Pollard Memorial Library (Lowell)

The signals are talking, why today's fringe is tomorrow's mainstream, Amy Webb

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 293-310) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

The signals are talking

bibliography

957414391

Amy Webb

why today's fringe is tomorrow's mainstream

Amy Webb is a noted futurist who combines curiosity, skepticism, colorful storytelling, and deeply reported, real-world analysis in this essential book for understanding the future. The Signals are Talking reveals a systematic way of evaluating new ideas bubbling up on the horizon--distinguishing what is a real trend from the merely trendy. This book helps us hear which signals are talking sense, and which are simply nonsense, so that we might know today what developments--especially those seemingly random ideas at the fringe as they converge and begin to move toward the mainstream--have long-term consequence for tomorrow. With the methodology developed here, we learn how to think like a futurist and answer vitally important questions: How will a technology--like artificial intelligence, machine learning, self-driving cars, biohacking, bots, and the Internet of Things--affect us personally? How will it impact our businesses and workplaces? How will it eventually change the way we live, work, play, and think--and how should we prepare for it now?--Adapted from dust jacket

Introduction: "Hello, are you lost?" -- The instructions : a futurist's playbook for every organization -- When cars fly : understanding the difference between trend and trendy -- Survive and thrive, or die : how trends affect companies -- Finding the fringe : seek out the unusual suspects -- Signals matter : uncovering hidden patterns -- The "Uber for X" trend : ask the right questions -- Is it really awesome? : know when the timing is right -- If this, then that : a formula for action -- Greetings, robot overlords : pressure-testing your strategy -- Reverse-engineering the future