The premise of this blog (or what, had it arrived online less than a decade ago would have been called a web log) is to explore concepts and deepen our understanding of the knowledge that surrounds design of clean technologies, here often called 'cleantech'.
On one level, the metaphor 'picture the worlds' expresses the notion that design thinking can give us a steady hand on the rudder as we navigate through environmental upheaval—softened now to climate control—something we humans haven't seemed to be good at. But we're getting smarter. This is remarkable. This is what Cleantech Map blog talks about: the map we are charting on the way to clean energy.
Many acknowledge that we're adrift and now it's time, the first time really, people are agreeing that we have the ability but also that collectively we can build the will to invent the means to steer a new course. Whether or not we do this is the impetus of this blog.
It occurred to me while watching random live twitterings flit across the screen on Current TV in October 2008 during the U.S. presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, how cool is this that we have the technology to show comments on top of a live broadcast? I thought therefore I tweeted: energy is the new cold war. Certainly, if history has shown anthing, it's taught us there's nothing like a war to build allegiance and resourcefulness on all sides.
What's striking about an environment war is that everyone's on the same side. Unlike any war before, all of us face the same threat: a deteriorating environment characterized by dwindling resources. We're running short on fresh water, healthy forests, wildlife and fossil fuels. To be sure, whether we design changes or defend business as usual,there's a lot to learn and a lot we can or won't do. Herein lies the fulcrum, the force—but also the balance—compelling the inquiry behind this blog.
The writings you'll find here will look into the ways new information can shift our attidudes about the policies needed to design the right clean technologies. Not only attitudes, but also concepts that are gradually being proven, proposed or tested. What seems fantasy and what seems fact is, as we know, a reflection of our ambivalence, but also our ignorance. We can but will we fix this?
Frequently, postings will be accompanied by infographics or what we call 'cleantech maps'. These are not geographic maps like Google Earth; there are plenty of people already doing this. These cleantech maps are maps, or more accurately, graphics expressing ideas by which to steer the way to more environmentally nourishing design: Design of cleantech, design of policy and design of business.
Occasionally, writings will be included about best practices on which Picture the Worlds depends: business analysis, experience design, project management and positioning.
Here you can read more about Picture the Worlds blogger MA Neff.
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One thing about war is that
One thing about war is that it tends to feel immediate to our short term ape brains: "communists taking over our town!" The "foe" in the environmental war, however, seems distant enough that most ape brains have difficulty acting -- a great metaphor is smoking cigarettes:
When I was 19, it waas easy to smoke a pack a day because I could tell myself "I'll quit on my 21st birthday - i don't have to really worry about my risk of cancer until i smoke for 10 years." That didn't happen of course -- at 27 there's a rationalization that still says "quit this news years -- and remember, no one has ever gotten lung cancer in your family".
Its much the same with the struggle of preserving our delicate environment: we don't have to quit now, because we're able to convince ourselves that we'll manage the problem in the future - New York City isn't underwater yet (unfortunately, many argue that we've already hit a tipping point on that one). You see this pattern everywhere from retirement planning, to unhealthy lifestyles. I'd argue that overcoming this pattern of thought is the largest challenges the environmental movement faces.
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