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recognise and legislate data as an asset. Augmentation will become a common tool of lifelong learning. We’ll be able to create 3D images indistinguishable from reality to the naked eye. • Our physical world will become more interconnected, then intelligent. Global connectivity will become more available to connect to everyone and everything, everywhere – at ultra- low cost and up to gigabit speed. More ‘things’ connected will surpass the number of people connected. Machine natural language abilities in understanding, interacting, timing and speaking will surpass those of humans. We’ll be forced to confront how we produce in the face of growing resource constraint. The ‘instant economy’ will be created through on-demand production and delivery. • Our biological world will become augmented with implantable technologies. We’ll see the rise in synthetic biology from a greater understanding of what genes do. We’ll see the first implantable mobile phone and the first transplant of a completed 3D-printed body organ. Cellular agriculture will move from the lab to inner cities, providing high quality protein that’s cheaper and healthier. • Our environment will become cleaner and extended into space. Renewable energy will become cheaper than fossil fuel production and we’ll see the emergency of an ‘energy storage as a service’ business model. For retailers, a major tipping point to keep an eye on is when we can create 3D images indistinguishable from reality to the naked eye. This is where holographic technology promises ultra- realistic human presence. The futuristic technology could usher in a new era of ultra-realistic ‘telepresence’ ranging from remote shopping experiences and participation in meetings and conferences to virtual on-stage appearances at concerts. Advances with 3D imagery, where the experience becomes indistinguishable from reality to the naked eye, open up the imagination to consider what other experiences could then be enjoyed when time and space are removed. For example, for those of you who are art lovers, imagine experiencing an afternoon stroll through the Louvre in Paris from the comfort of your lounge room. Or for those of you who love exploring, imagine taking a guided walk through one of the four permanent Australian base stations in the Antarctic, again from the comfort of your lounge room. In summary, what’s clear from the Australia 2030: Where the bloody hell are we? research is that Australian professionals overwhelmingly believe that individual citizens have the greatest role in making the world, and Australia, a better place over the coming 10 years. I hope the insights in this book inspire you to decide which road to take to create the social, cultural, economic and technological future you desire. Regardless of the road you choose, I hope it encourages you to be a driver on it rather than simply a passenger. Australia 2030: Where the bloody hell are we? is available from Booktopia and other major online retailers. MARKETING About Rocky Scopelliti Rocky Scopelliti is a word-renowned futurologist, media commentator, international keynote speaker, thought leader and author of internationally recognised research whose advice on strategy is sought by boards and leadership teams, including Fortune 100 corporations. His pioneering research on the confluence of demographic change and digital technology has influenced the way we think about our social, cultural, economic and technological future. His unique insights as a media commentator have been featured by the SKY News Business Channel, ABC Radio National, the Australian Financial Review, The Economist, Forbes and Bloomberg. JAN/FEB, 2021 RETAIL WORLD 63