Amanda Manna - "If we don't, somebody else will"
In this talk, Amanda Manna explains how her company enlisted professional science‑fiction writers, supplied them with extensive market research and trend data, and asked them to imagine how customer experience could evolve over the next five to ten years. The writers produced comic‑book style stories, one of which depicted a couple renovating their home using a head‑mounted display (early AR) to visualize the finished result before any work began. When this 2012 comic was shown to hardware‑store executives (e.g., Lowe’s), the unconventional format bypassed typical PowerPoint data presentations, prompting the executives to laugh at first but ultimately shift their mindset. The story’s impact was captured in the executives’ reaction: “If we don’t do this, somebody else will.” The presentation illustrates how narrative storytelling, especially via speculative fiction, can surface future technology concepts and create a sense of competitive urgency among senior leaders.
