What are your predictions for 2009?

The advertising company Leo Burnett Group recently posted this interesting video which summarizes their predictions they detail in this report.  The video describes the predicted trends for 2009 and offers a glimpse of what we might expect.  Highlights include:

  • New Realism: The speculative and emotive era will be replaced by a more grounded, social and creative phase.
  • Hyper Reality: Expect the pace of change around the world to further accelerate.  
  • The Trust Economy: Trust will be a critical factor for brands in 2009.
  • Eco Austerity: The green argument will turn from a moral issue to an economic one.  

So here are three questions for you.  

  1. Do you agree with the predictions/trends?
  2. What does this mean to NASA?  
  3. What are your predictions for 2009? 

6 Responses to “What are your predictions for 2009?”

  1. Michael Mealling  on February 10th, 2009

    Sorry, I listened to those predictions and they seemed more like desires than actual predictions based on demographics and technology.

    At this point I’m expecting a re-run of the 1970s.

  2. rquintanilla  on February 11th, 2009

    I agree in part to most of the statements, but I am unsure that they will all occur in 2009. I do however think that they are all more likely to occur now because of the recession.

    New Realism: I really hope this occurs, but if we get out of the recession too quickly people will forget the lessons learned. If we forget the lessons learned America is in deep trouble, other countries will pass us up.

    Eco Austerity : I don’t know if this will occur in 2009, but it should definitely occur in the next couple of years. Unlike the 1970′s I expect the government to provide tax incentives for people to purchase solar panels and make their house green. This will invariably drive costs down, and then Eco Austerity will become a reality. I just don’t think it will happen in 2009.

    Gaming: No way it happens in a recession. Maybe in 2010.

    ——-Predictions and what it means to NASA

    It all depends on what we do with our current conditions. This is a great time to spotlight and solve many of NASA’s problems. The release of the Barriers video, comes at a very opportune time. Things are so bad in the USA right now, the fact that Upper Management supports the video is likely to be taken as an act of trust and integrity which the public is currently positioned to welcome. The public will expect things to get fixed…but that is a good thing if we do it.

    It is also a good time to recruit some of America’s best and the brightest young engineers and scientists to help fix the problems. However, in order for this to work we really have to want to fix the problems. It is going to take a drastic shift in the way we do business.

    We have some really great people at NASA, but like it has been stated institutional inertia is tough to overcome.

    We need stronger central leadership, but it also has to be more flexible. It seems that NASA is divided, and they are extremely inflexible. Nothing is simple here.

  3. Chip McCann  on February 14th, 2009

    In case you missed it with the words flying on screen in no particular order:

    “8. The End of Fact: Perceived wisdom now changes on a daily basis. This year expect more contradictory opinions and diverse solutions being presented as fact. In the future we will cherry pick what constitutes fact. It will be the modern equivalent of the hypochondriac with the medical textbook.”

    If this prediction comes true at NASA, all hope is lost.

  4. rquintanilla  on February 17th, 2009

    “The End of Fact” is one of the statements where I only agree to in part. There are so many groups pitching propaganda and labeling it truth. People are starting to realize that this is going on, because of the accessibility to information, that they are starting to not believe what they here. I don’t think it will occur in as extreme a measure as is predicted, but I do think that people thinking for themselves is a good thing.

    I don’t see how this effects NASA directly. What do you mean by “comes true at NASA”?

  5. Roci  on February 18th, 2009

    A re-run of the 1970′s?? Gods, I hope not. The first couple of years were OK, but after 1975, (and a good deal before that) the space program was in a decline from which it has yet to recover.
    These predictions are like the ones you find in a fortune cookie. But cookies ain’t gonna get us noplace off planet anytime soon. The problem is sort of cookie related, however. You have all these guys standing around willing to make cookies, and nobody wants to pony up enough dough.
    Roci
    Roci

  6. Chip McCann  on March 1st, 2009

    First of all, perceived wisdom changing on a daily basis and contradictory opinions being presented as fact is not a new trend. This has forever been a part of human history. How we resolve these disagreements is what has changed. The scientific process is a relatively new development and the results have been astounding.

    So, the part of this prediction that would be a new trend is “we will cherry pick what constitutes fact.” This subverts the scientific process and returns us to facts determined by convention, authority, or force. There are instances of this happening at NASA. Sometimes people believe what they want to believe rather than what the facts are telling them. The result is tragedy and the more cherry picking that is done, the worse it will get. Rocket engines don’t care what you think is fact.

    I agree that individuals thinking for themselves, and staying dedicated to the scientific process, will abate this trend towards cherry picking. Let’s make sure that happens!