The Futureproof Series.
Postcards
From the Future.
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Futureproof Series
Postcards From the Future
As part of designbivouac’s Futureproof Series, this collection offers a set of visual explorations and concise narratives designed to spark conversation, challenge assumptions, and inspire strategic thinking about what lies ahead.
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
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Methodology
Futurecasting is a creative process where designers explore various social, cultural, economic, political, and ecological factors to envision potential futures. Rather than predicting the future with certainty, futurecasting focuses on imagining possible and preferable scenarios that inform long-term strategies. It helps businesses understand the forces shaping the future, anticipate changes, and create proactive strategies. Preferable futures align technology with human needs while ensuring sustainability from a planetary perspective.
“The best way to predict the future is to design it.”
Frameworks
The Futureproof: Postcards From the Future series draws on frameworks, such as Joseph Voros’s Futures Cone and backcasting, to guide its exploration. By working backward from a desirable future state to our current reality, backcasting helps identify the necessary conditions to achieve a preferred vision. The aim is to encourage thoughtful consideration of our shared future and inspire active participation in shaping it.
Visual and Narrative Approach
The series' visual approach integrates AI tools into the creative process, blending visuals with written narratives that evolve organically as each postcard from the future takes form. The series is designed to inspire deeper reflection on the necessary actions to make our collective preferred future a reality.
The Glove That Rebuilt America
After the AI revolution of the 2030s, humans struggled to keep pace with robots. Thankfully, some small but powerful innovations, like the Weyland PowerGlove PG-10, proved to be equalizers for those working to revitalize America’s infrastructure
Future Narrative
In the wake of the AI revolution of the 2030s, human labor faced a daunting new reality. Robots quickly outpaced their human counterparts in nearly every sector with their tireless precision and speed. For a time, it seemed like the workforce was being left behind. But the story didn’t end there. Amid the sweeping changes, a wave of small but powerful innovations emerged—tools designed not to compete with machines, but to augment the human edge. Chief among them was the Weyland PowerGlove PG-10, a compact exoskeletal glove that delivered amplified grip strength, haptic feedback, and micro-assisted dexterity. Lightweight, durable, and surprisingly affordable, the PG-10 symbolized human resilience.
The Weyland PowerGlove PG-10 was worn by Kimberley Fortis, who drove home the “New Golden Spike” connecting the east and west branches of the intercontinental high-speed rail network.
For workers tasked with revitalizing America’s aging infrastructure, the PowerGlove was more than a tool—it was an equalizer. It allowed individuals to handle heavy materials with precision, operate machinery more intuitively, and endure long hours in challenging environments. With tools like the PG-10, the balance between human and machine began to shift—not back to the past, but forward into a new era of hybrid capability.
America’s need for systemic infrastructure renewal began with the Build Back Better initiative in the 2020s. Mega projects, such as the cross-country high-speed rail project, continued into the 2050s and benefited from AI enhancements and robotic support on construction sites nationwide. Over 250,000 men and women also answered the call to help rebuild America. Powered protective accessories, such as the Weyland PowerGlove PG-10 and other exoskeletal workwear, have significantly enhanced their capabilities, ensuring humanity’s continued role in improving the built environment for future generations.
The PG-10’s fingertip LED lighting enhances worker productivity and workplace safety. PG-10 power assist elements increase grip and work with other lifting accessories to increase operator strength and endurance. Next-generation synthetic nano-leather makes temperature, fit, and moisture management possible. Weyland's Micro-4 battery cells power grip strength enhancements and temperature regulators for months.
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.
Futureproof: Assistive Dexterity Devices
Before my recent trip home, I noticed my parents communicated more frequently with me. I thought it was just excitement about my upcoming visit that led to the increased messages. But it turns out they bought each other assistive dexterity devices from Fluid for their 60th anniversary a couple of months ago. So far, they have made a remarkable difference in their day-to-day lives.
Future Narrative
Before my recent trip home, I noticed my parents had been messaging me more often. I assumed the uptick in communication was simply due to their excitement about my upcoming visit. But as it turns out, a thoughtful anniversary gift was behind the change. For their 60th, they had given each other assistive dexterity devices from Fluid, and the impact has been remarkable. The devices have made everyday tasks easier and more manageable, improving both their independence and quality of life. It's been heartening to see how such a simple innovation can bring meaningful change.
Fluid’s Mark IV dexterity assist device has helped millions of people recover dexterity independence and leave specialized input devices behind.
Dad worked on the line at General Motors for 31 years before retiring. While assembly robots did much of the heavy lifting, the work still took its toll on him. For years, he used a special AI-enabled macro keyboard to make his typing more efficient. Thanks to his new Fluid dexterity gloves, Dad can use a conventional keyboard again. He was so impressed that he bought a power-assisted PowerGrip version to wear on his right hand while he does yard work.
Fluid’s PowerGrip dexterity assist glove.
Mom taught in higher education for 25 years. She was constantly researching and writing papers, contributing to her dexterity issues. Her arthritis started about 15 years ago and has always been more pronounced in her left hand. As a trial, she purchased a Fluid left-handed Lace model co-branded by her favorite clothier. It has worked so well that she now has another pair for both hands.
While talking with them and hearing their voice messages is always great, the quick text notes they send are more frequent. I am glad this new generation of assistive dexterity devices has restored their ability to communicate in various ways.
Available in various styles, Fluid's Lace model eliminates tremors, restores user dexterity, and the ability to communicate.
Technology
Nerve impulse sensing and electrically conductive fibers that can contract and expand help stabilize the hands and assist with precise finger placement.
Some assistive dexterity models can significantly increase hand strength, thereby extending mobility independence.
Implications
How might we design assistive devices that blend into one’s life as visually appealing fashion accessories?
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.
Futureproof: Bastion Facial Filter Glasses
These Bastion glasses are excellent. I bought them a couple of months ago because my eyes were getting tired, and the city’s poor air quality was starting to impact my health. They filter for UV, shift tint according to lighting conditions, and protect against the possibility of incidental overlapping LIDAR from all of the self-driving vehicles that I pass on my walking commute. They also provide filtered air close to my nose, which has helped my breathing considerably.
Future Narrative
These Bastion facial filter glasses are excellent. They filter for UV, shift tint according to lighting conditions, and protect against incidental overlapping LIDAR from all the self-driving vehicles I pass on my walking commute. Most importantly, they provide filtered air close to my nose, which helps my breathing and allergies. ScentScene™ fragrance pods fit in each temple and emit various scents depending on your location.
While they cost more than traditional eyewear, the benefits have been worth it. The battery lasts approximately four days, and kinetic chargers ensure that every move I make replenishes some power to my eyewear. Scents are powerfully linked to memory and offer a neat way to enhance our memory and a sense of place. There are also connections between scents, health, and well-being. Come to think of it, I have been a bit more relaxed recently, so maybe there is something to the ScentScene™ technology after all.
Related Technologies
The micro air filtration system provides positive pressure and clean air around the nose and mouth.
Reflective gold coating and elements scatter LIDAR, protecting from rare overlapping amplified laser emissions from self-driving vehicles.
The kinetic charging feature utilizes body movement to maintain a high battery state.
ScentScene™ pods placed in the ear temple produce a range of scents based on GPS coordinates.
Related Work
See the Hyundai Health and Mobility work.
Implications
“Smell can instantly trigger an emotional response along with a memory, and our emotional states have a very strong effect on our physical well-being.”
-Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist at Brown University who studies the psychological science of smell.
The ability of odors to evoke memories of past experiences has intriguing scientific and therapeutic implications.
Read the Harvard Medical article The Connections Between Smell, Memory, and Health.
LIDAR technology is overwhelmingly safe for the human eye. However, this could present issues if multiple beams coincide and strike the eye simultaneously. What other unintended consequences might we face as autonomous mobility scales?
Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.