demonstrate it is providing useful information at an affordable price.
Think Visually: As long-time readers know, I often share articles about autonomous, self-driving vehicles. When thinking about the future trajectory of this technology, I encourage you to keep this historical example in mind. Change often appears slowly and then quickly!
Afterthought: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing.” –Edmund Burke
