I used to think about the future as science fiction - flying cars, intelligent robots, and suborbital space hotels. Then I realised that the most valuable perspective on the future was not the far horizon, but the near future of real technologies and consumer behaviours that have the potential to change business and society today.  The near future is happening right now - but to understand you need to understand young people, emerging markets and the cutting edge of new science.

When I try to predict who the winners and losers are going to be in industry, or which technological platforms are going to succeed, it always comes down to human behaviour and often the cultural dynamics of individual countries or populations, and how they see reality. This is often the best indicator of both trends and whether ‘things’ are going to work or not. Look at Intel. They have about 100 anthropologists on staff. It is surprising in a way because they do not have a direct retail business, they are manufacturers. But they are plagued by this question of what is the future of technology. If they can’t understand that, they don’t know what kind of devices they are going to need to be making processors for.

The whole world has been watching with baited breath as the financial situation in Europe has escalated to what some experts would argue is quickly entering into a point of no return.  The recent €100 billion bailout of Spanish banks and continued uncertainty in Greece form the backdrop to IMF President Christine Lagarde’s recent comments that there are only months to save the euro. It seems that not even the experts know where to look for answers.

What is going to happen in Europe? And how will it affect the rest of the world? Speaker at last month’s ExpoManagement, Nouriel Roubini, is one man stepping up to the challenge of addressing this tumultuous situation. One of the world’s most admired economists, in the following two videos he presents his views on the current value of the euro and its impact on growth in the Eurozone, as well as outlining the only two scenarios left facing Eurozone leaders: to move forward or disintegrate. Don’t miss these two exclusive clips!

From the smart phone to the smart city? Although it may sound a little futuristic, smart cities are a large part of a new trend in innovation that aims at improving the way we live in a way that is both sustainable and socially responsible. Who wouldn’t prefer to live with a little more urban intelligence?