The Near Future

We live in a transition period. That is, the basic structure of society is changing. Entire sectors of the economy are disappearing, taking millions of jobs with them. Our social networks are shifting into the digital sphere, we may have 200 friends rather than 2, and yet we may have never meet most of them face-to-face.

The big question is, if my job disappears, how do I make enough money to survive?

I am trying to look at it this way; if I can figure out the future structure, then I can find a place in that structure with inherent value.

So I read other futurists, I study trends. One of the big road signs says “Singularity!”

Briefly, the concept there is that change keeps accelerating to the point where everything seems to happen at once. Computers become super-intelligent, and perhaps we integrate our minds with the computers. Then we start experiencing every second as a year, allowing the acceleration to continue.

Whatever.

The point is that vast changes are coming. Most of them are related to technology.

It seems that the only way for anyone to keep up is to get out in the middle of everything, to be involved with as much new tech as possible.

My solution starts with the Sacramento Open Shop. This is a non-profit corporation that my friends and I have created. Our basic intent is to have a space where people can work together on projects of any sort.

For some people this means an app for the cell phone, for others it means a 30 foot tall moving mechanical dragon that shoots flames.

I expect that we will be a business incubator. Any time that you have a crowd of people building whatever they want, surrounded by encouragement and skillful help, new products are bound to be created. Friendships turn into solid business partnerships.

The way this group is going to work is monthly donations. We need enough money to rent a space. Think of it like a fitness gym for your mind and skills. You pay about $2 a day, you show up, you learn and practice new skills.

And really, don’t you want to be there when we turn on the fire breathing dragon?