Technology Forecasting Project
Exploring the Future of Consumer Products.

Exploring Technology For Businessweek, a Decade in Advance

This forward-looking project brought together contributors from all IDEO locations and disciplines to explore how emerging interfaces—stylus, touch, and voice—could transform how we interact with technology. The team envisioned various innovative devices, including large, high-resolution stylus-driven displays, transparent speakers, wireless printers, and flexible, tube-shaped portable computers, all of which pushed the boundaries of technology.

Among these, the Agent stood out as a remarkably prescient concept: a personal communication device with fingerprint recognition, a high-resolution screen, and wireless connectivity. Designed for secure financial transactions and health monitoring, the Agent anticipated many core features of today’s smartphone—especially the iPhone—blending convenience, security, and multifunctionality years ahead of its time.

Role

Visual Interface Design

A collage featuring various futuristic gadgets, including transparent data disks, a digital clipboard, a sleek pen, a device with a wrench symbol, a glossy circular gadget, an interactive screen, a rolled-up digital screen, a blue cylindrical object, and a pair of high-tech smart glasses.

Conceived as a secure, connected tool for managing tasks such as payments and health monitoring, the Agent foreshadowed the modern smartphone, especially the iPhone, with its blend of convenience, personalization, and multifunctionality. A range of computing form factors was explored to reimagine how people interact with technology, from compact, rollable-display devices to large, touch-optimized surfaces for creativity and collaboration. Each prototype challenged hardware conventions to enable more intuitive, fluid experiences.

Collage of futuristic tech gadgets with innovative designs including transparent digital screens, a sleek pen, a modern wallet, a touchpad device, and high-tech sunglasses.
Futuristic digital workspace with various documents and sticky notes displayed on a transparent, touch-sensitive surface with a metallic frame.
Person using a digital desktop interface with various documents, images, and sticky notes displayed. The setting is an office or workspace environment with a modern, tech-savvy setup.
A futuristic medical mirror displaying health data such as vital signs and electrolytes on a wall next to a modern bathroom sink and mirror setup.
Close-up of a hand holding a pen, writing on paper, next to an espresso cup on a saucer and a biscuit on a table.
Person holding futuristic handheld device with GPS display and touch screen
A person's hand holding a retro-styled, foldable electronic device with an LCD screen and a keypad. The screen displays multiple channels and text, while the device casing is metallic.
Person holding a futuristic electronic device displaying nutritional information, with a small round sensor attached to their wrist.
A hand holding a small electronic device with a circular button and icons, displaying symbols for messages and directional indicators.
Futuristic transparent shopping device displaying scanned items, pricing, and payment options, held in front of a white shopping bag.
Digital device displaying a paper-like digital screen with various text, images, and a flowchart; shows interface with buttons such as View, Edit, Save, Delete, and Send; design is sleek and modern.
Man using an early 2000s concept of a digital device with stylus in a modern kitchen setting.
Hands holding a thin, transparent sheet attached to a silver device
Person holding a transparent flexible display and a cylindrical device.
Person holding a silver cylindrical device with a transparent sliding panel on a light background.
Person holding a cylindrical electronic device with buttons on top, likely a remote or controller, against a light background.
Silver cylindrical object with grooves, featuring red text "IDEO tube" on a white background.
Flexible electronic device with digital display and control buttons
Blue metal spinning top with knob and layers