Imagined Future Scenarios
Robotics, Plausible Futures, Long Term (5 - 10 years)
Scenario Generated from 'Smart home technology to support engagement in everyday activities while ageing: A focus group study with current and future generations of older adults' - Plos.org
Future Arc and Implications
Grow Arc
Social Impact: Increased independence and activity levels for older adults fosters intergenerational connections and reduces social isolation.
Technological Impact: Exoskeleton technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized, integrating AI and advanced sensor systems.
Ecological Impact: Increased production and energy consumption associated with widespread exoskeleton use may exacerbate environmental challenges.
Economic Impact: A booming exoskeleton industry creates jobs in manufacturing, maintenance, and related support services.
Political Impact: Governments invest heavily in exoskeleton research and development, promoting accessibility for an aging population.
Narrative: Exoskeletons become ubiquitous, empowering older adults and driving a new era of active aging and technological advancement.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: Supply chain disruptions and economic downturns limit access to exoskeletons, exacerbating existing inequalities and leaving many older adults vulnerable.
Technological Impact: Lack of maintenance and updates leads to widespread malfunction and abandonment of exoskeletons, creating technological waste.
Ecological Impact: Resource scarcity hinders the production of new exoskeletons and exacerbates existing environmental problems due to poor waste management.
Economic Impact: The exoskeleton market crashes, leaving manufacturers bankrupt and older adults without support or access to essential technology.
Political Impact: Governments struggle to provide adequate support and safety nets for older adults as social safety nets break down.
Narrative: The exoskeleton dream fades as societal breakdowns lead to the abandonment of promising technologies and increased hardship for vulnerable populations.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: Exoskeleton use is strictly regulated and monitored to ensure safety and prevent misuse, creating a stratified system based on capabilities.
Technological Impact: Centralized control systems and standardized components facilitate mass production and algorithmic management of exoskeleton use.
Ecological Impact: Resource extraction and manufacturing are strictly controlled to ensure sustainable production of exoskeletons under centralized environmental regulations.
Economic Impact: A state-controlled or heavily regulated market ensures equitable distribution of exoskeletons to those deemed most in need or most productive.
Political Impact: A powerful governing body dictates exoskeleton policies, prioritizing social order and maximizing societal productivity through controlled deployment.
Narrative: Exoskeletons become a tool for social control and optimized productivity under a highly regulated and centralized system.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: Exoskeletons become seamlessly integrated with the human body, blurring the line between human and machine and fostering a new sense of embodied agency.
Technological Impact: Biocompatible exoskeletons controlled by neural interfaces unlock unprecedented levels of mobility and dexterity for older adults.
Ecological Impact: Closed-loop systems and biodegradable materials ensure minimal environmental impact from exoskeleton production and disposal.
Economic Impact: A distributed, community-based model of exoskeleton production and repair empowers individuals and fosters localized economic resilience.
Political Impact: Decentralized governance models prioritize individual autonomy and self-determination in the development and use of exoskeleton technologies.
Narrative: Exoskeletons spark a revolutionary transformation in human-machine relations, leading to greater physical autonomy, enhanced societal inclusivity, and ecological harmony.