1. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
© 2013 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
March 2013
Foresight Engine Game Analysis:
25 Zones of
Future Innovation
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
A project by Institute for the Future and The Rockefeller Foundation
www.iftf.org/our-work/global-landscape/catalysts-for-change/catalysts-zones-of-innovation
Contact: Tessa Finlev, tfinlev@iftf.org

2. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
22 | Data Sales
2

3. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
In the era of big data, everyone is focused
on the potential for data-based action—
targeted intervention as well as product
and policy transparency—to provide new
solutions for poverty alleviation.
Moving beyond this frame, however, we see
that data is not just a means to an end, but an
end in and of itself. Data is our newest source
of wealth and human capital. If data can be
harnessed correctly, it will create a powerful
new source of possibly limitless revenue
potentially accessible to the most vulnerable
and marginalized communities.
3
22 | Data Sales | Future Innovation
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B

4. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
There was a diversity of player opinion here; many pondered how to make
data actionable and accessible around the globe.
But if we turn these micro-forecasts around, we venture further into the future to
think about how selling data might create new wealth for previously impoverished
communities. One player touched on this topic, suggesting we train people to
become content (or data) curators and then link them to markets where they can
sell their curated data.
4
22 | Data Sales | From the Players
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B

5. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 5
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
*Cards have been lightly edited for readability.
**Player location was self selected.
Train idle urban youth & young
parents via theater workshops
to become facilitators &
content curators. Link to
market upon graduation.*
Philippines**

6. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 6
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines

7. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 7
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data collection
check www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA

8. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 8
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China

9. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 9
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria

10. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 10
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Visualize and popularize
global data so people
understand the
interconnectedness and can
take action.
Romania
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA

11. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 11
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
This - http://www.gvfi.org/ - is
one good example of what we
can do with data... are there
others?
USA
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA
Visualize and popularize
global data so people
understand the
interconnectedness and can
take action.
Romania

12. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 12
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Train IT people in infographics
- data visualization. Have
media, NGOs use data. Too
much info = too little info.
Infographic solves it.
China
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA
Visualize and popularize
global data so people
understand the
interconnectedness and can
take action.
Romania
This - http://www.gvfi.org/ - is
one good example of what we
can do with data... are there
others?
USA

13. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 13
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Host a data analytics contest?
USA
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA
Visualize and popularize
global data so people
understand the
interconnectedness and can
take action.
Romania
This - http://www.gvfi.org/ - is
one good example of what we
can do with data... are there
others?
USA
Train IT people in infographics
- data visualization. Have
media, NGOs use data. Too
much info = too little info.
Infographic solves it.
China

14. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 14
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Yes, I have very much had my
eye on SecondLife and will
read that. SimCity or ??
adding climate to game. I want
to link real data to games.
Australia
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA
Visualize and popularize
global data so people
understand the
interconnectedness and can
take action.
Romania
This - http://www.gvfi.org/ - is
one good example of what we
can do with data... are there
others?
USA
Host a data analytics contest?
USA
Train IT people in infographics
- data visualization. Have
media, NGOs use data. Too
much info = too little info.
Infographic solves it.
China

15. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 15
22 | Data Sales | Micro-forecasts from the Game
Train idle urban youth &
young parents via theater
workshops to become
facilitators & content curators.
Link to market upon
graduation.
Philippines
Community data co-ops: poor
communities sense and
aggregate personal data to be
resold to 3rd parties and govs
to distribute profits
USA
Also use prevention-local
medicine to cut cost, build
communication, data
collection check
www.curetogether.com
translate into local context
China
Build a dashboard (GUI) using
World Bank's OpenData…
Nigeria
Check out reactiongrid.com,
developer combining online
games with robust database
tools!
USA
Visualize and popularize
global data so people
understand the
interconnectedness and can
take action.
Romania
This - http://www.gvfi.org/ - is
one good example of what we
can do with data... are there
others?
USA
Host a data analytics contest?
USA
Train IT people in infographics
- data visualization. Have
media, NGOs use data. Too
much info = too little info.
Infographic solves it.
China
Yes, I have very much had my
eye on SecondLife and will
read that. SimCity or ??
adding climate to game. I
want to link real data to
games.
Australia

16. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
Signals from the Present
16
22 | Data Sales

17. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B 17
Infochimps has built the world’s
largest data marketplace where
people are invited to sell their
data to interested parties.
Socioeconomic Data and
Applications Center (SEDAC)
NASA’s SEDAC seeks to enhance
applicability of data stores to fight global
poverty and inequality by building poverty
maps highlighting a plethora of indicators.
22 | Data Sales | Signals from the Present
Infochimps
Image Source: www.sedac.ciesin.columbia.eduImage Source: www.infochimps.com

18. © 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
© 2013 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
March 2013
Foresight Engine Game Analysis:
25 Zones of
Future Innovation
© 2013 Institute for the Future for Rockefeller Foundation. All rights reserved. SR-1563B
A project by Institute for the Future and The Rockefeller Foundation
www.iftf.org/our-work/global-landscape/catalysts-for-change/catalysts-zones-of-innovation
Contact: Tessa Finlev, tfinlev@iftf.org