Richard Watson is a futurist writer and speaker who advises organisations on the future, focusing particularly on future trends and scenario planning. His clients have included, amongst others, Virgin, Toyota, McDonald's, Tesco, News Limited, Westfield, Unilever, Coca-Cola, the Dept of Education and St George Bank. Richard is the author and publisher of What's Next, Chief Futurist at the Future Exploration Network, a member of Futures House and a regular columnist for a number of magazines. He is the author of the Future Files.

Mark Thwaite: What first gave you the idea for writing Future Files?

Richard Watson: It wasn't actually my idea. I do a hard copy trend "review" each January and sent one to someone that (unknown to me) lived with a commissioning editor. I therefore got an email out of the blue asking if I"d like to write a book about some of the same themes...

MT: Can you briefly outline to us the five trends that you think will shape the next 50 years?

RW: Kinda in the book really but briefly (and I've put these in order for you for the very first time): 1. Global connectivity 2. GRIN tech (genetics, robotics, internet and nanotechnology) 3.Environment 4.Power shift Eastwards 5. Ageing

MT: What makes you think it is these trends in particular that are so important?

RW: Picking 5 is really difficult. To be honest it's a mixture of gut feel plus the amount of reporting around these overall themes (I"m tracking this all the time).

MT: Can't we really boil all this down to technology, technology, technology!?

RW: The future is usually thought of purely in terms of technology and I do think that this is a big mistake. It is hugely important although the big question is what will the human reaction and social consequences to technology be?

MT: Did you see the credit crunch coming!? What lies beyond it?

RW: Yes. It's in the money chapter. The cause is debt plus the global connectivity of risk (plus a pinch of human emotion).

MT: How did you become a futurologist Richard?

RW: Like most people – by accident! I've always been interested in the future and the more I started thinking about it the more people kept asking me to think about it. The term itself still makes me feel slightly uncomfortable and it is not a job title I'd choose for myself but it does broadly describe what I do.

MT: How do you "research" the future?

RW: I read a lot. I walk around a lot and I talk to people. It isn't rocket science. Trick is breadth.

MT: How do you write? Longhand or directly onto a computer, straight off or with lots and lots of editing?

RW: Directly onto a computer, although interestingly I couldn't do it that way 15-20 years ago. Back then I would write in pencil on paper and then type it up. Maybe this is a god example of how our behaviour can change?

MT: Do you read the critics? Have you been pleased with the responses to your book? Have you learned anything from them?

RW: The thing that annoys me most is people that haven't read it having a strong opinion about it! Hardly a surprise though. I also find it funny how much attention the maps/picture got versus the actual text. Just proves people have no time and that we are shifting to a visual culture I guess.

MT: What do you do when you are not writing/future-gazing?

RW: Muck around in my garage... I like the word "tinker".

MT: Did you have an idea in your mind of your "ideal" reader? Did you write specifically for them?

RW: Kind of. Someone getting on a long flight. The interesting thing, which I didn't expect, is that the book seems to be a big hit with women aged 40+.

MT: What are you working on now Richard?

RW: Another book and a secret web project!

MT: Who is your favourite writer? What is/are your favourite book(s)?

RW: So many! I'm currently re-reading The Black Swan and I just finished How to be Free by Tom Hodgkinson, which I thought was fantastic.

My resolution for 2009 is to read old books. My favourite book is probably Intimate History of Humanity by Theodore Zeldin and also anything by Charles Handy.

For more – look here at my website.

MT: Do you have any tips for the aspiring futurologist!?

RW: Just do it! A niche helps (eg become a food or music futurist) but it's really the cross-fertilisation between fields that you need.

MT: Anything else you would like to say?

RW: Just that we have become too distracted by the past and the future and we should pay more attention to the present.