1. The rise of N11 Countries.
Just getting to grips with the BRIC nations, ‘Chindia’ and the CHIME countries? Well prepare yourself for N11 – a term created by Goldman Sachs to describe the 11 countries just behind economic powerhouses such as China, India, Russia and Brazil. The 11 specifically refers to: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam.
2. Reverse migration.
The next few years will witness the beginnings of a ‘reverse knowledge migration’. This term, coined by Paul Saffo, refers not only to well-educated Asians living in Europe and the US moving back home to countries such as China and India but also to ‘cyber-gypsies’ – Western talent rushing to make their fortunes in the East.
3. Renting not buying.
Almost ten years ago US-based futurologist Jeremy Rifkin argued that we were moving from a culture of acquisition to one of temporary ownership and rental. It’s taken a few years to take off but his prediction finally seems to be flourishing. Examples include FlexPetz (timeshare pet ownership) Bag, Borrow or Steal (handbag rental) and NetJets. This trend also links to ideas such as ‘fractional ownership’ and ‘fractional luxury’ (or plain old syndicates to you and me).
4. Facebook Suicides
This is an interesting one. We are currently living in an age of digital exhibitionism where there is tremendous social pressure to collect digital friends and have multiple digital personas. At some point this will become too much for some people and they will pay people (perhaps virtual identity managers?) to clear up their digital mess. Alternatively, people may kill off their avatar alter-egos, sometimes in mass digital suicide rituals.

Here’s random list of websites, concepts, gadgets and services that are in some way related to our newfound connectedness. Some will undoubtedly flourish while others will die but they all surely say something about where we are now and where we’re heading in the future. Buckle up folks, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
1. Micro-blogging.
You’ve probably heard of Twitter by now but if you really are obsessed with sharing the most inconsequential details of your daily life with others then check out some other micro-blogging sites likes Pownce and Jaiku.
2. The Chumby.
This is a wireless Internet device that uses widgets to display almost any information you fancy all of the time.
3. Everyblock.
Still in development, this hyper local news site is the latest idea from Adrian Holovarty, the brains behind Chicagocrime.org.
4. 23AndMe.
This site allows users to unleash their genetic history (and probable future) for just US$1,000. Simply send in a sample of your DNA and the site will send you back a log-in that allows you to explore who – or what – you’re connected to.
5. Peer-To-Peer Lending.
You probably know about Zopa, Prosper and iGrin but how about Kiva.org? This micro-finance site allows people with money to invest it in others – especially small entrepreneurs in developing regions.
6. Mob Rules.
Sometime towards the middle of 2008 every second person on Earth will have a mobile phone. In other words within the space of about ten years we’ve gone from 50% of the world never having heard a ringtone to 50% owning a phone. The mob in question refers to the fact that we are becoming connected as never before – and this connected and somewhat unpredictable ‘mob’ has the potential to be faster, smarter and more powerful than anyone or anything else on the planet.
7. Guerrilla Wi-Fi.
What once cost lots of money will be increasingly free in the future. For example, Meraki is a company that provides cheap or free Internet access; especially to people that believe free Internet access is a fundamental human right.
8. World Community Grid.
What happens when you connect the unused computing power of thousands of idle computers? The answer is distributed computing. The Seti@home project is a good example.
9. Loopt.
A site that allows your friends to know where you are, thanks to the GPS.
10. One Laptop Per Child.
A brilliant philanthropic venture or a doomed attempt at imposing western culture and values on children in the developing world. You decide.

I’m in the market for a new mobile phone. Ideally I wouldn’t have a mobile at all. I coped perfectly well before I had one and I’ve only ever received one phone call that was so urgent it couldn’t be left as a message either at home or at the office. Most people probably regard buying a new mobile phone like buying a new car but I have to confess that it feels more like going to the dentist. First there are the inevitable questions: ‘Do you want a phone with GPS?’ ‘Why?’ ‘So you don’t get lost – you can use it in the car you know’. Well first, I like getting lost and second if I look at a tiny screen while driving I’ll almost certainly crash. ‘Well how about a phone with a camera?’ ‘Well I’ve already got a camera’. ‘Video? – You can shoot movies with phones now you know!’ ‘Of what?’ I have as much interest in shooting movies with a phone as I do cooking my dinner in a washing machine. However, there’s some good news on the horizon. According to a newspaper report, some entrepreneurs are selling reconditionED phones such as old Nokia 6310s on eBay. So what? The phones can’t do very much. They are ten-year-old technology. They just make calls and send text messages. Perfect! On a related note, research conducted by D-Code/Headlight Vision in the UK says that there is a backlash building up against the always-on nature of modern communications. Young people are under so much pressure to be always available online that they are suffering from multi-media meltdown. As a result, some people are shifting their attention to low-tech products or are embracing retro design and experiences. There. What did I just tell you?
Ref: The Australian (Aus), 2-3 February 2008, ‘Phone with no features comes back in vogue’, R. Tellzen. www.theaustralian.news.com.au

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