Our condolence goes to the family of Datuk Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin & Mr. Mohd Emran Abdullah. Both lost their lives to cancer, a leading cause of death accounting for more than 7 million deaths annually worldwide
by | Rushdi Abdul Rahim | rushdi@might.org.my
Hi, greetings from myForesight®. I am starting this editorial with a somber mood. The recent passing away of YBhg. Datuk Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive of ISIS is indeed a big loss to Malaysia and foresight.
She has been one of the proponents and supporter of technology foresight and her insights would be missed. Our condolences also goes to the family of Ms. Natrah Mohd Emran, myForesight® senior analyst on the passing of her father on the very same day. Both lost their lives to cancer, a leading cause of death accounting for more than 7 million deaths annually worldwide. Grim statistics indeed.
The passing of the people you know has the effect of making us be reflective and take a look at how we conduct ourselves; certainly our sedentary lifestyle needs to change, a boost and TLC perhaps – I mean not just Tender, Loving and Care but also Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes to our mental, medical and public health. As we strive towards becoming a high income society,work has taken precedence over our well-being;neglecting the needs of our physical being. Our lifestyle is perhaps ill suited to what our body needs. A statistic released by World Health Organization projected that by 2030 the proportion of total global deaths due to lifestyle diseases is expected to increase to about 70 percent. You can read more on these lifestyle diseases in “Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs):a Future without hope?
We are all aware that lifestyles are determined by a variable causes; upbringing and values as well as influences in the cultural, physical, economic, and political environments. It is without a doubt,technology has encroached into almost every aspect of our life. Technology has become so pervasive that unconsciously we have become too dependent on it to an extent that some view technology as a destructive force of our lives and values. Therefore, in this issue we’ll discuss about technology influences in our lifestyle. As a case study, we cite linking foresight to action for Canada whereby the paper focuses on how to deliver foresight insights to key decision makers – initiatives jointly undertaken by the Science and Technology Foresight Policy Division of Health Canada and Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures. The piece on ‘Family & Home: The Next Decade’ dwells on the issues of technology
Therefore, in this issue we’ll discuss about technology influences in our lifestyle. As a case study, we cite linking foresight to action for Canada whereby the paper focuses on how to deliver foresight insights to key decision makers – initiatives jointly undertaken by the Science and Technology Foresight Policy Division of Health Canada and Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures. The piece on ‘Family & Home: The Next Decade’ dwells on the issues of technology influencing the future homes. Whereas the article on ‘Home healthcare’ uncovers on how home is being transformed to be center for future healthcare and wellness.
myForesight® also had the opportunity to capture the views of Prof. Datin Dr. Clara L. Chee; founder and chairman of Clara international. Here she shares her thoughts and views on the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Her holistic view on beauty and the importance of balancing our lives by going back to nature and taking advantage of technology to improve life is something we could take on board.
We can’t address lifestyle without talking about how we consume things. Therefore in this issue we provide a piece on consumerism – consumer lifestyles (called psychographics) and how it becomes an important factor in determining how consumers make their purchase decision. The article ‘Consumerism trend in Malaysia’ provides insights on how consumerism interacts and intertwined with many other trends hence, influences our current and future behavior and culture.
Speaking of consumption, we are approaching the holy month of Ramadhan soon. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Perhaps the timing is right; not just for the Muslims, to provide a break from our overindulgence – towards a healthier lifestyle regime.
We hope you find this issue beneficial. Wishing you great months ahead.
