Futures emerge from the complex dynamics between universal forces, evolution, human activity, and the stories we create about future worlds and human destiny. Leaders regularly envision a 'better future' and project the pathway for people to take them there. Governments plan the future of their nation, citizens and coming generations. Science researchers and technology developers build knowledge and tools for living and operating in a world that is yet to come. How do visionaries and communicators 'know' these futures, and how do they convey these visions to their contemporaries? Future studies and future casting methods are important tools for communicators to gauge emerging trends, tell innovation from fads, and appraise possible and likely future scenarios.