Sylvia Gallusser, Futurist & Researcher at Silicon Humanism, discusses her Future Fiction chapter, included in the collective book by Fast Future Publishing “Aftershocks & Opportunities: Scenarios for a Post-Pandemic Future” under the title “The Generation Zoom Classroom”.
[Transcript]
Hi everybody! I hope you this video finds you safe. My name is Sylvia, I am a futurist based in San Francisco. I am leading an initiative called Silicon Humanism. We dedicate our research specifically to the human & social component of our future. I am excited to announce my contribution to the new collaborative book from Fast Future, called Aftershocks & Opportunities: Scenarios for a Post-Pandemic Future.
My chapter for this book is a short fiction piece, taking place 15 years from now. It focuses on a history teacher analyzing with her students the sequence of events and the aftermaths of the COVID-19 crisis. It is designed to envision the social and psychological aspects of isolation and possible effects of segregation policies.
I am also quizzical about how the babies resulting from this period are going to be told about the conditions of their conception and which behaviors they will eventually adopt.
On a further level, I describe how the story resonates within the teacher herself, on a more intimate level, raising a fundamental question: how are individuals able to grieve for the family and friends they lost, as we are piling up dead bodies, as family members are often unable to say a proper goodbye to their loved ones. How do we profoundly heal as a society in a large-scale dead count?
I hope you will enjoy the story and the book! Contact me if you want a special discount! Stay safe.
Check the book: https://fastfuture.com/shop/aftershocks-and-opportunities-scenarios-for-a-post-pandemic-future-paperback/
Silicon Humanism 