Conference survival tips include: (1) noting the different kinds of speakers, their strengths and weaknesses; (2) discovering the reasons for often apparent cross-talk and misunderstanding; and (3) using the concept of futuring to gain ideas as to what can be done after the conference ends. (RM)

Explores the similarities between ancient prophecy and modern futures prediction. The article suggests that the perceived degree of certainty in predictions of the future affects the patterns of emotional and rational responses in those receiving them. (AM)

Describes three perceptions that are used to study futures--the progressive future, the predictable future, and the random future--and discusses factors that influence how one perceives the future. The study of the future is like the study of the past, and there are many futures to study. (AM)

The visions of the future portrayed by Wells in two of his works, "A Modern Utopia" and "Men Like Gods," reveal much about Wells' gifts and limitations as a futurist. (Author/RM)

Written depictions of an ideal society have increasingly come to be rejected as a serious device for influencing future change. But if they avoid the dangers of overly rigid prescriptions and a tendency to focus too narrowly on physical well-being, utopian writings can provide a positive stimulus for social reform. (Author/RM)

Two questions are examined: (1) Is there a place for the skill of shaping language, called poetry, in the future? or (2) Will the term "poetry" survive as the label for an art form based on new technologies that will inspire future people in ways that words no longer can? (Author/RM)

Futurists should give more careful attention to the ideas and proposals of Christian sociologist Arthur Penty, whose vision of a future anti-industrial society was based on concepts of craftmanship and the dignity of labor. Penty's contribution lies in his attempt to combine vision and analysis, utopia and sociology. (RM)

Compares visions of the ideal society depicted in the two recent utopian novels "Island" and "Walden Two." The main difference between them is the value of personal freedom in each society. The role of futures imagery in directing social change is discussed. (AM)

Discusses a firm that will provide training for business in the future by matching client needs with consultant expertise. The need for the firm as well as its advantages and the way it will operate are described. (AM)

Discusses studies of utopian communities conducted by Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Hugh Gardner. The studies found that mortification and transcendence are effective methods of social control. Studies of utopian theory and practice provide insights into the causes and control of deviance. Topics for further investigation are suggested. (AM)

Many thinkers are developing perspectives that take living organisms, rather than machines, as the model for the complex interrelationships observable in nature and society. Such models are evolutionary, holistic, and emphasize networks of relation and patterns of organization. This evolutionary synthesis can be used to project the future.…

For centuries, the only point of studying the future was to forecast coming events. But today, the trend among serious futurists is toward a broader view that encompasses value choices as well as probabilities. Systems thinking is replacing prophecy. A systems approach to technology forecasting is discussed. (AM)

An assessment of the prospects for future economic and social development is provided. These include capitalist, socialist, and utopian ideas, but not in the form that traditional advocates of these three social visions have predicted. (Author/RM)

Outlines an approach for preparing and using futures scenarios that has been successful in the formulation of long-range plans and policies. How to construct a scenario and how to draw implications from the scenarios are discussed. (AM)

Examines how the writings of historian Walter Prescott Webb have influenced modern futurist works. Webb's concerns about new frontiers, population growth, the environment, and other aspects of society are discussed. (AM)