The influence of future-oriented technology analysis: Addressing the Cassandra challenge

This paper is based on a series of interviews with nine leading researchers conducted during the Future-Oriented Technology Analysis International Conference held in Seville on 16–17 October 2008. Analysis of these interviews paints a picture of FTA as an increasingly important approach being adopted in many countries to address the many challenges which are emerging at this time in human history. From this are drawn implications for the community of FTA practitioners. The biggest challenge is to achieve and demonstrate a greater impact of FTA studies. Otherwise the views of the possible futures that await us may continue to go largely unheard and unheeded, as with Cassandra's prophecies.