plausible argument

The most plausible argument in chapter one, titled forward, into the unknown, is where the author maintains that instead of encouraging the world to maintain work situations involving long hours and consequently impaired family relationships, science and technology could help in enhancing more rebalanced lives.

A scenario developed by the author involved a situation in which a Tokyo officer worker died at his desk (Yang, 2017). The most alarming aspect was that this was not noticed for five days. In fact, his coworkers frequently went by without recognizing his condition. The question to be answered is whether this is the future we want for the younger generation and the children looking to get into the corporate world. The so-called free agents are seen to be inhabiting anonymous desks inside huge multinational corporations. Moreover, there is an emerging generation of digital nomads who are tethered electronically using Blackberries and Apples. Therefore, to solve this issue, Watson and Freeman (2012) proposes the use of robotics and artificial intelligence to deliver the promise of family reconnection and a more leisure-oriented society (Watson, R., & Freeman, 2012). More so, ICT promotes social networking which brings geographically dispersed people together. Essentially, the strategy proposes combined use of state of art intelligence to enable natural interaction between geographically dispersed people.

Part II

The book analyses the need for greater social consciousness and community based living. Instead of everyone fighting for themselves, Watson and Freeman (2012) proposes a meaningful debate advocating for cohesiveness and a defined vision for the future.

UNICEF’s sustainable development goals are coherent with the author’s proposal (Jensen & United Nations, 2010). For instance, one long term goal of UNCIEF is to promote health through recognizing diversity and involving multi-sector approaches to enhance child development (Jensen & United Nations, 2010). It shifts UNICEF from to vertical health strengthening programmes to building systems that flexibly respond to integration of development efforts between governments, NGOs and other interested institutions (Bellamy & UNICEF, 2012). In order to increase coherence across children health programmes, the strategy proposes three approaches: reinforcement of recognized leadership role in equity, strengthening emergency preparedness and promoting integrated multi-sectorial programmes (Nwonwu & Africa Institute of South Africa, 2008). To conclude, Freeman’s and Watson’s analysis offers a comparative advantage that enhances better lives and consequently a better future.

References

Bellamy, C., & UNICEF. (2012). The state of the world’s children 2002. New York, N.Y: UNICEF.

Jensen, L., & United Nations. (2010). Millennium development goals report 2010. New York: United Nations Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs.

Nwonwu, F. O. C., & Africa Institute of South Africa. (2008). Millennium development goals: Achievements and prospects of meeting the targets in Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: Africa Institute of South Africa.

Watson, R., & Freeman, O. (2012). Futurevision: Scenarios for the world in 2040. Melbourne [i.e. Brunswick, Vic.: Scribe Publications.

Watson, R. (2010). Future files: A brief history of the next 50 years. London: Nicholas Brealey.

Yang, H., & International Conference of Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology. (2017). Artificial intellience science and technology: Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference (AIST2016) Shanghai, China, 15-17 July 2016. New Jersey: World Scientific.