Preface to the Blog

Welcome to DigiLexis's Blog titled "Subscripts of Digital Futures"—a tapestry of stories, analyses and insights woven from the threads of observation, reflection, and intuition about our changing world. In this virtual and open volume, each chapter serves as a script adding to the evolving play of the digital revolution. However, these digital pages will address more than just the subject of digital tech and transformation; they will also discuss policy and governance, management, and design thinking.

As you can see, the collective title of this blog does not imply that 100 percent of the posts will be about digital technology. So why in the title do we seem to narrow the scope by putting the emphasis exclusively on the digital dimension? The digital revolution is the most potent and effective ordering force of our times, both in business and in societal terms. And since it is our primary area of expertise and practice, albeit not the only one, we embrace the fact to have particularly that aspect reflected in this title.

We are facing an epoch deeply shaped by digital technology, with a pace of change historically unprecedented in the evolution of how humans work and carry out tasks, not to mention other aspects of human life. Nobody can really predict what the world would look like 10 years from now or even less, in terms of the tools we use and what they enable us to achieve, either for good or for bad. Our digital future is a moving target, and the parameters determining its trajectory are not only multiple but moreover, some of them are, themselves, continuously emerging and changing.

Therefore, we refer to the notion of "digital futures" because we want to approximate the movement of that target as much as possible, to keep observing its trajectory, trying to comprehend and even anticipate its imminent turns whatever way they may go, whatever shape or form they may take. Furthermore, the notion of "futures" takes on a dual meaning—a nod to both future times in the plain sense and foresight. In any case, "futures" here is not meant to refer to finance or to any particular science but rather more broadly, in relation to our evolving collective well-being. Within these pages, we will steer through the currents of innovation, foreseeing the trends, disruptions, and opportunities that shape the landscapes of tomorrow.

Why Subscripts of Digital Futures? We all understand a script as a piece of writing. However, the term 'subscript' is commonly associated with mathematical notations or formulas, where it typically denotes one of the two types of indices, represented by a character written slightly below the baseline. The other type of index is the superscript; both have their respective conventional roles in mathematical notation. However, our blog isn't about indices in math. In this title, I creatively employ the term to highlight the interplay between the general notion of a script as a piece of writing and the implications of the attached prefix.

Dubbing these blog posts "subscripts" reflects our approach, the aim of which is not to deploy a grand narrative predicting our digital future(s). Instead, "subscripts" embodies the essence of subtle yet profound insights, nestled beneath the surface of conventional narrative. Here, we delve into the recesses of digital transformation, exploring the nuances, the complexities and untold stories, sounding out from the margins of history in the making and providing commentary on what might lie between the lines of official discourse, conventional wisdom, or popular beliefs and expectations. Which is to say these subscripts are more than mere annotations.

Our blog serves as a platform for discourse, a forum for dialogue, and a sanctuary for curiosity. It is a testament to the power of storytelling, the art of inquiry, and the essence of design thinking, as well as to the boundless potential of both technology and imagination to connect minds and hearts across distances while continuously enabling the uncovering of new possibilities for transforming the human condition.

In the growing expanse of the digital realm, our blog stands as a beacon to enrich our perceptions and to facilitate our explorations and understandings of new frontiers opened by the digital revolution. In other words, it is a place where ideas converge, perspectives collide, and where, even in the face of real and arduous challenges, still, inspiration sparks and creativity flourishes.

So, dear reader, we invite you to step into the world of these "Subscripts of Digital Futures." Welcome aboard! As you navigate through the chapters of our blog, envision it as a gateway to exploration and discovery, potentially with eye-opening learning experiences awaiting you along the way. May you find resonance in the words and inspiration in the ideas exchanged here, as well as fellowship amidst the community of our readers. Together, let's answer the questioning calls from our digital future to unravel its puzzles while shaping it, one script at a time.