futurist – Impact Lab

Artificial Intelligence, DaVinci Institute, Education, Science & Technology News, Tom Frey

The largest internet company in 2030? This prediction will probably surprise you

September 14, 2018

Online learning taught by robots could be widespread by 2030.

Thirty years ago, it was a big deal when schools got their first computers. Today, it’s a big deal when students get their own laptops.

According to Futurist Thomas Frey, in 12 years it’ll be a big deal when students learn from robot teachers over the internet.

It’s not just because the technology will be that sophisticated, Frey says, but because the company responsible for it will be the largest of its kind.

“I’ve been predicting that by 2030 the largest company on the internet is going to be an education-based company that we haven’t heard of yet,” Frey, the senior futurist at the DaVinci Institute think tank, tells Business Insider.

Continue reading… “The largest internet company in 2030? This prediction will probably surprise you”

Alternative Transportation, Aviation, Engineering, Inventions, Science & Technology News

A UK entrepreneur takes flight by attaching miniature jet engines to his limbs

April 19, 2017

A YouTube collection of grainy video clips highlights the progress Gravity founder Richard Browning has made toward his outlandish dream over the past year. Each seems more terrifying than the last, with multiple jet engines attached to his limbs in various configurations, as he hovers a few feet from the ground.

The press material attached to the announcement heralds the oil trader turned entrepreneur as a real life Iron Man, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that you’re watching some sort of backyard mad scientist, a few moments away from the world’s most dangerous Jack Ass stunt. Browning acknowledges how downright alarming the footage of the Daedelus rig appears, but shakes off any notion that he’s actually in danger at any point during the three-and-a-half minute package.

Continue reading… “A UK entrepreneur takes flight by attaching miniature jet engines to his limbs”

Analysis, cutting edge, Entertainment, Future, Futurist, Science & Technology News

Reality of 2015 more radically altered than portrayed in Back to the Future

October 23, 2015

Marty McFly and “Doc” Brown encountered a brave new world of garbage-fueled flying cars, self-tying shoes and robot waiters when they burst into 2015 in a time machine, straight from the year 1985.

Continue reading… “Reality of 2015 more radically altered than portrayed in Back to the Future”

Business, Education, Employment, Future, Futurist, Science & Technology News, Tom Frey

The top future jobs

July 11, 2015

Being able to predict future job positions that will be in demand and that will command a reasonable living wage – can mean the difference between having a vibrant career and being consigned to the scrap heap before your time. Continue reading… “The top future jobs”

DaVinci Institute, Drone, drones, Future, Futurist, Robotics, Robots, Science & Technology News, Tom Frey

Drones: more than ‘dramatic shots’

July 9, 2015

Last week the comprehensive local regulations for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or as more commonly referred to, drones, went into effect. Drone technology has far-reaching benefits for many industries despite that most of the media coverage has focused on what regulated drone usage will do for “dramatic shots” in film. Continue reading… “Drones: more than ‘dramatic shots’”

Artificial Intelligence, DaVinci Institute, Futurist, Robotics, Robots, Science & Technology News, Tom Frey, Weapons

The Black Hat Robots are Coming

June 2, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: It’s ironic, this whole effort to work so hard to make working obsolete, or in the case of artificial intelligence, the effort to think so hard to make thinking obsolete.

But then it should really come as no mystery. Machines are far superior to people. Every worker brings their own set of baggage to the workplace, and officials have created countless laws to protect these workers, making the human side of work messier than ever. Continue reading… “The Black Hat Robots are Coming”

Big Problems, Breakthrough Thinking, Culture, DaVinci Institute, Future, Futurist, People Making a Difference, Tom Frey

Solving a Billion-Person Problem

May 10, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: My friend, Peter Diamandis, likes to say, “The best way to become a billionaire is to solve a billion-person problem.”

When I first heard this phrase, I had difficulty imagining what a billion-person problem looked like. Continue reading… “Solving a Billion-Person Problem”

Breakthrough Thinking, DaVinci Institute, Future, Futurist, Internet, mobile technology, People Making a Difference, Science & Technology News, Tom Frey

When the “Things” we buy know more about us than we know about them

April 23, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: What if the things you were thinking about buying already knew you were considering a purchase? Much like going on a date, where the person you were dating wanted to look their best for you, what if the product went through a similar process, primping it’s hair and donning an inviting smile to present itself in the best possible light? Continue reading… “When the “Things” we buy know more about us than we know about them”

Business, DaVinci Coders, DaVinci Institute, Future, Futurist, Historical Perspectives, People Making a Difference, Tom Frey

Three Laws of Exponential Capabilities – Video

April 20, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: We are entering into a world where driverless vehicles will eliminate millions of driving positions; robotic systems will work relentlessly day and night eliminating millions of manufacturing, welding, painting, and assembly positions; and things that seemed impossible to automate in the past will have computers and machines replacing people’s jobs.

At the same time, the amount of time it takes to build ships and skyscrapers, create massive data storage centers for all our growing volumes of information, or produce global wireless networks for all our devices has dropped significantly. But along with each of these drops is a parallel increase in our capabilities and our expectations. Continue reading… “Three Laws of Exponential Capabilities – Video”

Breakthrough Thinking, Coding, Coding Schools, DaVinci Coders, DaVinci Institute, Education, Futurist, Game Development, Ideas, Tom Frey

The Coming Era of Alternative Credentialing

April 10, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: Earlier this week the DaVinci Institute became the first organization in the world to offer Microdegrees® to the graduates of the Institute’s coding school, DaVinci Coders. People who complete courses in Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, Swift/iOS, and Game Development will all be on track to receive this new form of credentialing. Continue reading… “The Coming Era of Alternative Credentialing”

DaVinci Institute, Futurist, Tom Frey

The Massive Opportunity coming for Ground-Based Delivery Drones

April 2, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: On a recent trip from Montreal to Denver, Air Canada managed to misplace my one piece of luggage. Since I travel extensively around the world, it’s rare that I have my bags checked, but this time they insisted because of the size of the aircraft. I reluctantly agreed, and they proceeded to lose it somewhere between Montreal and my connecting flight in Toronto. Continue reading… “The Massive Opportunity coming for Ground-Based Delivery Drones”

DaVinci Institute, Futurist, People Making a Difference, Tom Frey

All those Damn Laws! Over 18 Million Laws in the U.S… and climbing!

March 30, 2015

Futurist Thomas Frey: How many laws are affecting you as you’re reading this today? If you think you know the answer, I will tell you you’re lying, and there is a law against lying about how many laws there are. Continue reading… “All those Damn Laws! Over 18 Million Laws in the U.S… and climbing!”