Articles
There is no shortage of books containing techno-economic appraisals and speculation about the future. What makes The Industries of the Future different is author Alec Ross’s sharp focus on technology and industry.
Most news-stand business books of this type use economic theory and financial markets as their starting point. But Ross believes strongly in the influence of engineering on society and economics, so his predictions about the future are primarily shaped by his ruminations on technology.
Indeed, the lengthy but entertaining introduction hammers home the point that technology does affect society. Ross qualifies his own expertise and perspective – he has worked as Hillary Clinton’s senior adviser for innovation and travelled the world, but has also done menial jobs in his home town of Charles Town, West Virginia.
The book is an essay-like analysis of some of the emerging trends in technology this decade: robotics and automation, genomics and extended lifespans, Big Data and innovation. It offers some clever insights: linking genomics research to advances in data and communications that will revolutionise medical treatments; how Big Data will deliver universal translation devices within the next 10 years; and how the pervasive and permanent online world is reshaping the way children socialise and develop.
However, it also retreads some familiar themes and ideas: the effect of computing and software on financial transactions and markets; the rise of the app and the sharing economy; data privacy and the risk of cyber terrorism; and how great Israel is at innovation.
Indeed, as the book progresses its focus narrows towards consideration of IT, internet communications and software-related advances. For example, there is no mention of energy and climate change, although surely these will be a large factor in any industry and society in the future. There is no discussion about how advances in materials research will shape future infrastructure and products, and no consideration of the importance of blue-skies scientific research to industrial development.
The book ends neatly enough, with recommendations about how to raise your kids on a diet of experiencing different cultures and programming, to prepare them for the industries of the future. But with its mix of old ideas and new ones, a world-view that is very US-centric and its narrow focus, it promises more than it delivers. It’s a diverting read, but this book will not change your life.
The Industries of the Future, from Simon & Schuster, is priced at £20