At the Next Web Conference 2012 in Amsterdam, TV host Patrick Petersen interviewed speaker and consultant Jonathan MacDonald about the future of digital life and his concept “The Future Sense.”

The Future of Digital Life is “Analog”

Jonathan MacDonald kicked off the interview with a surprising statement: he believes the ultimate future of digital life is actually analog life. He suggests that once the hype surrounding virtual reality has played itself out, people will prioritize human-to-human interaction again. He even joked about rediscovering “Public Urban Boundary Systems” (PUBS) and “High Streets” as places to meet real people.

Skepticism Toward the “Social Media Revolution”

MacDonald is critical of the terminology commonly used in the industry:

• No fan of “Social Media”: He sees it as an opportunistic placement of the word “media” onto society, purely to monetize people’s eyeballs.

• Businesses aren’t people: He argues that once you remove the human element, nothing can truly be “social.” Companies must learn to harmonize with how humans want to be spoken with, rather than just speaking at them.

• Tools vs. Revolution: Although he is a self-proclaimed geek who uses Twitter for promotion and Facebook for family, he views technology merely as an accelerator. He cites icons like Mandela, Einstein, and Da Vinci: they didn’t need Twitter or Google to change the world. “People make revolutions, not technologies.”

Privacy and Citizen Empowerment

A major point in the conversation is the concern over privacy. MacDonald calls the tracking of citizens via mobile devices a “fundamental abuse of identity” if it happens outside the control of the citizen. He predicts a future where citizens will reclaim their rights to identity and privacy, potentially leading to mass class actions.

The Future of Corporate Giants (Sony, Philips, etc.)

When asked if tech giants will survive, his answer is simple: it depends on their purpose.

• If they only focus on releasing the “next thinnest screen,” he believes they won’t make it.

• Companies will survive if they contribute to the betterment of society, such as improving healthcare for the elderly or enabling education in places where it doesn’t currently exist.

Why Hire Jonathan MacDonald?

At the end of the interview, he explains what sets him apart as a speaker: he doesn’t talk the “same crap” as everyone else. He focuses entirely on the citizen’s perspective rather than just discussing applications and technical gadgets.

You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqYcYVz3eqo