Future Salon

Leaders In Software and Art Conference 16th October 2012 New York

Update: LISA is not at the Library but even cooler at thr Guggenheim Museum :-) 
Bonus link: ELIZA one of the first AI coutionary programs  

One of the most interesting places to be is where art and technology intersect. The tech enables new form of expressions that the artist fill with their creativity. That art inspires the techies to push the envelope of the currently possible. 

My friend Isabel Draves is organizing a one day conference that is focusing exactly on that intersection: 

LISA Leaders in Software and Art Conference October 16th 2012 NYC Public Library. 

I will be super busy with SAP TechEd this fall, otherwise I would be at the confernce to be inspired and may be even participate. It will be a place of wonder in the beautiful New York Public Libray.

They are having a KickStarter campaign running that just reached its goal, therefore the conference will happen, which makes me really happy. 

Some may remember our Hard Science and Smart Art Future Salon from 2004? Scott (Spot) Draves was introducing us to his Electric Sheep art. Man those Sheep have grown in the last 8 years ;-) Check it out at the LISA Conference as they will be mingeling there too.

Future Salon video

Video of the 2012 July 16 Future Salon with Dino Karabeg: https://sap.na.pgiconnect.com/p91648947/

 

10th Trimbtab Q&A with Dino Karabeg

The Future Salon is Monday, 6:00 PM, at SAP Palo Alto.  Here are three questions and answers with Professor Karabeg:

1. Are participants of the Future Salon going to create their own
goals and walk away with a plan to implement their monster goals?

A: Think about The Game as a loom and of the positive strivings of its players as threads. What The Game aims to accomplish is to weave the threads into a rug that is capable of bringing all those threads to their goal. 'Systemic innovation' provides the power that makes the rug fly.

2. You talk about that others are playing it already. Can you point us to an example?

A: The real-life part of the current prototype of The Game consists of five different, already active projects. In the presentation I will be focusing on a single one, the ZIG Project (http://debategraph.org/Stream.aspx?nID=150976&iv=05), which is simultaneously a game changer in journalism/public informing, education, academic research and entrepreneurship. Part of The Game is to (perpetually) create The Game. An online community working on co creating the Loom for the Game Changing Game - see www.debategraph.org/gcg. A team of resourceful Next Now members is currently playing by making The Game grow roots in the Bay Area - Join the Meet up for Game Changing for Thinkers and Doers at http://www.meetup.com/GameChanging/ 
The game changing that transformed Apple Computer from a desktop computing manufacturer into a phone/music/app powerhouse is a concrete example of the scale of game changing that is possible for organizations and individuals.

 

3. Are there problems beyond the reach of the structural change that 10th Trimtab is offering?

A: I would rather speak about two complementary ways of looking at things and problems; let's call them 'symptomatic' and 'systemic.' If you have a headache you may take a pain killer, or you may think about lifestyle changes that would eliminate headaches. What is particularly attractive about the latter option is that it offers us a way to turn (contemporary, or wicked) problems into (systemic or comprehensive improvement) opportunities. If we think of the caterpillar as the current state, structurally changing the caterpillar is insufficient. The 10th Trim tab is Game Changing of the order of the caterpillar turning into pupae and thence into a butterfly. Metamorphosis, where the caterpillar structure has a place to transform from within and reform into a butterfly able to fly and live in ways that the caterpillar could never structurally transform into.

Please join us.  RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/76t9tgy

Future Salon: 10th Trimtab with Dino Karabeg July 16 @ SAP Palo Alto

In a May 2010 Future Salon, Dino Karabeg, Associate Professor Institute of Informatics University of Oslo, brought us his approach to making global changes (see Future Salon video).  He has returned from Norway for a  brief visit to the Bay Area and we have him for an update with the 10th Trimtab.  Join us July 16 at SAP Labs North America, Building 1: Please follow signs to our room. SAP is located at 3410 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Free and open to the public. Please RSVP. 6pm Networking 7pm talk/game. 

Here is Dino's description:

"It is absolutely necessary to find a way to change course," wrote Aurelio Peccei, the first president of The Club of Rome, based on a decade of research and this think tank's view of the global condition in 1980. The Game-Changing Game (a real-life, collaborative game-like strategy), which we will begin playing together at this event, is offered as a prototype solution—a practical way to change course—which is already being implemented in practice.

Two years ago I orchestrated a dialogue at the Future Salon about `trimtabs for systemic change,' where I introduced nine ongoing projects with course-changing potential. I am now coming back with the tenth systemic trimtab; but this final trimtab is generic—The Game-Changing Game is a practical `machinery' for systemic change in any domain, or for systemic innovation, as I prefer to call it.

The Game begins by offering a choice of eight career or life goals. Each choice is followed by a reflection, inviting the player to aim high. A hint is offered why uncommonly high achievements are reachable within The Game. The rest—the substance—of The Game consists of a Vision Quest, where the players find a strategy to be followed along which such high achievements can be reached; and of an Action Quest, where a collection of already active projects, ready to be joined, is discussed and offered.

A salient characteristic of The Game-Changing Game is that information technology is being used in its projects as an enabler. The Game offers a vision of a mature Information Age, where `making the world work for all' is a business niche for information technology; and where a way to get there is offered by creating a synergy between business and humanistic interests.

Great From The Start Book was influenced by our Future Salon

Congratulations. If you participated in our Future Salon Activating Conscience in Corporations Future Salon with John Montgomery you played a part in improving John's book: Great From The Start.

John thanked me in a personal note writing that our Future Salon really crystalized many aspect of his thinking around consciousness of corporations and gave him additional motivation to finish it. 

This truly is an amazing book. It helps you step-by-step to build consciousness into your business. His greatest realization from working with 1000+ startups is that your chances of success mulifply if your company is grounded in purpose beyond making a buck. 

A good friend of mine Harry Max, who was at the Future Salon too wrote the following comment: 

Great from the Start demystifies the "it" behind what makes certain nascent companies different. Chapter by chapter, John "Monty" Montgomery looks at the role that being conscious plays in making decisions that stick. He goes on to discuss how start-up team structure is the foundation for being well positioned to not squander good luck, and to turn bad luck into valuable learning experiences.

But wait, there's more. The most interesting element of Great from the Start is the author's unique, well-informed, and hard-earned perspective on how to use the legal structure of the corporation to advance the role of governance in guiding the company to do the right thing, and get beyond hollow words like, "Don't Be Evil."

This is a book for people who are serious about creating a company and succeeding in the biggest way possible. It's a highly complementary read to Jim Collin's new book, "Great by Choice." And when you're done with both of them, you can pick up The Startup Owner's Manual by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf. Together, these three books provide some of the most important advice you'll ever get.

I don't know Andrew Gardner, but his comment hits home: 

"Great From the Start" is a fundamental phase shift in the evolution of entrerpreneurship and the way that we view ourselves. Every great revolution in the history of mankind has come about from innovators who identify and systematized a fundamental phase shift from the past: these innovators hear the frustration of the 99% and systematize a solution that lifts us all. The wisdom and methodology contained in "Great From the Start" is the phase shift that we need today.

Studying John Montgomery's model is as revolutionary to me as the first time I dialed in to Prodigy, or found a friend on Facebook, or swiped my hand across an iPad. Following the systemic principles outlined in this book has unleashed a vision and capacity in me and my team members that we have never before experienced. This model has created an attractor pattern for vision, success, and happiness that drives us and drives opportunity our way.
The wisdom and methodology contained in "Great From the Start" has the capacity to stimulate our economy, our communities, and our hope for the future in a way that no program, mantra, or potentate could ever dream. To all of you who have fought hard these past few years, to those who are battered but not broken- embrace this dream and rise. To those of you who stand in places of power- embrace this dream and lead. To those of you with children, who hope for a better tomorrow- embrace this dream and create that tomorrow today.

Final quote: 

 “Great From the Start will surely help you build a successful company, but far more importantly it will help you cultivate a worthwhile life.” --ROBB SMITH, CEO, Integral Institute, and founder, Chrysallis

We can be proud to have been part of the evolutionary process to bring this book to life. The next chapter equally if not more important is how can we awaken or transition existing companies to a higher form of conciousness. We may tackle that in an upcoming Future Salon. 

Here is the replay of the Activating Conscience in Corporations Future Salon:

 

Second part: http://www.vimeo.com/10193383 Enjoy.

Reminder: Net Smart Future Salon with Howard Rheingold

Just a little reminder of the Future Salon with Howard Rheingold tomorrow evening, at 6pm PDT (GMT-7).  And for those who can't make it in person (like myself), here's the link for the webcast:

https://t.co/9PmznLev

Thanks again to Aslan for picking up the ball and getting the Future Salon rolling again!

Net Smart Future Salon with Howard Rheingold, April 11

How can we use digital media so that they help us become empowered participants rather than passive consumers? In “Net Smart” Howard Rheingold shows us how to use social media more intelligently, humanely, and, above all, mindfully.

I suppose only a few of you remember our last Future Salon featuring Howard, as I'm dismayed to realize it was nine years ago!  We've of course seen him around since then, but it's very nice to see that he has now written a new book, and to welcome him back to the front of the room again to discuss it with us.

You can learn more about his book by viewing the book's webpage and viewing Howard's short video, or of course buying it now. Aslan also plans to purchase 20 of his books so Howard can sign them for the attendees that decide to buy them at the Salon, but please indicate with your RSVP if you're interested in buying one so he can order additional ones if needed.

Wednesday, April 11, 6pm-8pm
SAP Labs North America, Building 1
Room: TBD (there will be signs)
3410 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304 [map]
Free and open to the public, but please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Thanks to Aslan for putting this together, it should be a great night.

Some of the Open Mike Future Salon Sessions

Talked to someone that watched a good part of the TED talks today. He said that they were good but not as mind blowing as years past. 

The mostly sitting in the audience and listening to lectures is just not enough engagement for me.
The Open Mike Future Salon(OMFS) is the local interactive version of TED. 

I joked that OMFS is what TED would like to be, but can't as it is too big now. He added: "It is what TED aspires to be ;-) 

Here are some of the themes that folks have added and we are going to cover tomorrow: 

• Let Children solve real world problems 
• Empowering Women Through Technology
• World Peace
• From Great Potential to Not-So-Great Results - What are we missing? 
• Children's Suffrage 
• Synthetic Cognition

Going to be really cool. See you tomorrow.

Open Mike Future Salons 6:00pm to 8pm Future Day 1st of March. Afterwards the dialog will continue at Pizza My Heart on University Avenue in Palo Alto. 

SAP Labs North America, Building 1, Room: Big Dipper. There will be signs. SAP is located at 3410 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304[map]. Free and open to the public.

If you can't join in person, please join the webcast and online discussion at https://sap.na.pgiconnect.com/fs/ (We will relay your online questions to the speakers.)

 

Celebrate Future Day via this Open Mike Future Salon

All of our holidays celebrate the past. Ben Goertzel had the brilliant idea to celebrate the Future by making the 1st of March Future Day.  

Future Day is designed to center the impossible in the public mind once a year as a temptation too delicious to resist.— Howard Bloom

1st of Mark aka Future Day is coming up next Thursday. Luck will have it that I am in town. So let's celebrate Future Day with an Open Mike Future Salon. 

It has the following simple format:

• You have 5 minutes to introduce a theme that you feel passionate about and that you believe will shape our future. 
• Right after there will be 5 minutes for a lively Q&A. 
• If the engagement in the room is high we may extend the Q&A time by another 5 minutes. 

I love this format, as people come up with ideas that are sometimes not fully baked yet, no book has been published and the brain power in the room really helps to develop the idea further and sometimes that dialog results in the idea going into a totally different direction.

I will talk about Maker Lab School / Tinker School as I call them right now, haven't found the right name yet for the idea to let our children solve real world problems in school. 

There will be a white board for you to put down your idea on Thursday evening. If you can fill out the following form with your idea already, it will help us with our planning. It guarantees you a spot in the lineup too. 

Hope you have time and join Aslan and me this Thursday 1st of March at SAP Labs in Palo Alto. There will be Coffee & Tea and Soft Drinks, we have not secured funding for catering yet, so we may not have the amazing finger food, beer and wine that we enjoyed all these years. The beauty is, that you can bring some if you like and it may lead us to wrap up earlier to continue the discussion at Pizza My Heart. Some say that is the best part of the Future Salon anyway. 

Really excited and looking forward to see all of you there. Spread the word. 

Join us Open Mike Future Salons 6:00pm to 8pm Future Day 1st of March. Afterwards the dialog will continue at Pizza My Heart on University Avenue in Palo Alto. 

SAP Labs North America, Building 1, Room: to be announced. There will be signs. SAP is located at 3410 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304[map]. Free and open to the public.

If you can't join in person, please join the webcast and online discussion at https://sap.na.pgiconnect.com/fs/ (We will relay your online questions to the speakers.)

Hang-Out with Technology Elder Kevin Kelly

It struck me how much Kevin Kelly looks like an Amish elder. After reading his book What Technology Wants it all makes sense. Turns out that from an early age he kept technology at an arm's length. His family didn't have TV until he was 16 and seeing what it did to his friends he rejected it.

What is especially remarkable is, that he rejected TV, as he was afraid it would drown out his own voice. I wish I would have been that wise and strong that early in life. 

He found kindred spririts in the Amish and has visited them many times a whole chapter of his latest book is about their approach to technology. What surprised me is, that the Amish have not problems with genetically modified corn, but that is for another post. 

Check out his bio: Kevin Kelly is Senior Maverick at Wired magazine. He co-founded Wired in 1993, and served as its Executive Editor from its inception until 1999. He has just finished a book for Viking/Penguin called "What Technology Wants," published October 18, 2010. He is also editor and publisher of the Cool Tools website, which gets half a million unique visitors per month. From 1984-1990 Kelly was publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Review, a journal of unorthodox technical news. He co-founded the ongoing Hackers' Conference, and was involved with the launch of the WELL, a pioneering online service started in 1985. He authored the best-selling New Rules for the New Economy and the classic book on decentralized emergent systems, Out of Control.

It is just amazing how he has been at the forefront of the technology revolution for many many years. He took the time to think deeper about where all this Accelerating Change is going and comes to some interesting conclusions. For me he is one of the most eminent technology elders of our generation. 

This is why I am so excited about the upcoming Google+ Hangout with him. You can still join us, there are just a couple of spots lef for this Wednesday 30th of November 10am PST. 

One simple rule, you have to have bought the What Technology Wants paperback version of Kevin's book to join. Fill out this form: http://bit.ly/kkhangout to be part of it. 

He has done quite a few of these already and I can't wait to hear about his assessment of Google+ Hangouts too. 

Can't wait to hang with some of you and the technology elder Kevin Kelly this Wednesday.