Questions We Can Help You To Answer

Assignment: 
Create a future scenario for your industry, a basic Science Fiction Prototype (story, illustration or video)


Here as some helping guidelines, although you don't necessarily have to follow these steps. It is just an example. You set your own guidelines and process.


STEP 1. Build the World

Pick a person, place, date and industry. A good starting point is to pick a date that is far enough out that it is just on the other side of plausibility. You can get yourself almost 90% of the way there from current science “fact,” but you must push yourself further into “fiction.” Now that you have your person, place, time and industry, you’ve begun building your science fiction world.


STEP 2. Insert Technology Inflection Point

Now you need to figure the plot/conflict of your story. Another good starting point is to choose a piece of technology that you are worried or excited about—something that you want to explore—that brings up the problem, the inflection point. Something happens that substantiates worry or concern.


STEP 3. Explore the Ramifications

What are the ramifications? You have a person and a place; they must have a family, a place to live. They also must operate in that industry. Something must have happened that caused problems. What happens to them? What happens to where they live? What happens to their family? What happens to the societal structure? Legally, ethically, etc. Begin to experiment and really prototype what happened.


STEP 4. Insert Human Inflection Point

Within those ramifications, something changes. It is usually within the main character(s); they adapt, they make a decision, they change as a part of the ramifications from the first inflection point.


STEP 5. Reveal What We Learned

In the final section of the story, we begin to explore how that character or how the world has changed. What did we learn from this journey? In science fiction prototyping, they’ve changed due to how they react or interact with the science and the technologies presented within the story and within that industry.


Once again, this is only an example of the steps you can follow. It is not meant in any way to limit your imagination. Be creative, and tell us how you imagine your world and industry will be in the future. Most importantly, be prepared to talk about the process you have followed to get there.

You can submit a 1-page story, a story board, or any fun way you think best represents your world.