Futurist > Software and Tools
Futurist software and tools
While futures and foresight are largely centered on human cognition and understanding, software can be very valuable in a variety of functions, including compiling, categorizing and connecting trends and themes, mapping systems, visualizing change, and tapping broad and diverse insights. Below is a list of software tools that are used specifically in futures and foresight.
As for our other futurist resources, please let us know if we are missing any software or tools that should be on the list.
4strat
Joel Barker
Circle for Prospective Action (CPA)
FIBRES
Futures Platform
Futurescaper
ITONICS
Parmenides
Scenario Management International (ScMI)
Softmark
Shaping Tomorrow
The Millenium Project
4strat
Tools |
Foresight Strategy Cockpit |
Services |
4strat’s Foresight Strategy Cockpit integrates horizon scanning and trend analysis with risk management and innovation management into a highly visual software solution. |
Benefits |
Clients can create scenarios for the future quickly, securely, collaboratively and flexibly. |
Year Launched |
2016 |
Fee Structure |
Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
Tanja Schindler — senior consultant |
Tools |
| Foresight Strategy Cockpit |
Services |
| 4strat’s Foresight Strategy Cockpit integrates horizon scanning and trend analysis with risk management and innovation management into a highly visual software solution. |
Benefits |
| Clients can create scenarios for the future quickly, securely, collaboratively and flexibly. |
Year Launched |
| 2016 |
Fee Structure |
| Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
| Tanja Schindler — senior consultant |
Joel Barker
Tools |
Implications Wheel |
Services |
Mr. Barker has multiple proprietary tools that he promotes. However, the Implications Wheel is the flagship software-based product. It functions similarly to a mind mapping tool, but the focus is on creating a futures wheel. |
Benefits |
Users can use intuitive software to easily create futures wheels. The futures wheels can then be easily shared online where they will be interactive for users. Teams can also display the futures wheels on a large screen for collaborative development and analysis. |
Year Launched |
2009 |
Fee Structure |
Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
Joel Barker — founder |
Tools |
| Implications Wheel |
Services |
| Mr. Barker has multiple proprietary tools that he promotes. However, the Implications Wheel is the flagship software-based product. It functions similarly to a mind mapping tool, but the focus is on creating a futures wheel. |
Benefits |
| Users can use intuitive software to easily create futures wheels. The futures wheels can then be easily shared online where they will be interactive for users. Teams can also display the futures wheels on a large screen for collaborative development and analysis. |
Year Launched |
| 2009 |
Fee Structure |
| Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
| Joel Barker — founder |
Circle for Prospective Action (CPA)
Tools |
Micmac, Mactor, Scenaring Tool, Smic Prob-Expert, Multipol |
Services |
Michel Godet is a prominent academic in la prospective (foresight). He developed these software tools along with collaborators in three different languages–English, French, and Spanish. Since giving them away for free, the software tools have been downloaded more than 35,000 times. Since 2015, they have also been available in a cloud based version. |
Benefits |
Aside from being free, they are great tools for novices to learn the principles of foresight. For foresight experts, these software tools date back as far as 1971. Therefore, they are well established tools of historical and practical significance. |
Year Launched |
2003 |
Fee Structure |
Free-of-charge |
Associated Futurist |
Michel Godet |
Tools |
| Micmac, Mactor, Scenaring Tool, Smic Prob-Expert, Multipol |
Services |
| Michel Godet is a prominent academic in la prospective (foresight). He developed these software tools along with collaborators in three different languages–English, French, and Spanish. Since giving them away for free, the software tools have been downloaded more than 35,000 times. Since 2015, they have also been available in a cloud based version. |
Benefits |
| Aside from being free, they are great tools for novices to learn the principles of foresight. For foresight experts, these software tools date back as far as 1971. Therefore, they are well established tools of historical and practical significance. |
Year Launched |
| 2003 |
Fee Structure |
| Free-of-charge |
Associated Futurist |
| Michel Godet |
FIBRES
Tools |
FIBRES |
Services |
FIBRES combines AI-assisted horizon scanning and trend management in one software application. It is focused on providing visually appealing data points for tracking market trends. The system can also simplify organizing a continuous and collaborative foresight process from collecting signals to curating trend libraries and building trend radars. |
Benefits |
Consolidates strategic foresight activities for users in a simple and intuitive platform. Highly configurable to meet different foresight needs. |
Year Launched |
2015 |
Fee Structure |
Subscription. 30-day free trial available. |
Futures Platform
Tools |
Futures Platform |
Services |
Futures Platform takes a visually appealing approach to presenting digital foresight services. The user experience is top of mind for the company, and the service is therefore engaging even for foresight novices. |
Benefits |
Provides a linear view of trends and emerging issues. |
Year Launched |
2017 |
Fee Structure |
Subscription – 2-week free trial available |
Associated Futurist |
Dr. Sohail Inayatullah — consulted during development |
Tools |
| Futures Platform |
Services |
| Futures Platform takes a visually appealing approach to presenting digital foresight services. The user experience is top of mind for the company, and the service is therefore engaging even for foresight novices. |
Benefits |
| Provides a linear view of trends and emerging issues. |
Year Launched |
| 2017 |
Fee Structure |
| Subscription – 2-week free trial available |
Associated Futurist |
| Dr. Sohail Inayatullah — consulted during development |
Futurescaper
Tools |
Futurescaper, Team Bench |
Services |
Futurescaper is primarily a unique survey system that can function for making Delphi surveys. The system collects perspectives of the future from a client’s stakeholders. It then presents the results in visual maps of the most influential issues, causes & effects, and areas of (dis)agreement. They also offer a platform for analytical teams to work on distributed data-sets in a faster and more efficient manner than conventional analytics teams are used to. Although they do not offer a white lable service, Futurescaper can be integrated with client systems, especially those who require unique analytics. |
Benefits |
Their system is especially good for understanding any consensus views in a client’s stakeholders as well as identifying divergent views. Clients will be able to involve a large number of stakeholders in scenario development and system mapping. |
Year Launched |
2011 |
Fee Structure |
Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
Noah Raford — co-founder Dr. Wendy Schultz — consulted during development |
Tools |
| Futurescaper, Team Bench |
Services |
| Futurescaper is primarily a unique survey system that can function for making Delphi surveys. The system collects perspectives of the future from a client’s stakeholders. It then presents the results in visual maps of the most influential issues, causes & effects, and areas of (dis)agreement. They also offer a platform for analytical teams to work on distributed data-sets in a faster and more efficient manner than conventional analytics teams are used to. Although they do not offer a white lable service, Futurescaper can be integrated with client systems, especially those who require unique analytics. |
Benefits |
| Their system is especially good for understanding any consensus views in a client’s stakeholders as well as identifying divergent views. Clients will be able to involve a large number of stakeholders in scenario development and system mapping. |
Year Launched |
| 2011 |
Fee Structure |
| Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
| Noah Raford — co-founder Dr. Wendy Schultz — consulted during development |
ITONICS
Tools |
ITONICS Enterprise |
Services |
ITONICS Enterprise uses strategic foresight to deliver software solutions focused on innovation management. |
Benefits |
Their software integrates trend management, technology management, idea management, strategic foresight, and roadmapping as a holistic strategic planning tool. |
Year Launched |
2009 |
Fee Structure |
Contact for more information |
Tools |
| ITONICS Enterprise |
Services |
| ITONICS Enterprise uses strategic foresight to deliver software solutions focused on innovation management. |
Benefits |
| Their software integrates trend management, technology management, idea management, strategic foresight, and roadmapping as a holistic strategic planning tool. |
Year Launched |
| 2009 |
Fee Structure |
| Contact for more information |
Parmenides
Tools |
EIDOS |
Services |
Although not specifically intended to be a foresight tool, EIDOS includes scenario development and scenario based strategizing into its strategic thinking system. It also includes PESTLE, systemic driver analysis, and risk/ wildcard analysis. These tools along with about 25 others make up the a software suite of strategic tools for planners, both public and private. |
Benefits |
The benefits are primarily aimed at larger organizations. Eidos enables staff to easily exchange knowledge, information, and reasoning. |
Year Launched |
2001 |
Fee Structure |
Contact for more information |
Tools |
| EIDOS |
Services |
| Although not specifically intended to be a foresight tool, EIDOS includes scenario development and scenario based strategizing into its strategic thinking system. It also includes PESTLE, systemic driver analysis, and risk/ wildcard analysis. These tools along with about 25 others make up the a software suite of strategic tools for planners, both public and private. |
Benefits |
| The benefits are primarily aimed at larger organizations. Eidos enables staff to easily exchange knowledge, information, and reasoning. |
Year Launched |
| 2001 |
Fee Structure |
| Contact for more information |
Scenario Management International (ScMI)
Tools |
Scenario-Manager, Scenario-Radar |
Services |
ScMI’s services are based on the Scenario Management method developed at Heinz Nixdorf Institute of the University of Paderborn. Their software is split between Scenario-Radar which monitors and visualizes the development of trends and Scenario-Management which helps organizations visualize the future for themselves. |
Benefits |
The modular nature of the software allows for flexible customization to client needs. |
Year Launched |
1998 |
Fee Structure |
Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
Dr. Alexander Fink — co-founder |
Tools |
| Scenario-Manager, Scenario-Radar |
Services |
| ScMI’s services are based on the Scenario Management method developed at Heinz Nixdorf Institute of the University of Paderborn. Their software is split between Scenario-Radar which monitors and visualizes the development of trends and Scenario-Management which helps organizations visualize the future for themselves. |
Benefits |
| The modular nature of the software allows for flexible customization to client needs. |
Year Launched |
| 1998 |
Fee Structure |
| Contact for more information |
Associated Futurist |
| Dr. Alexander Fink — co-founder |
Softmark
Tools |
Nosco |
Services |
Nosco is focused on developing scenarios. The system provides users with a box for writing scenarios, and it also allows for defining variables and interrelations. Nosco can also automatically analyze the data. |
Benefits |
Nosco can provide creative insights. Users can follow the scenarios of other users and share their own with the community of users. |
Year Launched |
2013 |
Tools |
| Nosco |
Services |
| Nosco is focused on developing scenarios. The system provides users with a box for writing scenarios, and it also allows for defining variables and interrelations. Nosco can also automatically analyze the data. |
Benefits |
| Nosco can provide creative insights. Users can follow the scenarios of other users and share their own with the community of users. |
Year Launched |
| 2013 |
Shaping Tomorrow
Tools |
Athena |
Services |
They are the world’s first AI-driven foresight system and have won multiple innovation awards. They started in 2003 providing a system focused on horizon scanning. Soon, they crowd sourced the scanning, and they started automating the scanning in 2012. Several automated services have since followed including surveys and PESTLE analysis. They also offer a white label service which allows businesses to brand the service with their own logo and colors. |
Benefits |
A foresight project that would typically require weeks and months can now be done in a matter of hours. The user can easily develop multiple scenarios based on the forecasts of online, uploaded, and/ or surveyed sources. |
Year Launched |
2003 |
Fee Structure |
Free, pay-per-use, and subscription options available |
Associated Futurist |
Dr. Mike Jackson — co-founder Walter Kehl — developer |
Tools |
| Athena |
Services |
| They are the world’s first AI-driven foresight system and have won multiple innovation awards. They started in 2003 providing a system focused on horizon scanning. Soon, they crowd sourced the scanning, and they started automating the scanning in 2012. Several automated services have since followed including surveys and PESTLE analysis. They also offer a white label service which allows businesses to brand the service with their own logo and colors. |
Benefits |
| A foresight project that would typically require weeks and months can now be done in a matter of hours. The user can easily develop multiple scenarios based on the forecasts of online, uploaded, and/ or surveyed sources. |
Year Launched |
| 2003 |
Fee Structure |
| Free, pay-per-use, and subscription options available |
Associated Futurist |
| Dr. Mike Jackson — co-founder Walter Kehl — developer |
The Millennium Project
Tools |
Global Futures Intelligence System (GFIS) Real Time Delphi (RTD) |
Services |
The Millenium Project’s GFIS consolidates all of the Millenium Project’s resources in a central place for subscribers. Subscribers can also create RTDs. RTD is a digital survey tool based on RAND’s original Delphi technique. Unlike RAND’s technique which requires multiple rounds, RTD does not require rounds, and its results can be updated in real time as users answer the survey. Respondents can also revisit the survey as many times as they like while being shown their own responses mixed with those of all other respondents. |
Benefits |
Access to a wealth of information used for identifying synergy rather than competition. |
Year Launched |
2008 |
Fee Structure |
Subscription (Individual: $99.95) |
Associated Futurist |
Ted Gordon — developer |
Tools |
| Global Futures Intelligence System (GFIS) Real Time Delphi (RTD) |
Services |
| The Millenium Project’s GFIS consolidates all of the Millenium Project’s resources in a central place for subscribers. Subscribers can also create RTDs. RTD is a digital survey tool based on RAND’s original Delphi technique. Unlike RAND’s technique which requires multiple rounds, RTD does not require rounds, and its results can be updated in real time as users answer the survey. Respondents can also revisit the survey as many times as they like while being shown their own responses mixed with those of all other respondents. |
Benefits |
| Access to a wealth of information used for identifying synergy rather than competition. |
Year Launched |
| 2008 |
Fee Structure |
| Subscription (Individual: $99.95) |
Associated Futurist |
| Ted Gordon — developer |
