David Houle, a futurist, thinker, and speaker, explains how technology, specifically cell phone ubiquity, has radically altered the notion of place in modern society. Part of TEDxSarasota’s inaugural conference held on 12/12/12 with the theme “Creativity Matters” at the Historic Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida.

The title of this column is an obvious lift from James Carville’s famous line about the 1992 election: “It’s the economy, stupid”.  That is probably the most quoted campaign statement from TV talking heads of all time, certainly since he uttered it 25 years ago.

In this past year [or two] of politics and elections, much has been made about what is going on with national elections.  The pundits have looked at what has happened largely through the lens of traditional political thinking.  The rise of populism and nationalism.  The global elite class leaving the eviscerated middle class and lower classes behind in the rush to embrace globalism.  Well, okay, that is certainly true to some degree.  But these lenses of traditional political thinking do not fully explain the realities of what has and is happening.

In a recent column here titled “The Next 20 Years: 2017-2037” I wrote: “There will be more change in the next 20 years than any 20-50 year period in history. In fact, future historians may well look back on this time as a historical transit as significant as the beginning of the Industrial Revolution or […]

Sea level rise is about to become the phenomenon that will awaken humanity.  Awaken humanity to the absolute, no debate reality that we are the single largest cause of climate change.Climate change is not about “saving the planet” but about “saving ourselves from ourselves”.  The planet will go on for another several billion years.  Humanity might not make it out of this millennium.

In recent weeks I have taken a look back on forecasts I have made in the past about Media, Technology, Energy and Climate Change.  This week I take a look back at some economic forecasts made, particularly those that are still very relevant. I am one of the few, if only futurists that posts the […]

There will be more change in the next 20 years than any 20-50 year period in history. In fact, future historians may well look back on this time as a historical transit as significant as the beginning of the Industrial Revolution or the Renaissance. It is hard to imagine any area of life that will […]

[Note: Many of you know that after doing two years of research on my 7th book “This Spaceship Earth” I took much of 2016 off to co-found and launch a global non-profit https://thisspaceshipearth.org/ Please see a time sensitive request at the bottom of this column for the non-profit. Thank you!]  April 2009 “Water-access to, use […]

During the eleven plus years I have been writing this blog, the subject of energy, energy costs, and the transformation taking place in the area has been a frequent topic. Energy certainly affects the global economy. It also profoundly affects Climate Change. The major transformation under way from fossil fuels to alternative and renewable energy […]

Last week I took a look back at forecasts made here about media. This week we look back on forecasts made about technology. Again, as a futurist I post forecasts on my web site, what I forecast and when that forecast was made. February 2008 “We now have “smart” phones. In the years ahead everything […]

Starting with this column and for the next few weeks, I will revisit forecasts I have made over the last ten years. As far as I know, I am the only futurist who posts most of my forecasts – what I forecast and when I did so- on my web site.  All of the forecasts […]