Situational Literacy
A skill-build for the future of work and life
Matters of Perspective
Can we improve “situational literacy?”
"We have been fighting on this planet for ten thousand years; it would be idiotic and unethical not to take advantage of such accumulated experiences.
If you haven't read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent. Your personal experiences alone aren't broad enough to sustain you."
— General Jim Mattis, former U.S. Secretary of Defense
Jim Mattis is a formidable strategic thinker. In addition to his military leadership, he’s also a change agent of the highest order. His bio talks about his efforts to shift the military’s focus and resources to address emerging military tech and “near-peer adversaries.” Call Sign Chaos, his memoir, is a suitable title for leading in a chaotic world.
Few have Mattis’ responsibility or his discipline to read hundreds of books a year. But we all need new tools to be “situationally literate.” As a core competence, it will grow in nuance and gravity far beyond any battlefield.
The question is where, and who, do we turn to.
If forecasts are accurate, we will process more change, more quickly, more uniformly around the world than at any point in history. We’re talking about mass societal change to happen in the next 20 years.
It's not just the big stuff in play, like climate change, geopolitics, or pandemics. Follow the tidal wave of money pouring into tech. New start-ups and capital investment surged to the largest levels ever last year.
Research from Ark Investments, an innovation investment fund, predicts hundreds of trillions of dollars will divert into digital ideas, infrastructure, virtual platforms, and bioengineering firms within the next decade.
The human experience will be as disruptive as the technologies developed.
Because the media is part of hype cycles, we lack sources who anticipate the tech’s effects on people, personally and socially. The gap between new ideas and public impact — how we psychologically, personally, and socially adapt — is a risky vacuum for society.
In the void, different players influence where our attention gets diverted and who we believe. Some fill it for good, others optimistically for power. Staged conflict between red and blue happens in the gap. Depictions of promise and peril. Whether to be optimistic or pessimistic of the future.
Belief in stories we see is influenced by situational literacy. The "agents" we follow are profoundly personal and professionally essential in this context.
Choose wisely.
Profiles of the Future
Spiritual Pursuit
Can tech innovations incite religious revivals?
Despite the depth of research that connects spiritual practice and well-being, religious belief is in steady decline. New think tanks are dreaming up ways to reverse the tide. Their pilots span text congregations, prayer by Alexa, digital collection baskets, and 'Priest Bots.' Religious avatars will have an unfair advantage over human clergy. They have all the theological knowledge in existence and know everything that you tell them about yourself. Between the two, expect religious personalization, and monetization, to follow the same path as digital media. According to TryTank, a lab for church growth and innovation, over 400 partner congregations have started around the country. (source: Gallup, Institute for the Future, TryTank).
Automation
Forget about robots taking jobs. What happens when they displace sex?
Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and sex toys make up an industry that is projected to be worth over $30 billion in 2022. It's a sector expected to see exponential growth in the near future, a movement both technologically advanced and ethically progressive. Forecasts suggest "Digisexuals" will see technology as integral to their sexual selves, sometimes reducing the need for human partners altogether. (source: L'Atelier, futureofsex.net).
Entertainment & Escape
Is participation (versus money) the sports gambling appeal?
Since the Supreme Court struck down a law that banned sports gambling, it has skyrocketed in popularity. $97 billion has been wagered in legal bets across America in less than four years. The stats behind driving the surge are equally staggering. FanDuel spent over $1 billion on ads in the year's first half. The American Gaming Association is estimated 31.4 million Americans wagered $7.61 billion on this year’s Super Bowl. Experts anticipate that the sports-betting market will keep growing. By 2028 it is expected to be worth $140bn. (source: The Economist, Sports Betting Dime).
Alternative Education
Can VR create an education renaissance?
Despite the downsides of eLearning, the research found that it is nearly effective as in-person programs. VR learning takes digital studies a step further, expected to grow by 42% YOY through 2026. It’s a promising picture. PwC found that learners trained with VR were up to 275% more confident to act on what they learned after training—a 40% improvement over in-person classroom learning and a 35% improvement over eLearning. SAP's "Skill Immersion Lab" program demonstrated that over 85% of learners felt more confident speaking with others after completing immersive learning experiences. (Source: Fast Company, PWC, SAP, Fortune Insights)
Other ‘Thinkables’ in the News
World Changes
Noah-Harari on the significance of the Russia/Ukraine conflict. Venture firms are “shoveling cash” at new companies building Web3. Man who coined Web2 not buying the Web3 hype. Industrial robot sales have ‘strongest year ever’ in 2021. Ocean’s 11 takes a crypto twist. The most prominent news brands on TikTok. Is it possible to teach AI common sense?
Human Innovations
The future of flying cars is real. Digital currencies an Orwellian surveillance nightmare? Meet your new robot bartender. Has the Internet become a decentralized investment bank?
Social Dilemmas
Seven in ten Americans live paycheck to paycheck. A new study challenges that a college degree is a great equalizer. TikTok is not a doctor, but people use it that way. Climate therapy is a thing. Comedy is facing an existential crisis. Growing scrutiny of attention thieves.
Translations of Power
The investor presentation that sacked Peloton’s CEO (a must-read). Teen gets prison time Minecraft terror plot. US testing robot dogs to patrol its borders.
“Other”
Wordle “science” predicts the best first move. Over 9,000 tree species have yet to be discovered. People are sleeping “in pieces.” 1 in 4 pet owners would sacrifice themselves to save their dog. Humans are more comfortable talking to ‘female’ robots than males.
Stay safe, I'll see you next week,
CP