Exploring business visions using creative fictional prototypes

This special issue (SI) explores the use of creative fictional prototyping to motivate and direct research into new high-tech products, environments and lifestyles. Fictional prototyping combines storytelling with science fact to explore a wide variety of possible futures. We define what a prototype is, then outline the design challenges. Commentaries are presented on each fictional prototype. Finally we highlight the significance of this SI by making reference to similar studies published in Futures.