Smartphones use augmented reality overlays to display supportive messages and resources in the user's immediate environment, reinforcing positive behaviors and promoting accountability.

Imagined Future Scenarios

Addiction Technology, Plausible Futures, Short Term (1 - 3 years)

Scenario Generated from 'Purdue Pharma and Sacklers settle opioid lawsuits for $7.4 billion' - Quartz India

Future Arc and Implications

Grow Arc

Social Impact: Increased societal acceptance and normalization of technology-mediated addiction support lead to greater adoption and perceived helpfulness.

Technological Impact: AR addiction support becomes increasingly sophisticated, personalized, and integrated into everyday life, driving demand for more powerful devices.

Ecological Impact: Increased electronic waste and energy consumption from widespread smartphone and AR usage contribute to environmental concerns.

Economic Impact: A thriving market emerges for AR addiction support apps, devices, and related services, creating jobs and boosting the tech sector.

Political Impact: Governments invest in and regulate AR addiction support, aiming to improve public health and reduce healthcare costs while addressing privacy concerns.

Narrative: AR addiction support blooms as readily available and integrated mental well-being assistance within a flourishing, tech-driven society.

Collapse Arc

Social Impact: Systemic failures in communication networks and device availability exacerbate existing addiction issues, leaving vulnerable populations without support.

Technological Impact: Breakdown of smartphone infrastructure and AR functionality prevents access to vital addiction support resources, leading to relapse and withdrawal.

Ecological Impact: Environmental disasters disrupt technology supply chains and damage infrastructure, impacting the accessibility of AR-based supportive resources.

Economic Impact: Economic downturn and resource scarcity limit access to technology and treatment, widening the gap between those who can recover and those who cannot.

Political Impact: Political instability and collapse of social services hinder the provision of addiction support, leading to increased societal disorder and health crises.

Narrative: Addiction support tech crumbles alongside society's vital systems, leaving individuals struggling to cope without essential resources during a period of intense hardship.

Discipline Arc

Social Impact: Mandatory AR-based addiction monitoring and interventions stigmatize users and create a climate of surveillance, leading to resentment and resistance.

Technological Impact: AR systems are used for centralized control and tracking of addictive behaviors, with limited individual autonomy or privacy.

Ecological Impact: Resource extraction for technology production continues unabated due to the top-down control reinforcing existing consumptive patterns.

Economic Impact: Profits from addiction-related industries shift towards government-controlled or sanctioned technology providers, consolidating economic power.

Political Impact: Authoritarian regimes employ AR technology to enforce sobriety and punish relapse, further eroding individual liberties and promoting social control.

Narrative: A rigid system of mandatory AR monitoring and intervention seeks to control addictive behaviors, sacrificing individual freedom for a perceived societal benefit.

Transform Arc

Social Impact: AR technology facilitates a deeper understanding of addiction and promotes empathy, fostering community-based support networks and destigmatization.

Technological Impact: AR empowers individuals to develop personalized recovery tools and connect with others in novel ways, leveraging open-source platforms and decentralized networks.

Ecological Impact: Sustainable technologies and practices are integrated into AR-based support systems, promoting environmentally conscious lifestyles and resource management.

Economic Impact: A circular economy emerges around refurbished and repurposed devices, enabling widespread access to AR support while minimizing environmental impact.

Political Impact: Decentralized governance models promote individual agency and community-led initiatives for addiction recovery, challenging traditional hierarchical approaches.

Narrative: AR becomes a catalyst for a fundamental shift in how addiction is understood and addressed, empowering individuals and communities to create holistic, sustainable solutions.

Product ideas generated based on this scenario

AR Recovery Companion

A personalized AR companion app that grows with the user. It uses AI to analyze behavior patterns and offer tailored support, gamified challenges, and connection to relevant resources. Users can customize their companion’s appearance and interaction style, creating a sense of ownership and investment in their recovery.

Augmented Reality Gym for Recovery

An AR app that transforms any space into a virtual gym with tailored exercises and mindfulness practices designed to combat cravings and manage stress. The app offers guided workouts, calming visualisations, and progress tracking, all overlaid onto the user’s real-world environment promoting embodiment

Solar-Powered Recovery Beacon

A durable, solar-powered device that provides access to pre-loaded recovery resources and offline communication capabilities in areas with no connectivity. The device includes basic AR functionality for displaying supportive affirmations and emergency contact information, designed for resilience and ease of use.

Community Resource Mapping with AR

A crowdsourced AR platform that allows users to tag and locate essential services (shelters, food banks, support groups) in their physical environment. The AR overlay dynamically updates based on available local resources and user input, providing a lifeline for those in need during crises.

Mandatory Sobriety AR Lens

An AR lens that is legally mandated to be worn to verify sobriety. Employs biometrics and environmental scans to ensure compliance, reporting violations directly to authorities. Provides limited supportive features only upon successful verification.

Addiction Risk AR Ad Blocker

An AR system that analyzes a user's online and physical environment, identifies addiction triggers (advertisements, social cues), and blocks them in real-time. Use is often mandated as part of legal sentences or employment contracts and is centrally managed.

AR Recovery Circle

An AR application that facilitates virtual and in-person support group meetings overlaying digital content with the physical environment. Allows members to share their experiences, offer encouragement, and track progress together in a visually engaging and personalized manner via a user-governed, decentralised platform.

Biofeedback-Integrated AR for Self-Regulation

An AR system that combines biofeedback sensors with augmented reality to visualize and help individuals regulate their addictive urges. The AR interface uses real-time biofeedback (heart rate, skin conductance) to guide users through personalized calming exercises and mindful practices, creating a closed-loop system for self-regulation and insight.