At first appearances, the idea of a portable toaster may seem absurd and, perhaps, it is. But is there any reason a toaster can't look like the one in the picture to the right? One of the real benefits of unlearning is that it can help spur creavity and innovation. For example, what if the [...]
Unlearning Home Construction
August 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment
One of the things I really enjoy about studying emerging technologies is that the field constantly challenges my thinking and forces me to think differently about the future. To this end, I invite you to read this article on a new “print-a-house” construction technology. In the near future, it is possible that homes will be [...]
A Watched Kettle Never Boils — or Does It?
July 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment
EcoGeek has an interesting article explaining how advances in nanotechnology can lead to the creation of a kettle that boils faster. The advance is significant not just because it could help consumers and businesses save money and time by bringing water to a boil faster, but because it suggests that a variety of other products—such [...]
Chrysler Needs to Unlearn More Than Just Culture
June 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The Wall Street Journal has a less-than-insightful article about new CEO, Bob Nardelli’s, efforts to reform the moribund culture at Chrysler. It is, perhaps, unfair to suggest that it is the article which is less-than-insightful. Rather, it might be that it is Nardelli’s solutions which are less-than-insightful. More specifically, Nardelli has to do more than [...]
BMW Unlearns
June 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The German automaker BMW, in introducing its new "Light Visionary Model" prototype automobile — which it dubs GINA (Geometry and Functions in "N" Adaption), writes this: "The key to affecting the development of tomorrow’s mobility lies in our readiness to challenge what is established and in the ability to present new options." In short, BMW [...]
The Unlearning Vortex
June 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Marcel Proust once said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” I was reminded to this quote yesterday after reading John Markoff’s insightful article on Pax Scientific — a company that has applied biomimicry to create new industrial designs for everything from aerospace designs to parts [...]
Unlearn the Need for Paper
June 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Yesterday, I watched this five-minute video of futurist Patrick Dixon discuss why the future of paper is bright for the foreseeable future. He could very well be correct, but if you watch the video below it is possible to envision a scenario in which the future of paper is not so rosy. As flexible electronic [...]
