Ever since I was a kid, I have been obsessed with the future of anything and everything. Whether it was anticipating the latest concept cars to be showcased at the annual Paris Motor Show or watching reruns of The Jetsons on weekdays after school, I have always been enamored by the possibilities and promise inherent in our collective vision of what the future might look like. 

 

Naturally, when I chose to pursue a career in occupational therapy, I started wondering about the future of the profession. How will occupational therapy evolve as we continue our journey into the 21st century? How will technological advances such as the singularity, an event predicted by Ray Kurzweil in which machine intelligence will surpass that of humans, affect health care? How will the nature of work change as artificial intelligence and advances in robotics lead to the automation of more jobs? How will societies around the world address a global population that is increasing in both size and median age? How can technology be used to improve the human condition? What role will occupational therapy play in preparing humankind to leave earth and become an interplanetary species? Some of these questions may seem irrelevant, or even absurd, to some, but I find them to be both fascinating and begging to be answered. 

 

The Second Century OT is a way for me to explore such topics and how they might impact the future of occupational therapy. Above all, it is my hope that this blog will inspire other occupational therapy practitioners to imagine the possibilities which are, in my opinion, limitless. If you have any questions about the Second Century OT or wish to recommend a future topic, feel free to contact me via the form below.