Creating
Future

Future
Singularities

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Julie Dao Duy

As discussed in the Futur(s)12 and 13 books, there is a pressing need to take real action against paralyzed traditional economic systems and societal models. While pragmatism is an attitude that is especially attributed to the younger generation, it encompasses an overall aspiration toward a more adaptable society. It also expresses a growing desire to shake off inertia, to claim one’s destiny, to be free and to act with autonomy or collectively to attain effective results.EMPOWERMENT IN NUMBERS IN ORDER TO BETTER ENABLE BUSINESSES The revival of the Start-Up movement and the spirit of entrepreneurial initiative inspired by Silicon Valley owes its current success to an enormous collective effort. In a manner that is reminiscent of 1980s business incubators, participatory funding platforms are allowing many projects to happen, coworking spaces are increasing in number, as are sponsorship projects with « small innovative players ». In addition, pooling work experience with open source projects also underlines the will to act and create using the strength of numbers. This newfound energy, largely driven by digital tools and a collaborative ideology, frees up new possibilities: to be the actor of one’s life, invent one’s profession, live one’s passions and make one’s dreams become reality.

“SYSTEM D” IS IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING “SYSTEM A” Presented as a solution to the crisis, System D is seen today as a way of completely rethinking the way we produce, create and consumer. The new watchword is innovate more using less. In this vein, upcycling, mobilizing vacant spaces and DIY are all becoming the norm. Characteristic of southern countries, this movement based on getting by is about making the most of what you have, in order to respond flexibly and creatively to concrete daily needs. Such a spirit of innovation has managed to confound the critics and inspire northern countries and their big businesses. This alternative economy positively participates in the transformation of the world and allows people to engage in a positive and constructive way.

 

1. Navi Radjou, consultant of Indian origin who works in Silicon Valley encourages frugal and ingenious innovation in his book “Jugaad Innovation” (in Hindi Jugaad means “knowing how to get by and find solutions in hostiles conditions”). Travelling the world to speak about this form of System D, he was in France in fall of 2013 for a series of conferences. 2. Drinking Water Generator by Mayo Draft FCB & UTEC, Peru. In Lima, an advertising agency and engineers collaborated to design a panel that collects some of the water in the atmosphere, which is very humid despite the desert climate, and converts it into drinkable water.


EXPERIMENTATION: CLAIMING OWNERSHIP OF THE PRODUCTION TOOL The rapid popularization of 3D printers (on sale on Amazon, Staples, Walmart) and the increase in networks of organized self-production areas such as FabLabs, Hackerspaces and Makerspaces are revolutionizing industrial production. On one hand, rapid prototyping encourages the manufacturing of objects by « amateurs », who can then test a product’s viability, encouraging the expansion of innovation. On the other hand, these phenomena are all part of a culture of experimentation, where people learn by doing and making. These experimentation opportunities, at the crossroads of the digital and artisanal worlds, liberate expertise and allow individuals to take ownership of the tools of production. Placing their faith in the young generation, countries are organizing initiatives to give young people the means to master these new tools.

 

1. LIFT France : In October of 2013 the fifth edition of LiFT took place. LiFT is a cycle of international conferences on innovation, creativity, technology and society. Its theme was “Produce differently”. 2. Master code at a young age:in the United States in December 2013, primary or secondary schoolchildren were invited to learn how to write code via the event “The Hour of Code”. In the UK an awareness campaign called the “Year of Code”, was set up on a national scale, becoming an educational reform effective in September 2014.