Imagining the world of 2025: FutureScapes

Imagining the world of 2025: FutureScapes

LONDON, February 1, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

Sony and Forum for the Future want your help

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.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/futurescapes/53750/
[http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/futurescapes/53750 ]

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
[https://www.facebook.com/openplanetideas ]
- 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 [http://www.youtube.com/user/openplanetideas ]
- The Economist and Wired are also working in association with FutureScapes. See
what their experts have to say about 2025 here
[http://www.managementthinking.eiu.com/perspectives-2025.html ] and here
[http://www.wired.co.uk/promotions/futurescapes ]

So what's next - how can you get involved?

We're bringing together a group of technology, futurology and sustainability experts
at workshops looking at innovating for life in 2025. They will use the scenarios and other
content to help come up with 'concepts' for 2025.

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
[http://www.facebook.com/openplanetideas?sk=app_222538944499185 ] 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 [https://www.facebook.com/openplanetideas ] and
Twitter [https://twitter.com/better_futures ] 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 [http://www.sony.co.uk/futurescapes ] 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
[http://www.youtube.com/user/openplanetideas ] 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 concepts 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
[http://www.sony.co.uk/discussions/community/en/community/better_futures/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
[http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/eco/initiatives/4/article/childrens-climate-call ] and Open
Planet Ideas [http://www.openplanetideas.com ].

About Forum for the Future

Forum for the Future [http://www.forumforthefuture.org ] 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 [http://www.forumforthefuture.org/greenfutures ] which highlights news stories on
the environment, sustainable development and green innovation.

Contact:
Russell Saunders
russell.saunders@fishburn-hedges.co.uk
+44-(0)20-7544-3025

Naomi Isaacs
naomi.isaacs@77pr.co.uk
+44-(0)20-7492-0977

Video:
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/futurescapes/53750

Source: Sony Europe

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