Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
WIND TURBINES, VIRTUAL reality headsets, drones and hoverboards are among some of the images showcasing innovation in a new report on Irish society.
The Future Ireland report takes a look at Irish society through the lens of different subjects each year. Its aim is to focus on Irish people’s concerns and thoughts on the future of the country.
Innovation is the theme of this year’s report. Last year, it focused on the themes of belonging and community, while the first report in 2015 looked at Irish society’s values and priorities.
The report is published by international media agency OMD’s Irish wing, with the support of Ulster Bank.
Alongside the report, photographs shot by self-taught photographer David Gerulis help to highlight the subject of innovation in Ireland today.
A total of 1,000 Irish adults were surveyed for the report, with the research carried out by Amárach Research. Six focus groups were also conducted earlier this year.
The research found that over two-thirds of people should “embrace change, rather than delay it”; while 60% accepted that they needed to take risks to get ahead in life.
The majority of people said they were happier to live in the Ireland of today, rather than the Ireland of 20 years ago, or in 20 years’ time.
With the focus of the report on innovation, seven out of 10 people surveyed said they would welcome any or most change that will improve their lives.
In terms what type of innovation they would like to see more of in the future, over 70% put healthcare and medical technologies at the top of the list.
Sustainable energy was second the list of priorities (63%), while half of people said they wanted to see public transport services and vehicles continue to innovate into the future.
The report also divided participants into four distinct personality types based off the answers they gave.
The most common type was the ‘realist’ (31%) – people who welcome some change but are more sceptical about technology. They support the efforts of entrepreneurs and businesses to innovate.
‘Doubters’ made up one fifth of the population – these are people who are risk averse and don’t believe Ireland should embrace change.
‘Creatives’ (22%) and ‘advocates’ (25%) made up the rest of the population. These groups are primarily made up of young people and are the ones driving change in Irish society.
You can view the full report here
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Any technology invented before you are 15 is part of the natural order of things.
Any technology invented between 15 and 35 is exciting and something you could make into a career.
Any technology invented after you are 35 is against the natural order of things.
@Ben McArthur: brilliant!
@Ben McArthur: Rubbish!
@Ben McArthur: Disagree.I am seventy + and installed wifi throughout my home including alarms security cameras etc.I use voice commands on my phone tablet etc and can’t wait for each new gadget to appear,we don’t all die at thirty five.
@Rand Al Thor: pretty certain the OP is doing a kind of demotivational poster humour thing. Maybe he should do one about age and getting jokes?
@Ben McArthur: No problem, that for many of us includes Internet and personal computers, colour television and mobile phones.
@Ben McArthur: You could at least give credit to Adam Conover for the quote! But hilarious and on point nonetheless.
@Rand Al Thor: Relax bud, its a quote taken from a talk that breaks down the misconception of so called generations, basically saying that we don’t have baby boomers, gen X, gen Y or millennials, we just have… people! and these generational stereotypes should be dropped because they’re not appropriate in a modern society! Very entertaining too https://youtu.be/-HFwok9SlQQ
@John Buckley: I would, but I can’t remember where I stole it. Had an inkling it was Douglas Adams.
One word-SKYNET
Warning- get your tinfoil helmet on now. All of this reverse engineered Alien Tech will render us useless and meat for the grinder of our Alien Overlords!!!!
@paddy: Skynet stockings?
Californian tech hipsters are all scrambling hand over fist to put everyone else out of a job. They all think they’re going to be the last people making money when everyone else has been made redundant
Why has their not been a night drone set up over our towns to stop anything illegal going surely it would be a deterrent.
There are very few real inventions since the 60s everything now is a small refinement of something much older.
The last great technology leap by mankind was putting a man on the moon.
@tom: Cosmic and solar radiation???
Big advances in automotive tech and driver aids. But still rely on the petrochemical industry and internal combustion engine too heavily.
Increase in cancers and poor health as a result of nox and co2 in the atmosphere. No govermwnts are in a hurry ro dispense with petrol and diesel as its the biggest contributor to tax and goverment charges.
Can’t believe how much has changed since 2010 almost 10 years ago now but has changed very fast since exciting times a head.
@JustMade Ireland: More wars and more technology from these wars entering society?
The secret to inventions is the fight a company has on the stock market versus the extra money people have to spend on luxary items?
Inventions now are about making things smaller and faster knowing that there is a limit to both and that modern society is built on the fact that the fuel to keep modern society going is limited and oil will be gone by 2075.
Also the side effect of modern living is waste and pollution which means global warming and then product demand versus population growth. The more and more people that get new tech then the more and more pollution will be made and also the quicker the fuel will be used up that keeps modern life modern?
have your say