(Dr John Sagi used this exercise in collaboration with his BPA111 Section 402 Spring 2005)

The purpose of the exercise was to attempt to develop parts of scenarios in Living,
Working and Playing in the Year 2015, and then leverage that discussion into new classes which can be anticipated to be taught at AACC in 2015 with some probability.

The study population includes AACC students in 2015. The sample population was
composed of 16 students in Principles of Business, BPA111. The average age was 29.9
years. There were 10 females and 6 males.

To ascertain the environment in 2015, students were asked to picture themselves ten
years ago. What they were doing and how they lived. To facilitate this, a brief discussion
of current events in 1995 and demographic generation differences (Baby Boomers, Gen
X, and Gen Y) was conducted.

Then each student was asked to develop a list of five things in the categories of Living,
Working and Playing in 2015.

The group then conducted a “brainstorming” session, following the general principles of
idea ownership, no comments, etc.

The lists were developed and each student had one input at a time until their lists were
exhausted.

The students then voted anonymously on their two most probable events in each list.

The results were (in order of most to least probable):

Living
Planned communities
Everyone can be contacted anywhere
Solar energy and other alternatives will be most common
Everyone will have a universal phone number
Autos will universally be electric
Utilities will be voice activated
Cancer will be cured

Working
Telecommuting will be commonplace
An increased use of the Internet at work
Skill sets will change much more rapidly
Robots will conduct most work
Nannies and maids will be common


Playing
International travel will be commonplace
Virtual reality vacations
Civilian space flight

The lists fit well with certain established futures studies conducted on a national scale.

Then the students were divided into groups of four to develop new courses at AACC to
anticipate these scenarios.

The new courses included:

Solar Engineering
Arabic Language
Middle Eastern Democracy
Planned Community Engineering
Construction Management for the Older Worker
Introduction to Telecommunications Skills
Organic Living
Principles of Robotics for Business
Travel and Safety in Space
Mechanics of Alternative Energy Sources
Spanish as a Second Language
Preventing Personal Terrorism
Cyber Terrorism
How to be a Reality TV Star
Acting in Reality TV

You may contact Dr. Sagi directly at jsagi@aacc.edu

Important Links

• Institute for the Future