Commentary
Digital disruption – a new opportunity for old neighbourhoods
The emergence of the digital economy and the need to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions are changing the way we live and work, faster than ever before. These megatrends have given rise to numerous smart city initiatives that aim to lead cities into a carbon neutral future with the smart use of digital technology. But…
Read MoreLearning about the Future through Scenarios
What use are scenarios? The word scenario is derived from drama, meaning a sketch of the plot of a play. In foresight, a scenario is a story with plausible cause and effect links that connect a future condition with the present, while illustrating key decisions, events and consequences throughout the…
Read MoreSpeculating radical futures: a Post-voting society?
Imagine that government tracks your every move. Frankly, they can already do that, so this should not be an immense stretch of imagination. Then imagine that the establishment does the same for everyone you know. Does this wield an absolute power of those in control over the typical citizens? Not…
Read MoreSustainable growth replaced the welfare state
In the future the years 2013-2015 will most likely be referred to as a turning point in Finnish political history. Before this time, the crux of the political consensus was in maintaining the welfare state, whereas after this point it will been seen as building sustainable growth. Demos Helsinki has analysed the recent…
Read MoreRedemption of Nordic urbanism
In the Nordic countries, migration into cities accelerated in the early 20th century, and the 1930s saw the beginning of a drive to reshape the built environment. By 1970 the majority of the population lived in cities. This shift took place comparatively late in Western European terms, enabling the relevant…
Read MoreThis is why Finland is able to implement the basic income experiment
BBC, Forbes, Independent, Mashable, Telegraph, Time and Quartz among other media outlets have have written about Finland’s experiment with basic income on a national level. However, none of the articles uncover the reason why Finland can pull off such ambitious policies in an age where so many government are left…
Read More5 ways the Internet of Things will change your business
According to the report published by Cisco in 2008 the number of devices connected to the internet exceeded the number of people in the world. The number of devices that are connected to the internet will keep rising. This growth is not just because of computers and smartphones: with the…
Read MoreThe new normal of urban growth
Cities are not like they used to be. Cities all over the world are repurposing themselves and building new narratives of their future success. While the rest of society defines progress in increasingly economic terms, cities have started thinking more about their population and their capacity to create a flourishing environment…
Read More3 Guidelines for Corporations Wishing to Grasp Collaborative Platforms
Facebook, AirBnB, Zipcar, Ebay and Wikipedia. The biggest new services have transformed the ways we eat, sleep, move, communicate and consume. And more often than not, they are also good business. Robin Chase, the co-founder of Zipcar and the author of Peers Inc., visited Demos Helsinki to share her thinking…
Read MoreStatement to the Finnish Parliament Committee for the Future about the Biggest Challenges
Topic: 20/2015 vp Parliament Committee for the Future projects 2015-2019 Theme: Expert hearing on the most important challenges of the future and means to improve foresight processes. Statement by Demos Helsinki: There are three things that everyone needs to understand. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, not next…
Read MoreThe Internet of Things is not about technology, it’s about society
When talking about Internet of Things, usually the first thing that comes into your mind is technology. Sensors, electronics and networks. Throw a bit of software in the mix and you’re all set, right? Not exactly. In the future, new technologies will emerge and yes, they are a fundamental part of the Internet…
Read MoreThe changes leading to hyperconnected world will shape our values and identities
Think about your life at the moment. What are the most important things in your life? How have they changed in the past years? Values shape our opinions about what is important in life. Values are relatively stable, linked to cultural context and once adapted they are not easily changed.…
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