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