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+--- Thread: OpenFutureMap concept (/showthread.php?tid=7345)
OpenFutureMap concept - danx - 08-08-2026
I wonder how feasible it would be to create a speculative map of the future Earth that combines elements of OpenHistoricalMap and OpenGeofiction. It could start with the current OSM map, include a timeline slider, and let people edit the map to create a unified timeline of development, allowing for an extremely detailed vision of the future. Over time, the map could be adjusted to better reflect what actually happens in our world. This would be a collaborative project; I don't know whether it should be wiki-based, like OSM, or something more structured, like how OpenGeofiction is managed.
Some more detailed thoughts: there could be rules as to when future tech will be "invented", so for example, no hyperloops are allowed before 2050, but afterwards it's fair game. There should be a plausible expansion of tech, like in OA, grounded in hard science. It could be set up similar to OpenGeofiction, where people or groups can claim parts of Earth to edit, and can cooperate with others to create a unified scenario, but will not be able to unilaterally change someone else's claimed areas. Unlike OpenGeofiction, we would start with the map of the world as it is from OpenStreetMap, and we will not be starting from scratch.
My old Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/comments/1u6qcej/openfuturemap_concept
RE: OpenFutureMap concept - inkoalawetrust - 08-08-2026
There's no reason it couldn't be done, since OpenGeofiction apparently exists already. But like usual it's a matter of having a dedicated enough person or multiple people to do it since it'd be a lot of work for anything besides basic details, such as keeping track of everything to prevent issues like making something contradictory in one region that goes against something implied elsewhere in time or space. As for OA specifically, if something like this were to be done (which it most likely won't because we struggle enough with the scrollable timeline as is), it would most likely not have to worry about update to future events because the OA timeline is deliberately kept vague on pre-2100 events, and especially anything that could be considered near-future (2026-2060 or so).
RE: OpenFutureMap concept - Drashner1 - 08-08-2026
Agreed this sounds interesting, but would likely require a significant degree of dedicated effort to set up and maintain.
In terms of set up - and presuming it was limited to just one copy of Earth (so everything people came up with would have to fit on one planet, even if things could change over time) - you'd probably need to consider how issues like trade, transportation, and infrastructure between regions would be handled. Considering tech development, there'd probably need to be some process for documenting what tech is available at different points in time so that users didn't have the same tech appearing at different times dependent on their personal estimations of when a given thing should become available. You'd want to also have some method(s) of helping new users get up to speed on what is already in place and what areas are still open for use. Probably lots of similar considerations as well, but this is what comes to mind just now.
Speaking more generally - and from many years of experience with OA - working out processes and resources for how different things get done ahead of actually creating a website will pay many positive dividends later/over time. Measure twice, cut once is an old saying for a reason.
My 2c worth,
Todd
RE: OpenFutureMap concept - danx - 08-11-2026
I was thinking of using a tech timeline like Future Timeline, The Integrated Space Plan, or even OA itself.