A remarkable feature of the human mind is its capacity to momentarily disengage from the immediate environment in order to contemplate hypothetical future scenarios. This thesis focuses on human prospection, investigating some of the methods used to assess it, its cognitive properties and the functional relevance of this extraordinary ability to anticipate and pre-experience future contingencies. Two experiments carried out with young healthy participants show that the methods used to elicit prospection, the temporal distance and the valence of envisioned events, may affect its content as well as its characteristics. Two studies involving healthy participants of different ages as well as amnesic patients investigate the contribution of long-term memory to scene construction processes. The results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that a common underlying memory-related factor, the capacity to construct a rich narrative, can influence the descriptions of a-temporal, future and current scenes alike. The third issue concerns the relationship between episodic future simulation and prospective memory. Five experiments with young healthy participants show that mentally pre-experiencing future contingencies associated to an intended action aids prospective remembering, over and above deep encoding processing. Overall, the results of the experiments discussed in the present thesis strengthen the view of prospection as a complex process, which, far from being encapsulated in a single cognitive function, impinges upon a constellation of constituent abilities, which may be adaptively used to anticipate and guide future behaviour.

The aim of this thesis project was to create something, that has never been there before in motorcycle design. A new, deep collaboration between the future generation of riders and their bikes. It should create a whole new riding experience. And this experience should be inspirational and new to several fi elds of transportation design besides motorcycling. The process started with the research and inspiration fi nding. It continued with form exploration through sketching, ergonomic tests and photoshop sketches. The whole process was based on an interdisciplinary working method. Being in touch with modelers, engineers, generative designers, color and trim designers was an essential part of the project. The interdisciplinary work continued digitally, with many different types of software. Creating the 3D visualisation of the project required the use of Alias, Cinema 4D, Rhino, Grasshopper, Fuse, Speedform, Maya and VRED. Frequently reviews on the current project status and taking part in technical meetings, along with responsible designers at BMW, in combination with weekly reviews with the university, structured the time plan throughout the whole project. As well as fl ying to the university for check-ups and presentations. BMW Spirit provides a revolutionary experience for future motorcycle riders. Focusing on the interaction between the rider and the bike, it creates the opportunity to build a deep relationship. Since AI becomes more and more important in our daily lives developing ways of human-machine interactions will be crucial for our future. The concept is focused on the opportunities it could bring to combine an Artifi cial Intelligence with motorcycling. BMW Spirit creates a human-machine symbiosis and is controlled like an extension of the human body, with intuitive movements. The built in Artifi cial Intelligence is the rider’s companion and develops its own character and consciousness over time. It learns and grows together with the rider and adapted to the rider. Growing trust enables more possibilities to push the limits and enjoying the power of this unique riding experience.

With smart machines taking over each time more tasks, there is a risk of a future without relevant field for human action. In the 19th Century, the Arts and Crafts movement proposed a reaction against the alienation generated by industrial machines. Today, following the spirit of Arts and Crafts, this project intends to pose a reaction against the aesthetics of Artificial Intelligence by embracing human-crafted methods. Furthermore, to tell a complete story of humanizing experiences, the production and use of the vehicle are focused on human interaction; in the first case as a bespoke process and in the second as a vehicle interior that fosters human interaction. With Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design as collaborator for this thesis, the project has been branded after them, taking advantage of the company's hand-crafted approach as a positive value with humanistic potential. The main inspiration consisted of a reinterpretation of traditional artisan methods in order to design a vehicle with novel attributes. In contrast to the common practice of vehicle design where the generation of geometry rules the latter selection of materials and production process, for this project the early inspiration from hand-crafted methods dictated material and form, which could result in limitations during the form finding process, but which could also trigger unexpected results. At the same time, the simulation of the bespoke process with a relevant individual playing the role of the product's user had a major influence on the final outcome. The final result is a vehicle in which the main design focus lies on the interior, although the exterior had to be developed to some extent to provide a frame for development of the inside. The main design contribution is the proposal of structural elements with an aesthetic intention which was dictated by material properties and authenticity. As a story, the project intends to question the increasing presence of Artificial Intelligence and what could be an appropriate scenario for its usage (i.e. autonomous drive algorithms enabling human interaction inside the vehicle). So with the goal of providing humanizing experiences for makers and users of the product, even overlapping the role of makers and users during the bespoke process, the project tells a story of humanization through craftsmanship and dialogue.

This academic discourse is a research treatise that is submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). Purpose – The purpose of this treatise is to develop four possible scenarios for Africa’s economic futures over the next 40 years, i.e. towards 2055. This study will expose the possible, probable, plausible, and preferable (desirable) scenarios for Africa towards 2055. Design/Methodology/Approach – This study employs a Futures Studies methodology that is known as scenario planning. The key variables of the scenarios are clustered as follows: Good governance and good economic growth; Good governance and bad economic growth; Bad governance and bad economic growth; as well as bad governance and good economic growth. Each of these scenarios begin with the current state of affairs in Africa. As such, the four scenarios in this study are informed by the current affairs in African countries as is internationally observed by scientists, researchers, as well as global views and opinions. Practical implications – This academic discourse provides useful insight into the causality relationship between the political, economic, sociological, technological, ecological, as well as legal factors (PESTEL factors) on the continent and the possible scenarios for Africa’s economic futures towards 2055. The aforementioned causality relationship between the abovementioned variables allows for insight into the drivers for change for Africa as well as in what way to anticipate these changes in accordance with scenario planning. Originality/Value: This treatise looks at the economic futures of Africa over the next 40 years from the point of view of African planners and African decision-makers.

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In the recent decades there have been tremendous technological and innovative advances that have shaped the business. Technology Laws like Moore’s, Gates law, Gilder’s Law, Metcalfe’s Law and Less’s Law shows the rate at which technological development has taken place. This has impacted how society as a whole functions and thus had changed the whole business environment and the rate at which new trend and ideas are adopted. It has become important for organisations to develop dynamic capabilities to be able to adopt in these environments where they could easily become redundant in a very short time. The aim of this study was to assess the use of foresight as a managerial skill to manage business decisions in academic institutions. For this study the primary focus was on higher academic institutions in South Africa. These higher academic institutions have been operating in a business environment that is highly competitive considering they focus on delivering quality products and services to the communities they serve. These products and services have to be competitive with the rest of the international market and thus they have to ensure they deliver products and services that are relevant to the latest industry trends and technologies. Foresight as a skill is very useful in the early detection of new trends, technologies and assist in the improving the innovation of these organisations. Exploratory research found that within these organisations there is a strong representation of Flexist’s which are hesitant to adopt new technologies, where they would rather wait till it is tried and tested before adopting the technology. The results also depicted a relationship between the ways these organisations adopted technologies to that of the technology adoption life cycle model. The exact same way new technologies have to cross the chasm in the market was found within the organisations where there were some staff members being early adopter of new technology and the rest pragmatists. Finally a foresight skill measurement formula had been developed which can be adopted to various industries. It can indicate areas where the organisations need to improve and plot them on an exponential curve showing their rate of effectiveness. The curve also indicates how effective they are at the implementation of foresight. Recommendation for further research in this field can be aimed at getting a better understanding of the relationship between the biographical information such as qualifications, age and years of experience impact the ability of foresight as a skill. / MBA (Business Administration), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In the recent decades there have been tremendous technological and innovative advances that have shaped the business. Technology Laws like Moore’s, Gates law, Gilder’s Law, Metcalfe’s Law and Less’s Law shows the rate at which technological development has taken place. This has impacted how society as a whole functions and thus had changed the whole business environment and the rate at which new trend and ideas are adopted. It has become important for organisations to develop dynamic capabilities to be able to adopt in these environments where they could easily become redundant in a very short time. The aim of this study was to assess the use of foresight as a managerial skill to manage business decisions in academic institutions. For this study the primary focus was on higher academic institutions in South Africa. These higher academic institutions have been operating in a business environment that is highly competitive considering they focus on delivering quality products and services to the communities they serve. These products and services have to be competitive with the rest of the international market and thus they have to ensure they deliver products and services that are relevant to the latest industry trends and technologies. Foresight as a skill is very useful in the early detection of new trends, technologies and assist in the improving the innovation of these organisations. Exploratory research found that within these organisations there is a strong representation of Flexist’s which are hesitant to adopt new technologies, where they would rather wait till it is tried and tested before adopting the technology. The results also depicted a relationship between the ways these organisations adopted technologies to that of the technology adoption life cycle model. The exact same way new technologies have to cross the chasm in the market was found within the organisations where there were some staff members being early adopter of new technology and the rest pragmatists. Finally a foresight skill measurement formula had been developed which can be adopted to various industries. It can indicate areas where the organisations need to improve and plot them on an exponential curve showing their rate of effectiveness. The curve also indicates how effective they are at the implementation of foresight. Recommendation for further research in this field can be aimed at getting a better understanding of the relationship between the biographical information such as qualifications, age and years of experience impact the ability of foresight as a skill. / MBA (Business Administration), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Published Article / This study focuses on the impact of societal change and related societal problems on the black youth of post-apartheid South Africa. It is argued that adolescents' perspectives on their future in this country could be negatively influenced by the extent of societal problems which are currently experienced in South Africa. Other findings indicate that the influence of traditional cultural norms and values on the black youth is slowly but surely diminishing. Middle class Black adolescents tend to share the general consumerism of South Africa's wealthy classes, and many are detached from the history of the struggle for political freedom. Amidst severe societal problems such as poverty, unemployment, HIV / AIDS and violent crime, the findings of an empirical investigation into the views of 391 black adolescents from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds indicate that a general spirit of optimism and independence exists, paired with a strong desire to escape the trappings of poverty and to fulfil their career and social expectations.