Imagining the world of 2025: FutureScapes

Sony and Forum for the Future want your help

London, 1st February /PRNewswire/ — Today Sony and not-for-profit sustainability organisation, Forum for the Future, called on members of the public to get involved with FutureScapes. FutureScapes is an exciting new project that invites the public to imagine what the world might look like in 2025 - and how technology might help us live more sustainable lives.

What is FutureScapes?

• FutureScapes is a landmark collaborative project bringing European futurologists, expert thinkers, designers, writers and the public together to explore the opportunities and challenges of life in 2025
• FutureScapes isn’t about predicting the future – it’s about exploring what opportunities and challenges we might face over the next 13 years and what new technologies and lifestyle changes might be needed
• Over the coming days, weeks and months, we’ll be collecting the thoughts and ideas of the public and adding them to those offered by our experts
• Once we’ve gathered a broad range of thoughts on life in 2025, we’ll brainstorm 'concepts' for the future. The most interesting concepts will be worked up further by Sony and other appropriate partners. But this won’t happen behind closed doors: everyone will be invited to contribute their ideas and inspiration

What’s happened so far?

• To get the ball rolling, Sony and Forum for the Future have researched four potential future 'scenarios', and brought each to life in a short video. Watch as the world changes in front of your eyes – from the new technologies we could be using, to the new ways we might be thinking and living
• These videos are the first steps to help us explore the potential contribution that technology can make in shaping a better, more sustainable future. You can view all four scenario videos over on the FutureScapes Facebook page
• We’ve also enlisted the help of popular video bloggers from across Europe, who have all been sharing their thoughts on what 2025 might be like. Check out their videos here
• The Economist and Wired are also working in association with FutureScapes. See what their experts have to say about 2025 here and here

So what’s next – how can you get involved?

We’re bringing together a group of technology, futurology and sustainability experts to innovate for life in 2025. These experts will use the FutureScapes scenarios and other content as the brief for their concept creation.

Sony and Forum for the Future want your ideas to help inspire these experts. You can share your ideas in the following ways:

• Watch the four future scenarios videos on Facebook and post a comment. What do you think of these potential 'futures'? Which bits do you think are most possible or improbable?
• Visit FutureScapes on Facebook and Twitter and post your views of 2025. What inventions would you like to see? How might possible changes affect you, your family and friends?
• Visit the FutureScapes website for inspiration, and look out for our creative writing competition which launches in February with some top European authors
• Watch the videos from vloggers across Europe sharing their views on 2025 and let them know what you think - comment on their video, or record and upload your own reply

Ultimately we'll put forward all the ideas we've gathered so far, and all those still to come, to Sony's research and development teams. Some of the most interesting concepts could be worked on further by FutureScapes partners.

As the FutureScapes project continues, we’ll be developing those models in public, with everyone welcome to contribute ideas, vote for their favourites, and get involved in the process like never before.

Quotes:
Esther Maughan McLachlan, General Manager of Sustainability at Sony Europe says,
'At Sony, we believe that technology can make a positive contribution to some of the social and environmental issues that might lie ahead in 2025. Just as it’s difficult to imagine how different the future might be, it’s also difficult to imagine what technologies we might need or encounter in the future. As experts in technology and innovation, Sony has plenty to offer, but clearly others do too. That’s why we’re inviting everyone to get involved and join us for the FutureScapes journey.'

Peter Madden, Chief Executive Officer at Forum for the Future, says
'If we are going to rise to the challenges of a sustainable future, we’ll need to unleash a powerful wave of creativity. FutureScapes is a collaborative project, designed to help people imagine ways in which technology can help make a better world.'

For more information:
FutureScapes homepage - http://www.sony.co.uk/futurescapes
FutureScapes on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/openplanetideas
FutureScapes on Twitter - https://twitter.com/better_futures
FutureScapes on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/openplanetideas

More details:

About FutureScapes
FutureScapes is an exciting new project which imagines how the world might look in 2025. It's not about predicting one future, but exploring the opportunities and challenges that life in 2025 might hold and the potential role technology could play in shaping our world for the better.

About Sony
Sony is the world’s leading consumer technology company.
Sony’s involvement in FutureScapes, builds on the company’s strong track record in ‘open innovation’ for sustainability, with previous projects including Forest Guard and Open Planet Ideas.

About Forum for the Future
Forum for the Future is a non-profit organisation with a mission to promote sustainable development. Its vision is of "businesses and communities thriving in a future that’s environmentally sustainable and socially just". It runs partnerships with more than 90 organisations across business and the public sector to incorporate the principles of sustainable development.
Forum specialises in futures work, innovation and capacity building, and it also runs a Masters course, 'Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development', which has been running since the inception of Forum for the Future. It publishes a magazine called Green Futures which highlights news stories on the environment, sustainable development and green innovation. 

Media contact:

Russell Saunders
020 7544 3025
russell.saunders@fishburn-hedges.co.uk

Naomi Isaacs
020 7492 0977
naomi.isaacs@77pr.co.uk