FUTURES

Editors: Concepción Olavarrieta, Jerome C. Glenn, and Theodore J. Gordon

FUTURES is the most comprehensive futures studies encyclopedic dictionary that exists to date. It comprises over 1,000 terms and methods used in futures studies. It is available in English and Spanish.

The work was initiated and coordinated by Concepción Olavarrieta, with review and edits of terms done by Theodore Gordon and Jerome Glenn, and with the contribution of more than 500 futurists from The Millennium Project network.

LIST OF TERMS addressed in FUTURES:

Access point
Action
Action research
Action science
Actor, stakeholder, agent
Actor’s game
Actor’s strategies
ADL method
Agent model quick basic program
Agro-biotechnology
Algorithm or algorism
Alien life
Allohistory
Alternate future
Alternate technology
Alternative (option)
Alternative development paths
Alternative energy
Alternative futures
Alternative history
Alternative paradigm
Alternative technology
Ambient Intelligence
Analog
Analogy
Analysis
Analysis of variance
Animal rights
Anomaly
Anticipation
Anticipative
Anticipatory action learning (AAL)
Anticipatory democracy
Anticipatory policy
AQAL (All quadrants, all levels)
Archetype
Area sampling
Argument mapping
Ariole
Arlington impact index
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial neural networks
Aspirational futures
Aspirations model
Assembling a panel
Assumption (critical assumption, hypothesis, model)
Assumption surfacing
Asymptotic
Attractor
Audacious goals
Autocorrelation analysis
Automata or automaton
Autonomus or excluded variables
Avalanche models
Averaging methods
Backcasting
Backstop technology
Balanced feedback loop
Bandwidth
Bariloche model
Bayes theorem
Bayesians
Belief systems
Bell curve
Bellwether
Benchmarking
Bequest values
Beta test
BIAS
Bibliometrics
Bifurcation (singularity, counterfactual, turning point)
Bifurcations
Big crunch
Binomial theorem
Biocentrism
Biodiversity
Bioethics
Bioprospecting
Biotechnology
Bitmaps
Blogs
Boolean Logic/Boole Technique
Bootstrapping paradigm
Bottom-up modeling, Bottom-up analysis
Bounded rationality
Box Jenkins models
Brain trust
Brain writing
Brainstorming
Branching program
Business as usual scenario
Business model
Business portfolio models
Butterfly effect
Carbon sequestration
Carrying capacity
Catastrophe theory
Causal attribution
Causal layered analysis
Causal loop diagram (CLD)
Causal models
Cause and effect analysis
Cellular automata models
Chance elements
Change
Change agent
Change cycle
Change management
Chaos analysis use in forecasting
Chaos theory
Charrette
Citizen congress
Citizen forum
Citizen panels (juries)
Clean/Cleaner technology
Clone/Cloning
Closed system
Club of Rome
Cocreative society
Cognitive bias
Cognitive map
Cognitive science
Cohort
Coincidence
Co-incident indicator
Collective consciousness
Collective intelligence
Collective memory
Collective unconscious
Common good/Common best
Communitarian
Communitarianism
Community
Community based process
Community buy-in
Community information infrastructure
Community transformation
Competing hypotheses
Competitive Intelligence
Complex adaptive systems
Complexity
Complexity manager
Computarium
Computational biology
Computer simulation
Concept fan
Concept map
Conduction time
Cone of plausibility
Conjecture, hypothesis, assumption
Connected individuality
Conscious evolution
Consciousness
Conscious-technology
Consensus
Consensus democracy
Constrained vision
Construction of meaning
Content analysis
Contingent valuation
Continuous variables
Continuities
Control theory
Convergence
Convergent
Corporate foresight
Corporate technology roadmap
Correlation
Cost-benefit analysis
Counter-factual
Counter-intuitive
Counter trend
Covariance analysis
Creative class
Creative knowledge economy
Creative thinking
Creativity
Creeping normalcy
Crisis
Criterion
Critical future studies
Critical path
Critical system requirements
Critical thinking
Cross impact analysis method
Cross sectional study
Cu-bit
Cultural evolution
Curve fitting
C-value paradox
Cyber crime
Cyber culture
Cybernetics
Cyberpunk
Cyberspace
Cyborg
Cyclical analysis
Darwinism
Data availablility
Data collection
Data mining
Debug
Decentralization
Decision analysis
Decision matrix
Decision modeling
Decision theory
Decision tree
Decomposition
Deconstructionism
Deductive prospective
Deep ecology
Delphi method
Depending variables or result variables
Desirable futures, preferable futures
Determinism
Devil’s advocate
Devolution
Diachronic
Diagnosis
Diagnostic reasoning
Diagram
Dictionary: FUTURES World Foresight Encyclopedic Dictionary.
Diffusion
Digital divide
Digital networks
Dimensional analysis
Direct consensus democracy
Disaggregation
Disconnected variables
Discontinuity, lack of continuity
Distribution
Disturbance generator
Divergence mapping
Divination
DNA computing
Double-loop learning
Dream society
Drivers
Driving forces
Dynamic equilibrium
Dynamical systems models
Dynamo
Dystopia
Early detection
Early warning note
Early warning system
Earth stewardship
Ecocide
Ecological footprint analysis
Ecological/Environmental justice/Ecolojustice
Ecological load
Ecologically sustainable development
Econometrics models
Economism
Ecosphere
Ecosystem
Ecosystem fragmentation
Ecosystem management
Eco-terrorism
Edutainment
Effective connections
EIES, Electronic information exchange system
Electronic infrastructure
Electronics
Emergent phenomenon
Emerging issue
Emerging Issues Analysis
Emerging technology
Entropy
Environmental ethics
Environmental impact
Environmental impact assessment
Environmental scanning
Environmental security
Episteme
Epoch A
Epoch B
Equilibrium models
Ethical dilemmas
Ethical investment
Evaluation, assessment
Event sequence analysis
Events (future)
Evolution
Evolution (co-evolution)
Evolutionary biology
Evolutionary development
Evolutionary models
Evolutionary spiral of development
Existence value
Exogenous (variables)
Expectancy
Expected utility/value
Expert choice
Expert forecasting
Experts panel
Experts system
Exploratory forecasting
Exploratory foresight
Exploratory futures
Exploratory methods
Exploratory scenarios
Exponential smoothing
Expost
Extended benefit-cost analysis
Extradimensionality
Extrapolation, projection
Extrapolative methods
Extropianism
Extropy
Factor
Factor analysis
Failed status
Failure mode
Fatalism
Feedback
Feedback loop
Feelysis
Feminine brain drain
Fibonacci numbers
Field anomaly relaxation method
Fitting curve
Flow
Folksonomy
Force-field analysis
Forecast
Forecast methods
Forecasting
Foreknowledge
Foresight (future studies, futures thinking, anticipation)
Foresight attitude
Foresight diamond
Foresight methods
Foresight principle
Foresight workshops, scenario breakout groups
Forward-stepwise regression analysis
Fourier analysis
Fractals
Frequency distribution
Functional equivalent
Future
Future course
Future generations
Future history
Future image
Future landscape
Future research
Future search conferences
Future shock
Future studies
Future survey
Futures
Futures concepts
Futures horizon
Futures metaphors
Futures methodology
Futures research
Futures studies
Futures terms conceptual map
Futures thinking
Futures variables
Futures wheel
Futures workshop
Futures: World Foresight Enciclopedic Dictionary
Futurescan system
Futurible and futurable
Futurics
Futuring
Futurist
Futurology
Fuzzy logic
Fuzzy sets
Game changer
Games
Gaming
Gaussian distribution
Gen X
Gen Y
Gene chip
General circulation/equilibrium models
Generational generative dialogue
Generic table
Genetic engineering
Genius forecasting
Germ, weak signal, shaping factor
Global 2000
Global brain
Global dynamics
Global Marshall Plan
Global Millennium Prize
Global Millennium Prize for Women
Global models
Global problematique
Global resolutique
Global warming
Globalism
Globalization
Glocalization
Goals
Godel’s incompleteness theorem
Gordian knot
Government foresight
Green politics
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases
Group consensus method
Group facilitation techniques
Group intelligence
Group think
Groupware
Guttman scale
Hacker
Harmonic oscillator
Hedging
Heuristic
Heuristic modeling
Hidden attractor
Hierarchy
High impact/Low probability
Hindsight, historical view, retrospective
Historible
Historic analogy
Historicism
Holism
Holistic
Holon
Horizon scanning
Hudson Institute
Human development index
Human genome project
Hypotheses
Hypothesis generation
Hypothetical present
IBIS, Issue based information system
Image of the future
Images of the future
Imagination
Impact factor
Impact matrix
Impact wheel
Implicate order
In-basket exercises
Incasting
Independent variables
In-depth interviews
Indicator validator
Indicator, variable, factor, metric
Individual aggregates method
Individualism
Inductive and ascendant prospective
Industrial ecology
Industry technology roadmap
Inertia
Inference engine
Inference matrix
Influence diagram
Influent variable
Informatics
Information society
Information warfare
Infrastructure for the future
Initial conditions
Innovation
Innovation indicators
Innovation stage
Input-output
Input-output model
Insight
Instinct
Institute for social inventions
Institute for the Future
Institutional analysis
Institutionalize
Integral futures
Integrated synthesis
Integrative methods
Interactive
Interactive futures conference
Interactive scenarios
Interax simulation method
Interdependence
Interesting future
International geosphere-biosphere programme
Interpolation
Interpretative paradigm
Intimate
Intrinsic values
Intuition
Irreversibility
Isotropy
Issue, key issue, in play, stake
Issue trees
Issues management
Iteration
iThink
J curve
Jackknife
Jerk
Judgmental bootstrapping
Judgmental extrapoltaion
Judgment heuristics
Judgemental forecasting
Juster scale
Key assumptions check
Key forces
Key measures
KJ method
KJ technique
Knowledge economy
Knowledge management
Knowledge society
Kondratiev waves or supercycles
KSIM a simulation technique
La prospective
Lag
Lagging indicator
Laser technology
Lateral thinking
Law of diminishing/accelerating returns
Lead time
Leading indicators
Learning community
Learning systems
Levels theory
Life cycle
Life cycle analysis
Likert scale
Limit
Limiting factor
Limits to growth
Linear extrapolation
Linear programming
Linear relationship
Linear systems
Literature review
Localism
Logarithmic growth
Logic
Logical inference
Logistic growth
Long term
Longevity methods
Loop (computational)
Lorenz attractor
Macroshift
Mactor Method
MAO. Matrix actors x objectives
Map of the future
Materials science or materials engineering
Mathematical model
Matrix methods
Media type
Median
Meditation
Megadiversity
Megatrend
Megatrends
Meme, memes or memetic code
Metaphor
Metaphorical games
Metaphorm
Methods of exhaustion
Methods table
MICMAC method
Microfutures
Microscenarios
MID matrix of direct influence
MIDI matrix
Milestone
Millennium Award
Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Institute
Millennium Project
Millennium Project: FUTURES World Foresight Encylopedic Dictionary
Millennium Project Nodes
Mind map and Mind mapping
Mindset
Minimax method or theorem
Minitrends
Mission
Mission flow diagrams
Mixed foresight techniques
Mode
Model
Modeling
Modern futures movement
Monitoring
Montecarlo method
Moore’s Law
Moral community
Morphogenetic fields
Morphological analysis
Morphological box
Multi-criteria decision analysis
Multidimensionality
Multi-disciplinary, pluri-disciplinary
Multimedia
Multiple linear regression
Multiple perspective method
Multiple regression analysis
Multipol method
Multivariable analysis
Mutation
Mystical consciousness
Nanobot
Nanobot swarm
Nanoengineering
Nanopathogen
Nanotechnology
Narrative analysis
Negative feedback
Neo-malthusianism
Network analysis
Networks
New world disorder
Nightmare (scenario)
No surprise future
Node
Nodo Mexicano. El Proyecto del Milenio, A.C.
Noise
Nominal group technique
Nonlinear
Non-linear relationship
Nonmathematical model
Noosphere
Normalizing
Normative
Normative forecasting
Normative foresight
Normative futures
Normative methods
Normative scenarios
Normative studies
Norms
Omega point theory
Ontology
Operational foresight, operative foresight
Operations research
Opinion polling
Optimism & pessimism
Optimization
Organizational storytelling
Oscillation
Outside-in thinking
Oval map
Overshoot and collapse
Ownership (appropriation, internalization, assimilation, sharing)
Paradigm
Paradigm blindness
Paradigm shift
Paradox
Parallel processes
Parameter
Paranormal phenomena
Participatory democracy
Participatory methods
Pattern recognition
Perimeter
Personal futures
PERT
Pertinence tree
PEST analysis
Phase space
Photonics
Photovoltaics
Physical simulation elements
Picture of the future
Plan
Planification
Planner
Planning
Planning action
Plausible future
Pluri-disciplinarity
Point of inflection
Poisson distribution
Policy (policy space)
Policy outcomes forecasting model
Polynomial-regression analysis
Population dynamics
Positive feedback
Possible future
Possible futures, possible future, alternative future
Post-cartesian science
Post-human
Post industrial society
Post-materialism
Post-transition
Precautionary principle
Precursor
Precursor analysis
Precursor events
Predict
Prediction
Prediction markets
Predictive extrapolative methods
Preferable future
Preference, stated/revealed
Premonition
Pre-mortem analysis
Presage
Presentiment
Primary/secondary/tertiary effects
3D Printing
Prisoner’s dilemma
Proactive
Probabilistic cross-impact matrix
Probabilistic system dynamics
Probability (likelihood)
Probability distribution
Probable, probable futures
Problem
Problematique
Problem-oriented analysis
Process (disruptive process)
Process leader
Process mapping
Process steering committee
Process/Transformative leadership
Prognosis
Programmed decisions simulations
Programming/Planning
Progress
Project management
Projection
Prophecy
Pros-cons
Prospect theory
Prospective
Prospective evaluation
Protocol
Psychodrama
Public Delphi
Public opinion surveys
Purposes of future studies
Quadrant crunching
Quality of life
Quality techniques
Quantitative scenarios
Quantitive techniques
Quantum computing
Quantum theory
QUEST. Quick environmental scanning technique
Rand corporation
Random
Random events
Random number generators
Randomization
Range
Rational choice theory
Reactivity
Reading grid
Real time Delphi
Rebuilding civil society
Recursion
Reductionism
Reframing
Regional project, regional design
Regresion analysis
Regulation
Reinforcing feedback loop
Relevance tree
Reliability
Replication
Requirements analysis
Resilience
Resolutique
Resources analysis-chains of value
Resources partners
Restorative economy
Retroaction
Reversible
Rights of property
Risk
Risk analysis
Risk management
Risk society
Roadmapping
Robot
Robotics
Robust decision-making
Role playing
Run chart
Rupture, discontinuity, breakdown
Saltwater agriculture
Scale, metrics
Scanning
Scatter diagram
Scenario (story, narrative, outcome, path)
Scenario archetypes
Scenario, context analysis
Scenario levels
Scenario matrix
Scenario planning
Scenario technique
Scenario workshops
Scenarios
Science ethics
Science fiction
Science roadmap
Scientific thinking
Scoping
Search conference
Secondary variables
Secularization
Security foresight
Self altering
Self assembly
Self destructive prophecy
Self-fulfiling prophecy
Self organizing
Sensors
Service Web 3.0
Sets
Shared vision
Shifting dominance
Sigmoid curve/ S curve
Signal strength
Simulated person
Simulation
Simulation gaming
Simulation modeling
Simultaneaous equations
Single-loop learning
Singularity
Sistematic intuitions
SMIC method
SMIC-Prob-expert method
Smoothing
Social change
Social cycle theory
Social imaging
Social innovation
Social network analysis
Social reproduction
Social synergy
Social transformation
Socialization
Societal values/indicators
SOF, State of the future report
SOFI, State of the future index
Solution effect analysis
Space exploration
Space technology
Spaceship earth
Space-time continuum
Space-time model
Spacial dimension
Spheric vision
Spiral dynamics
Spontaneity
Stake variables
Stakeholder
Stakeholder panels
Starbursting
Starlogo
Starter scenarios
Stasis
State of the future index
Statistical analysis
Statistical methods
Statistical modeling
STEEP, Society, Technology, Economy, Environment, Policy
Stella II
Stem cells
Stewardship ethics
Stock
Strange attractor
Strategic analysis
Strategic analysis grid
Strategic and proactive leadership
Strategic and Tactics
Strategic business areas
Strategic business development
Strategic foresight
Strategic foresight, strategic planning
Strategic inflection point
Strategic management
Strategic planning
Strategic policy intelligence, regional intelligence
Strategic prospective
Strategic studies
Strategic thinking
Strategies
Strategy
Strength analysis
Structural analysis
Structured debate
Study, report
Subjective, judgemental or intuitive methods
Sub-optimization
Substitution analysis
Sugarspace
Suprasex
Survey
Survey letter, watch-letter, newsletter
Survey technique
Sustainability
Sustainable development
Sustainable development principle
Sustainable technologies
Swarm intelligence
SWOT analysis
Sylorgs
Symborgs
Synchronicity
Syncretism
Synectics
Synergestic convergence
Synergy
Synocracy
Synopsis
Synopthic path
Synthesis
Syntony
Syntropy
System
Systems dinamics
System sciences
Systemic
Systemic dynamics
Systemic methods
Systemic process
Systems analysis
Systems foresight, systems thinking, holistic perspective
Systems theory
Systems thinking
Table of actor’s strategies
Tactic
Taxonomy
Tech-cast
Technoborgs
Technological determinism
Technological forecasting
Technology acceptance model
Technology assessment
Technology drivers
Technology forecasting
Technology foresight
Technology management
Technology planning
Technology roadmapping
Technology sequence analysis
Teilhard de Chardin
Telesthesia
Template
Temporal conceptions
Temporal horizon
Terminal scenario
Text data mining
The Futures Polygon
Theorem
Think tank
Threshold
Thurstone scale
Time capsule
Time frame
Time frames
Time horizon (event horizon, timeframe)
Time lag
Time series
Time series analysis
Timeline
TKJ
To anticipate
Top-down process
Transdisciplinarity
Transhuman
Transhumanism
Transinstitution
Tree of knowledge (TOK)
Trend
Trend analysis
Trend assessment
Trend extrapolation
Trend impact analysis
TRIZ
Trust interval or certainty (accuracy) interval
Turbulence
Turing test
Ubiquitous computing
Ultimate aims
Uncertain
Uncertainty
Uncertainty principle
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal humanity
Unknown
Uplearning
Utilitarian
Utilitarianism
Utopia
Validation
Validaty
Value
Value of variable
Value theory
Values
Vantage point
Variable
Variables
Variance
Variance analysis
Variation
Vector
Vertical levels
Virtual reality
Vision
Vision in futures
Visioning, Image
Visualise
Visualization
Visualizing
Voice (speech) recognition
Volatility
Weak signals, seeds of change
Weapons of mass destruction
Web
Webs and networks
What If?
White holes
Wild card
Wild cards
Wind tunnelling
Wired
Wise culture
Working group
World Future Society
World Futures Studies Federation
Worldview
Worldview assumptions
Worldwatch Institute
Young Science