Science Fiction
Science fiction is a type of storytelling that imagines the future with new technologies and epic adventures. It's like a playground for thinking about what's next in the world. This is really useful for foresight and design thinking.
Foresight is about anticipating what might happen in the future, and design thinking is about coming up with creative solutions. Science fiction helps with both because it gives us wild and wonderful ideas to think about and build upon, making it easier to plan for what might come our way or to create new ideas and inventions.
Table of Contents
- The Role of Science Fiction in Foresight and Design Thinking
- Science Fiction as a Tool for Innovative Design Thinking
- Decoding the Future with Science Fiction – Podcast Collection
- Science Fiction's Impact on Foresight and Innovation
- Exploring the Impact of Science Fiction and Video Games in Future Planning
- Bridging Science Fiction and Foresight
- Blending Science Fiction and Socio-Cultural Elements in Innovative Prototyping
The Role of Science Fiction in Foresight and Design Thinking
In my recent German-language interview, "Do Science Fiction Films Create Our Reality First?" ("Schaffen Science-Fiction-Filme unsere Realität erst?") I delve into the intriguing relationship between science fiction and the shaping of our technological reality. As a professor at the Technical University of Ingolstadt and the head of the "Motives and Fiction" project, I explore how science fiction films and literature pre-form our thoughts and, in turn, influence real-world technological developments.
I discuss examples like "Minority Report," which foresaw technologies resembling the iPad and Amazon's Alexa, and "Star Trek," whose communicator inspired the creation of mobile phones. These examples demonstrate how science fiction doesn't just anticipates but actively inspires future innovations.
Moreover, I touch upon the broader impact of fiction on society and the challenges it can pose, like creating unrealistic job expectations, as seen with the allure of James Bond. I emphasize the importance of recognizing that the future holds multiple possibilities, and we have the power to shape it. This perspective has led me to view the future not with fear, but with a sense of empowerment and curiosity.
This piece offers a unique insight into how science fiction not only reflects but also molds our future, highlighting the dynamic interplay between imagination and technological advancement.
Schaffen Science-Fiction-Filme unsere Realität erst?
Updated March 2023 / German Language Interview
Science Fiction Filme formen das Denken vor. Das kann auch zum Problem werden. Im Interview erkläre ich, warum ich keine Zukunftsangst mehr habe. Wenn ich all die verschiedenen Horrorszenarien höre, was bald alles kaputtgehen soll, frage ich immer zweifelnd nach.
Further interview on the relevance of science fiction for understanding the future (German):
Warum Science-Fiction-Filme helfen, die Zukunft zu verstehen
August 2023 / German Language Interview
Was übermorgen und danach kommt, weiß niemand. Aber wir Menschen haben es in der Hand, zu entscheiden, was wir wollen – und was nicht.
Science Fiction as a Tool for Innovative Design Thinking
In my article "Wie kommt die Zukunft ins Design Thinking? Mit Science-Fiction!" (German only), I explore the fascinating intersection of science fiction and Design Thinking. I discuss how imaginative scenarios from science fiction can be a powerful tool to enhance creative and future-oriented innovation in Design Thinking processes.
Drawing on examples from history, I illustrate how science fiction has not only predicted but also inspired technological advancements. This article sheds light on the potential of science fiction to spur innovative thinking in Design Thinking, providing insights into integrating these imaginative concepts into practical design strategies for addressing future trends and user needs.
Decoding the Future with Science Fiction
Podcast Collection
Three podcasts on the relevance of science fiction for understanding the future.
![Pocastfolge Titelbild of „The Pioneer" with the title "Wie funktioniert eigentlich Zukunftsforschung" [German Interview]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65684e87f05c862f19c0561e/3572ecd5-22c1-458a-8518-a60a3ee3ea47/jan-oliver-schwarz-the-pioneer-podcast-zukunftsministerium.jpg)
"How does future research actually work?"
[ German interview ] Wie funktioniert eigentlich Zukunftsforschung? Insbesondere, wenn sie nicht datenbasiert, sondern qualitativ arbeitet. Was lässt sich von der Zukunft erahnen, welche Szenarien lassen sich untersuchen?
"Why working with fictional literature and movies is far less romantic than what some Sci-Fi fans might imagine."
[ German interview ]
“Start looking at chapters of Science Fiction and think how those pages are relevant to your business”
[ English interview ] - March 25, 2020
Podcast by Jara Pascual interviewing Prof. Jan Oliver Schwarz on Creativity using Science Fiction as Inspiration.
Read the summary here on collabwith.com
Science Fiction's Impact on Foresight and Innovation
My keynote speech at the Morals & Machines conference 2023 on science fiction, foresight, and innovation.
Exploring the Impact of Science Fiction and Video Games in Future Planning
In collaboration with the Foresight Academy and students from Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, we've investigated how science fiction and video games play a vital role in foresight. These projects offer unique insights into how these mediums contribute to our understanding and preparation for the future.
For more details, visit the Foresight Academy's website and explore our project findings:
Video Games & Foresight
Research Project
In the wake of continuous crises, the significance of cultivating foresight in business has been underscored. Recognizing this involves detecting early signals of change, envisioning diverse future scenarios, and taking informed action. While the concept seems reasonable, the true challenge lies in the practical development of foresight. How do organizations effectively scout for trends and construct meaningful scenarios?
R2-D2 Star Wars | Pexels.com
Science Fiction & Foresight
Research Project
What insights can we glean from sci-fi movies, books, TV series, and cartoons regarding plausible and unexpected aspects of future everyday life? Furthermore, what valuable lessons can be extracted from diverse value studies that delve into people's wishes and expectations for the future? "Motives & Fiction" is a project dedicated to pondering these questions, with the objective of uncovering intriguing overlaps and distinctions between the science fiction genre and value studies.
Cyberpunk 2077 | 2020 | CD Project Red
Bridging Science Fiction and Foresight
My research in this area has primarily been on establishing a theoretical relationship between science fiction and foresight.
In my article "The ‘Narrative Turn’ in Developing Foresight: Assessing How Cultural Products Can Assist Organizations in Detecting Trends", published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change in March 2014, I explore the significant role of cultural products, such as literature, movies, art, and computer games, in the practice of foresight. I propose that these cultural products, especially novels, provide "thick descriptions" that are valuable for developing organizational foresight.
The article argues that these descriptions play a critical role in the construction of social reality and can translate fiction into fact, influencing societal changes and trends. I discuss how literature and other cultural narratives can be read as scenarios, revealing their potential in overcoming cognitive barriers in the development of foresight. It also emphasizes the power of cultural products in shaping our perceptions and decision-making processes, underlining their utility as a largely untapped resource for developing foresight in organizations.
Science-Fiction and the Construction Industry
Where do visions of the future originate, which ones will come to fruition, and how will they influence people's experiences? Foresight methods can be employed to examine science fiction, anticipate emerging futures, and redesign the process by which visions transform into new technology.
Check out this article I have written for the construction company Herrenknecht.
Blending Science Fiction and Socio-Cultural Elements in Innovative Prototyping
In my research with Franz Liebl, we explore the concept of science fiction prototyping - an approach that leverages the narratives of science fiction (SF) and socio-cultural fiction (SCF) for the development of innovative products, services, and business models. We discuss how SF prototypes, rooted in scientific and technological storytelling, can significantly benefit from the incorporation of SCF elements that emphasize socio-cultural innovations.
Our study highlights the synergy between technological and socio-cultural narratives in SF and SCF, and how they collectively influence customer perceptions and realities. This approach provides a unique perspective on product development and strategic foresight, emphasizing the importance of cultural narratives in shaping the future of business.
Read the following articles to learn more about it: