| Here we are, rushing
headlong into not only a new year, but a new decade as well,
and the pundits are busy predicting what is in store for
all of us. While it may be fascinating to think that we
can see into the future, a new book by Paul Milo shows just
how foolhardy that can be.
Called “Your Flying Car Awaits,” it is a guide
to some major “oops” and phenomenally inaccurate
predictions made by some clever people. Among some of the
forecasts about what our life would be like today:
- Space tourism by the year 2,000
- Nuclear explosives used for commercial demolition
- Man-made oceans will cover the planet
- Weather will be as predictable and controllable as a
train schedule.
- Underwater cities
- 200-year life spans
Ann Mack, director of Trendspotting from J. Walter Thompson,
while not a clairvoyant, is in the business of short-term
predictions based on current trends, and according to one
of their reports, here are some important trends for 2010:
- Retooling for an aging world: With the world’s
population aging, watch for a proliferation of products
and services that cater to this group as they strive to
live independently for as long as they can.
- Searching for stability: Consumers will continue to exercise
restraint until they see clear, dependable signs of stability.
Consumers will also be working harder than ever, putting
more time and energy into finding good values. As banks,
airlines and other ailing service industries impose complex
fees and conditions on customers, failure to pay close attention
will be costly.
- Maximum Disclosure: Legal requirements and competitive
pressures will force fuller disclosure, from ingredients
and calorie counts to carbon footprints and sourcing. Additionally,
as the eco-spotlight focuses on the environmental costs
of packaging, brands will switch to items that reduce, reuse,
recycle and renew.
- Life in real time: The Web is evolving into a constantly
updating stream of real-time information, conversation and
images, which creates a mass culture. Shifting perceptions
of “current” move modern life into the “now.”
Use of the Web and phone messaging has also given rise to
a new vocabulary of “buzz words.” Some examples
are:
- The new normal: The recession has forced Americans to
change their lives in many ways. With less disposable income,
it’s a world of “new normals.”
- Buycotting: A conscious effort to buy from companies
whose environmental and social policies you support ...
the opposite of a boycott.
- Delab: A dead celebrity who is still making money. Some
examples are Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, John Lennon
and Dr. Seuss.
- Deficit Neutral: This term, meaning bills that pay for
themselves over a certain budget period, will become a mainstay
of political debate.
What all of this tells us is that we have a human need
to want to know what lies ahead. The unpredictable makes
us uncomfortable. However, those of us who have been around
awhile have already learned, “Life is what happens
when we’re making other plans.”
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
