The Near futures Lab

Today ive come accross a web site called the Near Futures Lab, Its a kind of sister website to the Futures Lab which ive been looking at also.

The Near Futures Lab web site describes it's self as:

This is the notebook for The Near Future Laboratory, a design, development and research consultancy that combines strategy, analysis with design with rapid prototyping. We're a think/make design practice focusing on digital interaction designs based on "weak signals" from the fringes of digital culture, where the near-future already exists. We turn those weak signals into physical form by rapidly constructing prototypes of innovative designs for near-future products and services. Our goal is to synthesize provocative new designs and prototypes based on insight and analysis of cultural trends.

The Near Future Laboratory is a think/make-tank that combines analysis with design and prototyping in order to understand the possibilities for new digital interaction rituals.

Our process is straightforward. First we study the underlying social practices that define certain themes related to digital culture. We then develop these themes into scenarios and functioning prototypes that help to evoke the subtleties of these themes so that the implications and opportunities for future digital experiences, products and services are more clearly revealed.

Our practice lies across the spectrum of thought-provoking think-tank and hands-on development lab. We think about the near future by asking “what if?” and then develop informed responses by creating technologies that help answer these questions. We couple brain-storming, analysis, and synthesis with actual construction of digital devices and artifacts to better understand possible near future scenarios.

Ive only JUST come accross it but just from some images on its main page, it looks like the ideal web site to compliment my current project. Research continues!

http://www.nearfuturelaboratory.com/