Into the Future – 002.

The future is full of possibilities and ours to imagine. From the future of neighbourhoods and music to transport and entertainment, we have week-long explorations to discover something new and expand our thinking. Mood visuals, conceptual drawings and design help bring some ideas to life.

A keyboard that reveals hidden hieroglyphs.

Graphic hieroglyphs made by linking the letters on a QWERTY keyboard.

–– Harry Ead

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A built-in way to charge cars on the move.

The most common reason for not buying electric cars is the lack of fast charging. E-Lanes would convert the inside lane on motorways to wireless charging lanes, using an under-road charging infratsructure, powered by the same technology as wireless phone chargers so you never need to stop to refuel.

— Matt Caldwell

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A future born from nature.

The film “Princess Mononoke” explores the tension between humans and nature, with us developing advanced societies at the detriment to nature. I hope our future with nature is a more harmonious and symbiotic one. Inspired by the Barbican, where nature is seamlessly woven into the man-made fortress, I used AI-image generator midjourney to visualise what this future could look like for Hong Kong.

— Shirley Wang

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A future where senses are amplified.

I see flickers of colour. I taste the sugars of my sweat. I feel the vibration in my chest. I hear unworldly sounds. I smell the sweetness of smog. All five senses dialled in. Welcome to my domain. Welcome to my future.

— Aydin Mustafa

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A way to see bacteria as a positive force.

Viruses and bacteria have always surrounded us, and post-COVID we’ve never been more aware – or more afraid – of them. But they aren’t always something to fear. They can help us find vaccines, create new types of food, and even be beautiful. This is the DixonBaxi-teria, our DBNA.

— Jasmine Walsh

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A balance of positivity with accountability.

We are in the midst of a kind of social renaissance in which many are attempting to trade their ignorance for understanding and passivity for activism. As we slowly begin to reject the reigning institutions in favour of a reimagined future – one built for everyone, by everyone – it’s important to balance positivity and hope with brutal accountability so that we might continue to ward off the complacency that brought us here in the first place.

— Eva Munday

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A rating system making driving safer.

People spend so much time on the roads. Driving at a high-speed we’re metres away from others and moments away from potential accidents. Every year worldwide the lives of 1.3 million people are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries. What if we could rate other drivers and see their rating instantly? Would people slow down knowing there is a driver ahead with a bad score? Would we be less trusty and become more careful? Perhaps we could reduce the number of accidents and save lives.

— Agata Walas