Global Trends: Predicting the Future.

What does the future hold? Will we see a continuation of the digital revolution? Or will we take a step back as we continue to deal with social and political unrest? These are things that companies like Telefonica must keep in mind when trying to predict future global trends, and keep ahead of the game. We talk to Telefonica's Ariane van de Ven to find out more! Interviewee: Ariane van de Ven - Telefonica global trends expert. Subject: Future & Global Trends   Luke: As a professional working in global trends, what exactly is it that you do at Telefonica? What is your role within the company?  Ariane: I work in their R&D department looking at future and current trends, and trying to find new opportunities for the company, and looking for new target groups etc. Luke: How will these developing trends affect business practices? How will Telefonica use these trends to help better society? Ariane: Well they give us inspiration and reason to build and develop, create hypothesis, and be an integral part of the modern world. Luke:  Should we be weary of the misuse of technologies in society? How can we best make use of the advancing technologies available to us?  Adriane:  Well we are still learning how to best use the technologies available to us. I expect technologies to become simpler from the users point of view, more user friendly, and there are various certain aspects that will be sure to improve. We have heard about 3D printing, monitoring and tracking, and certain other technologies that look certain to play a bigger role in the near future. Luke: How much can these coming trends and new technologies help in developing countries and impoverished communities?  Adriane: Well they can help in many ways. They can help create new types of living systems, and help build a utopian and more sustainable future. It provides great opportunities to youth due to the increasing use of technologies in education. They can empower people and help create better standards of living, like we have seen in the examples in the presentation from Afghanistan and the DR Congo. If a country focuses its resources and efforts on a certain specialisation, it can totally change that country. I think nations will start becoming very specialised in specific areas, and you will start to see various changes all over the world.