Emerging Need State 6: Getting real with the virtual

Seeking assistance in incorporating the growing presence of the virtual into one’s life

“Getting real with the virtual” is the second of two emerging need states at the core of our second meta need “Pushing the Envelope” in ConsumerShift.

Those pushing the envelope will often see the virtual world as a rich playground to expand their capabilities. They will embrace the novelty and look for ways to add it to their repertoire of tools for improving personal performance. They may try on different personalities in the virtual world as a means to better empathize with others in the real world. The virtual world will be viewed as a new frontier full of enticing possibilities.

These consumers will seek assistance in how to integrate these possibilities into their lives, and be the first to try the latest innovations in the virtual space. They will not be overly concerned with the practical applications, at least in the beginning, but will enjoy the experience of something new. At some point, however, the enthusiasm will wear off if there is no longer a sense of how it can add to one’s capabilities. Their thirst for novelty will push those providing offerings in this area. Andy Hines

About Andy Hines

Dr. Andy Hines is Program Coordinator at the University of Houston’s Graduate Program in Foresight, bringing together the experience he earned as an organizational, consulting, and academic futurist. He is also speaking, workshopping, and consulting through his firm Hinesight.

Before that, he was Managing Director of Social Technologies/Innovaro, and served as an Adjunct Professor with the university since 2004. Hines enjoyed earlier careers as a consulting and organizational futurist. He was a partner with Coates & Jarratt, Inc., a think tank and consulting firm that specialized in the study of the future. He was also Futurist & Senior Ideation Leader at Dow Chemical with a mission of using futures tools and knowledge to turn ideas into new business opportunities. Before that, Hines established and ran the Global Trends Program for the Kellogg Company.

Hines is motivated by a professional hunger to make foresight practical and useful, and he believes that foresight can help deliver the insight that is so needed in today’s organizations and the world. His goal, he says, is to infect as many change agents as possible with this message. Thus, he has honed a skill set designed to make foresight more actionable in organizations.

In this pursuit, he has authored five books: Teaching about the Future: The Basics of Foresight Education (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012); ConsumerShift: How Changing Values Are Reshaping the Consumer Landscape (No Limits Publishing, 2011); Thinking About the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight (Social Technologies, 2007); 2025: Science and Technology Reshapes US and Global Society (Oak Hill, 1997); and Managing Your Future as an Association (ASAE, 1994) and has another in the hands of publishers: Teaching about the Future: The Basics of Foresight Education. He has also authored dozens of articles, speeches, and workshops, including the 2003 Emerald Literati Awards’ Outstanding Paper accolade for best article published in Foresight for “An Audit for Organizational Futurists” and the 2008 award for “Scenarios: The State of the Art.” He has appeared on several radio and television programs, PBS Houston, KRIV-26 News, and the CBS “Early Show.” He also co-founded and is former Chair of the Association of Professional Futurists.

About Andy Hines

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