Looking at the future of kids entertainment

Back at school again. Second to last semester before tackling the Major Project. Courses this time around are: Foresight and Innovation Studio, and Social Systems.

Foresight and Innovation Studio is hands on. In addition to book learning we also get to do some. Woohoo! Still trying to pin down a good definition of foresight - there are lots around but here's one that works.

Foresight is a systematic, participatory, future intelligence gathering and medium-to-long-term vision-building process aimed at present-day decisions and mobilising joint actions - EC funded FOREN project

What are the aims of foresight?
"[Making] better, more informed decision in the present . . . exploring new markets, products, ad services . . .navigating the rapids of today's constantly shifting, increasingly complex global environment - Hinds and Bishops, 2006.

So my group and I are looking at the future of kids entertainment with a horizon of 10-20 years down the road. This will be a mini run-through of the steps we would likely take for our major projects. And for me, since I will probably look at some aspect of the intersection of the internet, TV, Film and Interactive Digital Media, this will be a good dry run.

We are working with a large media production company in Canada. They are our ambassadors into this domain. We are mapping out the systems that interplay in the kids entertainment domain: broadcasting, merchandising, broadcast regulatory, Cdn cultural policy, political, etc; the stakeholders: kids, parents, advertisers, policy makers, toy manufacturers etc; the blurring of boundaries between domestic and international markets; and the trends and drivers of change that may have an impact on possible futures for kids entertainment.

It's a group project, and like good foresighting, reflects different perspectives and backgrounds. While there are challenges in working in groups the benefits are great. As I have realized so far in the program, I'm not really a finisher. I'm great getting started, figuring out the issues (the real ones and not just the perceived ones), the patterns, possible routes to follow for fruitful solutions,
I am not as strong at the convergent thinking part - narrowing down on one key solution and then implementing it. Here, I need help from people who are good at this. Thankfully, some of my group mates are good at this.

First assignment is to discover and explore key trends. I've done a bit of this already working as a graduate research assistant on the 2020 Media Futures foresight projects underway at OCAD University's sLab. But it's still tough to find the right angle and make sure to be articulating significant implications for the industry. After we finish this task, we will be tackling scenarios. Should be interesting.