Book looks to the present to predict the future

By Ashlee Betteridge
Woollahra’s Richard Watson can see into the
future, but without the aid of a crystal ball, tarot
cards, time machines or hallucinogenics.
Instead, he analyses what is happening today
to come up with ideas about what life might be
like for people and businesses a few years down
the track.
Richard’s book, Future Files: A History of the
Next 50 Years, was published mid 2007 and has
been flying off the shelves both in Australia and
overseas.
He will also be taking part in panel discussions
at this month’s Sydney Writers Festival.
The book looks at the big questions, like wheth-
er machines will become more intellegent than
humans or if the environmental crisis will doom
the planet.
“The secret is though, that the book is really
about now. If you look at what people are doing
overseas right now, you can get some idea about
the changes that might happen here in five years
or so,” Richard said.
So what will the future be like?
Richard said he believes it will be “faster and
more expensive” and that there will be greater po-
larisation between the rich and poor.
He also believes our quality of life may decline
over the next 50 years.
“There is no one future though and it’s difficult
to make blanket statements. It depends on where
you live and so many other factors,” he said.
And with a soothsayer at one’s fingertips, there
is one question any newspaper reporter would
want to ask – does Richard think that that news-
papers will survive the digital revolution?
“Some people think that newspapers will die,
but I think local physical newspapers will remain
in existance for a long while to come,” he said.
That’s good news for the Village Voice.
Richard Watson, author of the book,
Future Files: A History of the Next
50 Years, is taking part in panel
discussions at the Sydney Writers Festival.
Sydney Writers Festival begins on May 19.
For information or to buy tickets,
visit www.swf.org.au.
To visit Richard’s website, go to
www.nowandnext.com.

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