This course explores the next few years in the development of media and related technologies, culture, and geopolitics. It uses scenario planning, a technique for making sense of complex future possibilities. The class works as a large project team, looking ahead 5-­‐10 years. We distinguish predetermined elements from critical uncertainties, identify the underlying patterns that influence events, and come up with a few compelling, plausible stories about possible futures. We present the futures -­‐ and the strategies they suggest -­‐ to a public audience. The goal of the course is to enable you to make more robust decisions in the face of uncertainty. This is valuable for dealing with technological change, starting a business, plotting a career or making major life decisions. This class has developed a longstanding following at ITP because it helps make sense of the complex world that shapes (and is shaped by) new media.

Art Kleiner