The key point discussed in Part 1 was that “the more we connect online, the less connected we actually feel.” This issue has been discussed for over 10 years, but it seems to be becoming more serious. So what kind of futures are possible if we continue on the path we are on now? In this article, we imagine several possible futures using the scenario planning method. By doing so, we hope to gain new understanding by analyzing how each of these scenarios are developing at the present time. Afterwards, I describe the ideal future that Senspace is aiming for and how we are trying to get there.
Research Method💡
Scenario planning is a framework for thinking that aims to “create a story of the future”, imagining what is likely to happen in the future and then considering options and strategies based on that. It involves identifying the key factors for a given theme and creating a scenario based on them. It is then used to draw up detailed scenarios and prepare for any future that may come, as well as to create a plan for transitioning from one scenario to another.
Let's consider some themes around “maintaining connections in the age of the connection paradox”. We will focus on two key factors in this analysis.
Importance of Authenticity: Do people tend to prefer things that can easily give them a sense of satisfaction, or do they prefer the satisfaction that comes from overcoming a challenge?
Reach of Technological Consciousness: How conscious are people about the net impact of the technology that they interact with? Do people take the values eschewed by the underlying technology for granted or is it something that they consider when interacting with technology?
These two themes are also values that Senspace considers greatly in its application and community development.
The Importance of Authenticity
“Authenticity” means whether something is genuine or not, and being genuine means that it has depth of meaning. On the other hand, it can also means that an experience or good can take an effort to obtain. I think that many people have the feeling that while they consume things that are easy to obtain and satisfy them in their daily lives, they also want something with “Authenticity.”
There is a distorted relationship between the creators who refine their designs so that people will continue to consume their dopamine-inducing content and the users who understand this but can't stop themselves from consuming it. I think that whether or not this cycle can be changed depends on whether society and individuals can face this issue head on.
If I were to say how things should be for us to embrace “authenticity,” I would say that it is when you are fully aware of the content you’re consuming while enjoying it.
The Reach of Technological Consciousness
I don't think we can or should stop the breakneck pace of technological development. On the other hand, whether intentionally or unintentionally, we must not use technology in a way that harms ourselves or others, or leaves a debt to the future. Wide-reaching technological consciousness are needed to prevent this.
When trying to create a situation that places more importance on authenticity, there are several options for how to achieve this. I think it is important to consider how to handle technology here. There are worlds that only use technology where it is easy to use, worlds that make the most of it to leverage it to get closer to Authenticity and worlds that do not rely on Authenticity at all.
The following diagram shows a matrix with these two factors as its axes, and labels for each quadrant. I have tried to explain each quadrant briefly and list their characteristics to help you imagine each future.
Harmonized Connection
In this future, people seek the authentic and profound, and a technological philosophy that prioritizes design for harmony is accepted. Technology becomes a tool that fosters trust, empathy, and meaningful connections, and is seamlessly integrated into daily life, with many people mastering its use.
Social Context and Behavioral Patterns
Transparency and privacy: People freely and consensually share parts of their lives, which are used as a basis for trust.
AI coordinator: AI deepens people's emotional understanding and helps them build deep and meaningful relationships.
Cross-identity collaboration: People from different backgrounds come together to exchange cultures, think together, and create new things.
Emotional Reputation Ecosystem: Meaningful peer evaluation based on a broader set of metrics such as empathy, creativity, and collaboration, rather than superficial metrics with incentives for having such qualities.
Democratized Access: Everyone, regardless of skill level, can use technology to enrich their lives.
Results:
People feel a sense of authentic connection.
Enhancement of emotional well-being across society.
Technology strengthens human connection, instead of replacing it.
Risks:
Philosophical disagreements between factions could hinder global cooperation.
Concerns around privacy in a system that emphasizes openness and transparency.
Efficient Isolation and Transactional Lives
In this future, society believes in a technological philosophy that focuses on efficiency and practicality, and tends to sacrifice authenticity. People treat relationships based on cost-benefit analysis and are willing to use technology to sacrifice emotional connections to increase productivity.
Social Context and Behavioral Patterns
Transactional relationships: Human relationships are in service of a given goal, with little emotional depth.
Gamified work: Productivity is incentivized through competitive, gamified systems.
AI dominates creativity: AI-generated content overwhelms human expression.
Simple, generalizable life score: Universal scoring evaluates an individual's social utility, affecting opportunities and status.
Results
Loss of human values such as creativity and compassion.
Further isolation of the socially vulnerable.
Risks
Indifference and burnout due to hyper-optimized systems.
Marginalization of individuals and activities deemed “unproductive.”
Authentic but Siloed
In this future, people value “Authenticity,” but lack technological philosophy. Hyperlocal communities value meaningful relationships, while isolation and technological inequality are a bottleneck to progress as a society.
Social Context and Behavioral Patterns
Neo-villages: Hyperlocal communities thrive, fostering trust and shared values.
Localized digital spaces: Communities create their own digital spaces and tools that reflect their unique culture.
Distrust of elites: Skepticism of Big Tech promotes grassroots innovation.
Voluntary disconnection: Periodically disconnect from technology to focus on real-world relationships.
Results:
Cultural expression is enriched.
Social impact of locally-driven innovation is limited.
Isolation and slow social progress due to fragmentation.
Risks:
Fragmentation makes global cooperation difficult.
Lack of interoperability between hyper-local systems.
Addiction to Digital Ease
In this future, technology advances rapidly, but society lacks a guiding technological philosophy or a deep focus on Authenticity. Convenience and simple engagement are prioritized, and the result is an abundance of shallow but addictive experiences.
Social Context and Behavioral Patterns
Passive consumption: People will consume dopamine-boosting content curated by AI forever.
Digital companion: An AI companion that is optimized for you will always optimize and communicate with you in a pleasant way.
Escape culture: People will use technology not to grow or expand their potential, but to escape reality.
Disposable identity: People switch between several digital identities to keep up with a rapidly changing society.
Results:
Decline in trust in society.
Increase in the number of people who cannot control their emotions.
Companies exploit users for profit, exacerbating mental health issues.
Risk:
Emotional burnout due to constant stimulation.
Expansion of the social gap between those who are familiar with technology and those who are not.
Personal Impression of Each Scenario
As you look at these four scenarios and compare them to today's society, you may reach your own conclusions. If you like, try to imagine how you might be able to approach your own work and activities in these worlds. My thoughts are below.
Although it is impossible to talk about the future based on only these four quadrants, many ideas come to mind.
Although Harmonized Connection is ideal, there is still a lot to do to get there, and there are many parts of this world that cannot be understood without real world experimentation.
Addicted Digital Ease may be the worst scenario, but Efficient Isolation and Transactional Lives and Authentic but Soiled both have good aspects, and there are many points in common with today's society.
In order to move towards the future of Harmonized Connection, which path is better: the Efficient Isolation and Transactional Lives route or the Authentic but Siloed route?
The Future of Senspace
Looking at today's society, it can be seen as being driven by core philosophies in two of these quadrants: the Efficient Isolation and Transactional Lives in the top left and the Authentic but Siloed in the bottom right. The divide between those who are maximizing their own profits by making the most of the relationship between technology and people, and those who have been unable to keep up and are trying to shut themselves away in their own world, seems impossible to bridge. If either of these worlds goes too far, we will have to give up some of the important elements of what it means to be human, and it doesn't seem like that will lead to lasting happiness.
Senspace aims to create a world where people can smoothly connect with those who need them and feel attached to their digital identities, in the process, moving towards Harmonized Connection. At that time, there are several steps that can be taken to move away from Authentic but Siloed, Efficient Isolation and Transactional Lives, or a different world altogether, yet to be identified. We are currently trying to take an approach that starts with moving towards Authenticity, in a localized and at times, Siloed manner.
In more practical terms, I can imagine a flow like this:
We will start with local communities where people can meet face to face.
Within these communities, we will increase the number of activities that deliberately connect online and offline relationships.
By discovering the characteristics of individuals involved in these activities from several angles, such as creativity, empathy, and discovery, we will generate peer evaluation data that goes beyond simple numbers like likes and followers.
In addition to creating greater self-awareness through the process of mutually discovering each other's characteristics, these metrics will inform a new type of digital identity.
The formed identity will enable people to find out what they should experience next and develop relationships with.
By continuing to participate in activities, not only can people maintain stronger relationships, but also gain greater clarity around one's own identity and grow confidence.
If we can introduce systems of building “Authenticity” in one community to other communities so that they can work together, we believe we can movement around Harmonized Connection that people want to be a part of.
In that way, it can also become a positive place for people who are tired of the distorted structure of the world of Efficient Isolation and Transactional Lives and who are looking for another world.
If there is a place like this, you might be able to find someone to talk to about things you've never been able to talk about before, or someone to ask for things you've always found it difficult to ask. Furthermore, I feel that now, there are many cases where asking for things and being asked for things have a positive effect on both parties. The person asking will feel satisfied, and the person being asked will feel needed. In an age where it's quicker and more reliable to ask an AI than a person, I think it's very meaningful to create an atmosphere and culture where people rely on each other.
There is no doubt that various strategies and mind tricks will be needed to help humanity move down this path, especially when we have become too used to dopamine-driven experiences, multi-tasking, smartphone-dependent lifestyles. Senspace will be building these devices, continuing to experiment and move towards a world of Harmonized Connection.
