A future casting research and world-building case study that captures the possibilities of Blockchain technology applied to a decentralized international traveler identity in 2040.
STEEPX analysis
Morphological (Morph) analysis
Causal Layered Analysis (CLA mapping)
These tools were used to explore future trends, potential touch-points, and cultural sentiments during the year 2040.
Our goal with this future casting study is not to proclaim truths about the future; rather, we aim to explore plausible innovations backed by data-driven insights that may shape the future of travel depending on how certain political, technological, cultural, and economical factors play out in the next 15 years.
Cultural sentiments, deeply ingrained racial and gender-driven biases, and a general mistrust of how sensitive data is handled have historically had a large hand in either accelerating or delaying innovation–and perhaps rightfully so, especially in light of concerns regarding private company ownership of individuals' data.
Though 2040 may not perfectly fit into any one of these futures, it will likely include elements from all matrices.
We determined our matrices based off of the most pressing commonalities driving innovation: Ecological Sustainability and Socioeconomic Equity/Access.
Our explorations were based on desktop research of current trends, emerging technologies, social attitudes, and futurist insights from McKinsey, Robb Report, Forrester, Forbes, Science Direct, Millennium Project, Deloitte, WGSN, KPMG International, & the United Nations.
Memristor processors (or similar form of increased bandwidth) to run blockchain efficiently and maximize storage capacity
Web3 blockchain-driven platform & 7G internet connectivity (1000x 5G) or similar technology
Multipoint Biometric Technology is deployable in most major airports in multiple modalities, (i.e. Infrared Palm Scanning, Facial Recognition, etc...)
Increase in international travel and cultural exchange
My identity info, my ownership. Biometric tech is democratized and even more normalized in daily life.
Decentralized tech is generally trusted, a net positive thanks to carefully crafted positive press over the years, noting its superior security strengths in the medical, financial, and government sectors.
Physical Documents No More -Will be placed at security checkpoints in airports & transit stations, replacing the need to bring physical documents for domestic & international travel.
Increased Transit Efficiency - The single traveler identity decentralizes the ownership of data, decreasing security concerns over the transit of data to multiple international ports.
Various Biometric Modalities Palm scanning uses infrared light to map the palm's vein patterns–it is generally more reliable than a fingerprint, but various biometric modalities such as eye/facial scanning can be considered.
If given more time, I would love to continue designing the role that the blockchain traveler's identity will have in other travel checkpoints such as baggage drop and more. I would also explore other biometric modalities that may be more accessible to more groups.
We learned that it is not always about racing to ideate technology that doesn't yet exist, but rather to figure out ways in which existing technology can be naturally integrated into the culture and politics of a future society.
For the most part, biometric scanning is already viable; the challenges to consider would involve scaling and processing capacity that will pose to be a challenge in ensuring that enough airlines and airports will be able to scale at a comparable pace in order to truly streamline the general travel experience.
