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Mapping Weak Signals

Inspired by: interviews » Bacteria; it is actually a strong one

version: 7 / updated: 2011-10-23
id: #1825 / version id: #1825
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Ivan Montenegro Perini
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Ivan Montenegro Perini
WI-WE status:

submitted

unpublished

Source of inspiration

Interviews

The source of the Weak Signal is

Ian PEARSON, "Futurizon", interviewed by "MIOIR".

Signal's headline

(max. 9 words)

Bacteria; it is actually a strong one

Signal's description

(approx. 150 words)

Please describe the Weak Signal (approx. 150 words)

We have people trying to make synthetic bacteria for energy conversion technology, such as converting coal into methane. That kind of technology, linked with other technology in IT, such as multi core processors – if you follow those down the line far enough it becomes a weak signal of how computing might go. We might have millions or billions of cores and the best way to produce those is by using synthetic biology.

Keywords

biology, energy and synthetic biology.

Signal's potential evolution

It could lead to...

	issue	type of issue/development	potential impact on society	timeframe for the issue to become at least 50% probable
#1		resolution of uncertainty	harmful
#2		resolution of uncertainty	beneficial

Importance

		please specify
	please select	please specify
Level 1: important for a particular country
Level 4: important for the whole world

Filters preventing the signal's monitoring

scientific filters (knowledge/technology access)

social filters (class, status, education level)

other, please specify: Environment

Signal's relevance for European Grand Challenges

		where?		please justify:
	particularly relevant	Europe	world	please justify:
Energy security/dynamics
Economic prosperity/dynamics
Innovation dynamics
Sustainability and climate change

Signal's relevance for thematic research areas

		please justify:
	particularly relevant	please justify:
ICT - Information & communication technologies
Environment (including Climate Change)
Social Sciences and Humanities
Security

Progress: 52.51% WWI-WE Version: 7
0	mandatory questions pending
19	questions total
9	questions answered
9	questions completed
10	questions pending