Imagined Future Scenarios
Augmented Reality, Probable Futures, Long Term (5 - 10 years)
Scenario Generated from 'How Do Architects Forecast Trends? In Conversation with Research and Inovation Co-Directors of Perkins&Will' - ArchDaily
Future Arc and Implications
Grow Arc
Social Impact: Increased social stratification based on access to premium AR building experiences creates new forms of digital divides.
Technological Impact: Ubiquitous AR infrastructure leads to advanced spatial computing and immersive advertising, blurring the lines between physical and digital reality.
Ecological Impact: Higher energy consumption from widespread AR devices and infrastructure contributes to carbon emissions and electronic waste.
Economic Impact: Building owners profit significantly from personalized AR content deals, driving real estate value based on AR experience potential.
Political Impact: Lobbying efforts from real estate and technology companies influence regulations to favor widespread AR infrastructure deployment.
Narrative: Cities become living billboards of personalized AR experiences, driven by relentless consumerism and technological advancement.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: Widespread system failures cause AR experiences to become unreliable or non-existent, leading to disillusionment and social unrest.
Technological Impact: Deteriorating infrastructure and supply chain disruptions limit the production and maintenance of AR-enabled building systems.
Ecological Impact: Resource scarcity and environmental disasters prioritize basic survival needs over AR technology, leading to its abandonment.
Economic Impact: Economic depression decimates the AR industry and the real estate market, rendering personalized AR experiences a luxury few can afford.
Political Impact: Governments collapse or prioritize emergency response, leaving AR infrastructure neglected and vulnerable to damage.
Narrative: AR cities fade into disrepair as societal collapse renders personalized experiences irrelevant in the struggle for survival.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: AR experiences in buildings are strictly controlled and monitored by authorities, promoting conformity and limiting personal expression.
Technological Impact: Closed-source AR platforms and centralized data management enable pervasive surveillance and censorship of AR content.
Ecological Impact: AR systems are standardized and optimized for energy efficiency under strict government regulations, minimizing environmental impact.
Economic Impact: The AR industry is heavily regulated, with state-controlled entities dominating the market and setting prices for AR experiences.
Political Impact: Authoritarian regimes use AR experiences for propaganda and social control, reinforcing their power and manipulating public opinion.
Narrative: Buildings become instruments of social engineering, delivering AR experiences that reinforce state ideology and obedience.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: AR enhances human connection and empathy by providing shared augmented realities and fostering collaborative creation within buildings.
Technological Impact: Open-source AR platforms and decentralized networks empower users to create and share their own personalized AR experiences.
Ecological Impact: Sustainable AR technologies minimize energy consumption and promote eco-friendly building design, fostering a harmonious relationship with nature.
Economic Impact: A circular economy emerges, with AR enhancing resource management and promoting responsible consumption within building environments.
Political Impact: Decentralized governance structures empower communities to shape their own AR experiences, fostering participatory democracy and local control.
Narrative: Buildings become collaborative canvases for shared augmented realities, fostering community, creativity, and a deeper connection to the environment.