Issue 145: Learning from Science Fiction
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re talking about science fiction. – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Learning from Science Fiction
What if we told you that you could learn about the future with little more than a Kindle or a trip to your local bookstore? The world of science fiction – both in film and in books – has always been the bastion of wild ideas and startling predictions about our future that generally reveal much about our present. The continued popularity of science fiction films and television programs demonstrates our insatiable desire to learn about the future. The long summer months are the ideal time to dip our toes in the world of science fiction.
Not all science fiction is the same. There is a good amount of speculative science fiction that doesn’t come close to predicting future developments. It’s also easy to confuse science fiction with fantasy. With those caveats out of the way, let’s consider why science fiction is worth our time. Some of our favorite thinkers about pressing issues like artificial intelligence are incredible science fiction writers. Consider Ted Chiang, a writer known for his short stories that became the film Arrival. Over the past months of frantic speculation, his perspective on AI has been a vital source of clarity. Chiang’s fiction is where he explores the issues facing society and thinks about possible solutions and future challenges.
New geographies. Leading science fiction writers tend to come from the West. However, the “rest of the world” is still waiting for more voices. China currently has rising talents. If you haven’t read the Three-Body Problem, which will soon be a Netflix series, you are missing out on something spectacular. Fostering the next generation of Middle Eastern and Arab science fiction writers would elevate the genre to unbelievable new heights. Building that generation’s voice starts with investment in awareness and enjoyment of the genre. Summer is the best time to plant these seeds.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The problem is that we cannot imagine a future where we possess less but are more.”
– Charles Bowden, American writer.
CHART OF THE WEEK
This week we are looking at European golden visas. Many of these programs have come under fire, but countries like Portugal are issuing more golden visas than ever.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
How I work: During the height of the Covid lockdown, we published a series on remote working. While many have returned to the office, there are some great tips in the series for general productivity. Check out our series of interviews with Xische team members on how they work. We’ve worked with partners on four continents and across time zones for years. The How I Work series investigates tips and tricks for improving remote work. Who doesn’t love a good list of the best apps and platforms to make your digital life easier?
eBooks and robots: Remember when eBooks took over the market and ended the paper book? Well, that didn’t happen, but there are important lessons to take from the eBook techno panic of the 2010s. This week, we reviewed the panic around eBooks to consider the debate around automation in the workplace. The similarities are profound.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Your favorite program. It might be hard to believe now, but there was deafening applause when Powerpoint was unveiled to the public. This tidbit about the program we all love to hate comes from a fascinating piece in MIT Tech Review about the history of Powerpoint. As part of the magazine’s special issue on the future of computing, MIT Tech Review is revisiting the history of the programs that define many of our lives. Like it or not, Powerpoint is vital to the computer ecosystem.
Shorter work days, more productive employees. The average American workday has gotten shorter by 37 minutes last year, and productivity has remained the same. According to Bloomberg, time spent at work has fallen to 10 hours from more than ten and a half at the end of the second quarter of 2022. Yet, productivity has remained constant, leading some analysts to believe that a new work-life balance paradigm is taking root. Other experiments, such as a four-day workweek, have shown similarly positive results. Are we heading for a significant shift in work soon?
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