Futurist.com: Futurist Speaker Glen Hiemstra

The futurists and local transportation futures

by Glen Hiemstra on 02/10/09 at 7:17 am |  

The past week has been one of publicity for me, Futurist.com, and Seattle-area futurists.

The Seattle Times, in their Sunday magazine called Pacific Northwest, did a cover story profile, called “The Futurists.” The writer, Carol Ostrom, had approached me with the concept for a story on future trends and in the initial conversation asked whether there were other futurists in the Seattle area. I suggested she speak to several I know, including our colleague Brenda Cooper [click on Brenda and note she has a new paperback book out] and friend Mark Anderson, along with people like Sesh Velamoor. Carol reached most of them, plus a few more, and produced a nice overview of who futurists are and what we think (whether we use the moniker “futurist” or not). Check it out.

The second item in the local press was a supplement produced for the regional suburban weekly papers, called the Reporter (in my local town’s case, the Kirkland Reporter). As is true in most large communities, and is certainly true in the Puget Sound area, the future of transportation has been and is a constant issue, some would say struggle. I was interviewed about what I saw for suburban transportation in ten or twenty years. Briefly, with the opening of the first light-rail line in the Seattle area, I suggested that we’d see more light rail – if the new line is seen as moderately successful. In addition, we’ll see a continuing shift toward more walkable towns, as people age and seek to reduce their driving. Finally, we are going to see a faster than expected move to electrify the personal auto and related infrastructure. The reporter was a bit disappointed, I think, that I did not say we’d be flying in jet packs or flying cars in twenty years. Two articles resulted, here, and another here based on a series I wrote a year ago for a manufacturing association.

Glen Hiemstra is a futurist speaker, consultant, blogger, internet video host and founder of Futurist.com. To arrange for a speech contact Futurist.com.

 Print This Post