future problem solving 2022

Each FPS season provides students the opportunity to research and engage in 5 topics, representing themes and concepts from the strands of Business & Economics, Social & Political, and Science & Technology. Topics serve as the thematic basis for the Global Issues Problem Solving, Scenario Performance, and Scenario Writing competitions.

Current Topics

As competitive seasons vary around the globe, please check the link specific to your geographic area for the most current information. Northern Hemisphere – updated July 1 each year – 2023-24 topics (Click Here) Southern Hemisphere – updated January 1 each year – 2024 topics (Click Here)

International Conference Topics

– updated March 1 each year – 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024

Topic Submission

(Click Here) Have an idea you are interested in exploring as an FPS topic? Topic idea submissions remain open year round. From the time of initial idea submission, it typically takes several years for the topic to reach students to allow for review and resource development.

(Click Here) Did you know STUDENTS help determine FPS topics? It’s true and we want your input on future topics!

Topic History

(Click Here)

Future Topics

• Register Today

Forgot Password?

2024 International Conference

Registration notes and tips.

• On the Participants tab, register each team member as the participant type “competitor” 
• For the Division (Dropdown?) select “CmPS Non-Competing Team Member”
• On the Competitions tab, select “Community Problem Solving Team” separately for each non-attending team member.
• On the Room Assignments tab, select “CmPS Member Not Attending” as your room assignment to ensure you are not charged for  housing fees

Future Problem Solving

• Reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2023
• Cite this reference work entry

• Connie Phelps 2  

32 Accesses

Future Problem Solving (FPS) engages students in futuristic thinking through annual academic competitions at local, state, regional, and international levels. Hosted through Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), its mission develops the ability of young people globally to design and achieve positive futures through problem solving using critical and creative thinking . Founded by E. Paul Torrance in 1974, the education program uses a six-step Problem Solving Model based on the Osborne-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Model. E. Paul Torrance promoted positive futures through the construct of creative problem solving. Organized geographically as local FPSPI affiliates, participants select one of four competition components that include Global Issues Problem Solving, Community Problem Solving, Scenario Writing, and Scenario Performance. Students prepare annual topics throughout the school year with qualifying competitions leading to the next level. At the end of the school year, a four-day International Conference (IC) hosts champions during a culminating competition organized as Junior (grades 4–6), Middle (grades 7–9), and Senior (grades 10–12) divisions. Participants address a Future Scene as a hypothetical situation set 20–30 years in the future such as Antibiotic Resistance (2022) and Neurotechnology (2021), and participants receive constructive feedback from trained evaluators. The Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS) component challenges participants to design positive futures, apply the six-step Problem Solving Model, and create a detailed Action Plan. Possible futures emerge as participants (1) Identify Challenges, (2) Select an Underlying Problem, (3) Produce Solution Ideas, (4) Generate and Select Criteria, (5) Apply Criteria, and (6) Develop an Action Plan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save.

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime
• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Durable hardcover edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Futurising science education: students’ experiences from a course on futures thinking and quantum computing

Creative Problem-Solving

Center for Applied Imagination. (n.d.). History . https://bit.ly/3fZHcyw

Creative Education Foundation. (2014). Creative problem solving resource guide . https://bit.ly/3FXEW64

Firestien, R. (2017). CPS timeline . https://bit.ly/3K2zUqE

FPSPI. (n.d.). Future problem solving program international . https://www.fpspi.org/

Glăveanu, V. P. (2018). The possible as a field of inquiry. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 14 (3), 519–530. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v14i3.1725 .

Article   Google Scholar  

Guilford, J. P. (1950). Creativity. American Psychologist, 5 , 444–454.

Hébert, T. P., Cramond, B., Neumeister Speirs, K. L., Millar, G., & Silvian, A. F. (2002). E. Paul Torrance: His life, accomplishments, and legacy (ED480289). ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED480289

Marland, S. P. (1971). Education of the gifted and talented – Volume I: Report to the congress of the United States by the U. S. Commissioner of Education . (ED056243). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED056243.pdf

Osborn, A. F. (1953). Applied imagination: Principles and procedures of creative thinking . Scribner.

Google Scholar  

Torrance, E. P. (1974). Ways gifted children can study the future. Gifted Child Quarterly, 18 (2), 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/001698627401800201 .

Torrance, E. P. (1979). The search for Satori and creativity. Creative Education Foundation.

Treffinger, D. J. (2009). Guest editorial. Gifted Child Quarterly, 55 (4), 229–232. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016986209346950 .

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Emporia State University, Emporia, KS, USA

Connie Phelps

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Connie Phelps .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

Vlad Petre Glăveanu

Section Editor information

Department of Psychology, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Santiago, Chile

Gabriel Fortes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Cite this entry.

Phelps, C. (2022). Future Problem Solving. In: Glăveanu, V.P. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_262

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_262

Published : 26 January 2023

Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-030-90912-3

Online ISBN : 978-3-030-90913-0

eBook Packages : Behavioral Science and Psychology Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Share this entry

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

   NYFPS    |           FPSONLINE    |         VOLUNTEER   |         DONATE   |         

2023-24 Topics

The future problem solving topics for the school year have been listed below. The International Conference topic will be announced in the spring of the school year at the New York State Conference. Please take advantage of researching the topics before the competition.

Practice Problem # 1: TOURISM

Tourism not only benefits host locales but those on holiday. Travel enriches their lives, expands their understanding of people and cultures, while also serving as a respite from daily life. The economic stability of such destinations depends on the sustainability of their tourist trade. As the popularity of such destinations grows, international corporations and developers typically flock to these growing places, trying to capitalize on the financial possibilities. There is money to be made in building hotels, restaurants, and in developing an area’s growing tourism industry. As outside groups seek to attract tourists and the revenue they generate, locals often struggle to maintain their location's unique appeal and ability to support local venues. As this build-up occurs, local people can have their cultures exploited, lands destroyed, and their local businesses put in jeopardy. As the tourism sector grows and expands, we are seeing the expansion of the Special Interest (SIT) market - tourists wishing to match their vacations with their interests (e.g., ecotourism, wellness tourism, event tourism, ancestry tourism, etc.) How will changing forms and trends of tourism impact tourists and hosts alike? How can the advantages of expanding tourism be balanced with the protection of destinations?

Practice Problem # 2: URBANIZATION

Today nearly half the world's population lives in an urban area. By 2050, that number is expected to reach 70% due to this increase in Urbanization. Urban areas and their large populations often hold power over governance, economic development, and international connectivity beyond their immediate regions. With proper planning, urban centers can provide educational and economic opportunities to residents not found elsewhere. However, they can also easily give rise to slums and increase income inequality. With growing footprints, cities are also struggling to provide basic needs, essential services, and safety. Future urban planners must address tough questions: What qualities in society should be valued most? What is fair and equitable? Whose interests will be served first? Planners must balance the speed of decision-making with the need for thoughtful, well-considered programs for development. As urban areas expand, how can we develop areas that are efficient, resilient, and inclusive? Future urban planners must address tough questions: What qualities in society should be valued most? What is fair and equitable? Whose interests will be served first? Planners must balance the speed of decision-making with the need for thoughtful, well-considered programs for development. As urban areas expand, how can we develop areas that are efficient, resilient, and inclusive?

Qualifying Problem: ANTARCTICA

Antarctica, the highest, driest, coldest continent, has no permanent population and is governed by a collection of agreements between fifty-four countries. The Antarctic Treaty System designates the entire continent and surrounding waters for scientific endeavors, bans military activity, and promotes environmental research and preservation. Although Antarctica remains the most remote place on Earth, it is highly regulated and heavily impacted by activities around the globe. Parts of the continent are polluted by sewage, discarded machinery, fuel products, and rubbish. Antarctica is thought to be rich in minerals and resources, though an 'indefinite' ban on mining is in place through 2048. Antarctica also holds over 60% of the Earth's fresh water in an ice sheet that contains 90% of the Earth's total ice volume. As global temperatures rise, these are breaking apart and melting faster, endangering local wildlife and entire ecosystems. Without a consistent population or a sovereign state, Antarctica possesses a unique space within political, economic, and environmental crossroads. How can Antarctica be sustainably utilized yet simultaneously preserved to best benefit our global population?

State Conference: AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION

Our transport needs, desires, and realities are rapidly changing due to global growth and increased connectivity. As modes of transportation continue to evolve, increasing levels of complexity and efficiency are pursued. What role will autonomous vehicles, cars, airplanes, ships, etc., which operate without human intervention, play in this pursuit? Their development continues to increase exponentially with advancing technological capabilities. Since all scenarios are not programmable, autonomous vehicles must learn and react. They do this by surveying their environment with multiple sensors and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to process vast amounts of data. Autonomous vehicles can deliver on demand, refuel, park, and store themselves. By creating a network of these vehicles, entire systems of transport could become autonomous, controlled by a central AI. How will the efficiency of autonomous vehicles affect the development of transportation, on land and sea, in the air, and possibly space? How will autonomous transport cope with unexpected risk situations and ethical decisions? In what ways will autonomous transport impact jobs, industries, infrastructure, and lifestyles?

Annual Topics

Each year FPSPI announces the future problem solving topics for the school year which will be the basis for the thematic basis for each submission in the GIPS and Scenario Writing. Participants have the opportunity to research and explore these topics which are usually topics that are expected to increasingly become more important in the future. The topics represent themes and concepts from the strands of Business & Economics, Social & Political, and Science & Technology.

The slate of topics for the upcoming years are selected by students across the globe each year.

Participants can also suggest topic ideas for future slates. Suggested topic ideas typically takes several years to appear in before participants to allow for review and resource development.

REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE TODAY

Start Your Journey To Solve Future Problems 

Scenario Writing

Global issues, competitive components, register now, how to start, non-competitive option, get involved, competitions, program areas, call to action, media coverage, our commitment, discover more, about nyfps, mission & values.

Registration Form

How to get started, why be an advisor, inspire the future, on-site training, fps value-add, the classroom, integrate fps into your teaching, six-step method, create parental buy-in, parents' guide, fps pedagogy.

Team/Club Tools

Program info, virtual center, competition info and resources, component info, quick access, scholarship.

• Outreach Grants
• Other Tournaments
• Certification Information
• QR Online Quiz
• Search QR Numbers
• FPS Clinics
• Search FPS Numbers
• Composition Certification Quiz
• Search Comp Numbers
• Board of Directors
• Board of Directors Information
• KAAC Hall of Fame
• Photo Galleries
• Writer/Editor Pay Request
• Competitions
• State Finals

Future Problem Solving

• Governor’s Cup FPS
• Start a Team
• Community Problem Solving
• Scenario Writing
• Scenario Performance
• Junior Division FPS
• Individual FPS
• Alternate FPS
• Glossary of Terms

FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING

Competition for 21st Century Learning Skills

Future Problem Solving Program International is celebrating 50 Years!

The year long celebration will culminate with the Future Problem Solving International Conference June 5-9, 2024 at the University of Indiana Bloomington.

Kentucky teams who place at our State Finals in March may earn an invitation to the International Competition to represent Kentucky on the world stage.

Kentucky has been a part of Future Problem Solving since 1988 with multiple top 10 finishes at the International Competition.

Kentucky: One of the International Leaders in FPS

Future Problem Solving (FPS) helps students obtain lifelong goals by teaching problem solving skills today. The diverse components of this internationally recognized, award-winning program prepare students for emerging new realities.

The Institute for Competition Sciences has recognized KAAC as the number one FPS affiliate in the world.

KAAC offers FPS through Governor's Cup Team FPS and FPS Component Events .

What is FPS?

Through academic competition, students apply critical thinking, advanced problem solving, and decision making skills to hypothetical future scenarios using the following FPS Six-Step Process:

• Step 1: Identify potential challenges or concerns from the Future Scene.
• Step 2: Identify a singular underlying problem.
• Step 3: Identify potential solutions to the underlying problem.
• Step 4: Develop criteria to judge potential solutions and their positive impact.
• Step 5: Evaluate and rank the potential solutions using criteria to rank solutions in order of importance.
• Step 6: Develop a complete action plan based on the highest-ranking solution.

Component Events

• Community Problem Solving (CmPS) - An individual or team of students work to identify a problem that exists in their school, community, state, or nation. Participants utilize the Six-Step Process to examine this area of concern, then develop and implement real-world projects to address these problems.
• Scenario Writing - Individual students write 1500-word stories related to one of the five yearly FPS topics. Each fictional story must be set at least 20 years in the future and outline logical events taking place in the world.
• Scenario Performance - Individual students develop and deliver oral stories related to one of the five yearly FPS topics. Each oral story is set 20 years in the future and should be told in a natural and spontaneous nature that is creative and entertaining to an audience.
• Junior Division FPS - A team of four students in grades 4-6 may participate in the Junior Division of FPS.
• Individual FPS - Individual students work through the FPS Six-Step Process and have two hours to complete a booklet. Individuals generate eight challenges in Step 1 and eight potential solutions in Step 3. The other steps are the same as the team competition.
• FPS Alternates -The FPS Alternates competition is for students who are part of a team that qualified for the State Finals, but are not actually competing in Governor’s Cup team FPS. The FPS Team Alternates Competition is held at the Governor’s Cup State Finals. It is NOT part of Governor’s Cup. Each FPS Alternates Team will consist of not more than four students from different schools who work through the FPS process. Each team generates 8 challenges in Step 1, and 8 solution ideas in Step 3. Step 2, Step 4, Step 5 and Step 6 are exactly the same as the team competition. Participants have 90 minutes to complete a booklet.

Don’t let your FPS questions go unanswered. We’re here to help. Give us a call at (502) 223-0088 or email us at Chris Hill .

Discover all the ways to learn Future Problem Solving

Meaningfully engage students with critical and creative thinking skills using our interdisciplinary curricular resources., welcome to the future problem solving official online store.

Current 2024-2025 Season

Registered coach? Browse a collection of the 2024-2025 problem topic units for our competition programs. Find all the research and activity units you need to prepare for success this problem-solving season.

Engage students with real world issues while building knowledge and skills using our flexible, standards-based, and skill-based resources. Shop all our available topic-specific learning units and virtual lessons.

Program Support

New to Future Problem Solving? Shop by competition program to find Future Problem Solving resources curated in collections for our Global Issues, Community Projects, Creative Writing, and Storytelling programs.

Problem-Solving Curricular Resources

Learn our multidisciplinary 6-step problem-solving process. Integrate our adaptable problem-solving approach, tools, and activities into your lesson plans to meet young people where and how they learn to think.

Open Affiliate Registration

Not served by an active Future Problem Solving affiliate in your location? Register to participate virtually as part of our worldwide open affiliate program.

Evaluation Guidelines

Our competition evaluation process is quite comprehensive and strives to provide students with valuable feedback for growth from certified evaluators.

BRAND NEW Future Problem Solving Resource Library. We’re just getting started and are still uploading content. Keep an eye out for additional articles and free tools in the coming months.

Global Issues

Community projects, creative writing, storytelling.

• Problem-Solving Method
• Real World Issues
• Future Scenarios
• Authentic Assessments
• 5Cs of Learning
• Youth Protection
• DEIB Commitment

International Conference

• Find FPS Near Me
• Partner With Us

Hi. How can we help?

Help topics.

Get Started

New? Find everything you need to know to get started and get to work with Future Problem Solving competitions.

Problem Solving Tools

Find out more about our proven 6-step method and how to apply it to develop relevant action plans.

Learn more about our flagship program competition for both teams and individuals and get inspired by our students’ work.

Learn more about how to apply our Future Problem Solving model to a real world project in your local community.

Learn more about our futuristic writing competition and get inspired by our student’s work (aka Scenario Writing).

Learn more about our futuristic storytelling competition and get inspired by our student’s work (aka Scenario Performance).

Explore ideas and tips for integrating our program materials as non-competitive activities in your classroom curriculum.

Learn more about our virtual, asynchronous competitions like the World Solutions Challenge.

Best Practices

Discover best practices shared by others doing what you do that you can adapt and apply today.

From coaches to students to evaluators, learn how FPSOnline works from top to bottom and find answers to frequently asked questions.

Get Involved

Schools, partners, donors, volunteers, evaluators, alumni…find out how you can make a direct impact on students' lives.

Explore all the ways you can support your students’ success and get inspiration from other parents’ perspectives.

Questions? Find the answers here. Each year champion problem solvers and supporters come together from around the world (IC).

Everything Else

Not sure where to look? Check out the answers to other common Future Problem Solving questions here.

Popular Articles

• [IC 2024] What is the schedule for this year’s event?
• Who are the winners of the IC 2024 competition?
• How does the Action Plan Presentation portion of the IC competition work?
• [IC 2024] What sessions/workshops are available with this year’s event?
• Free Tool: Categories List for Generating and Focusing Ideas

April Michele

2022-2023 Topics

August 22, 2021

Topics and Suggested Readings for the 2022-2023 Competition Season are now available!

any questions? Ask!

• About Roeper
• Mission, Philosophy, & History
• Admissions Events
• Lower School
• Middle & Upper Schools
• Tuition & Affordability
• Giftedness and Academics
• Middle School
• Upper School
• Roeper Community
• Art Gallery
• Roeper Parent Community
• Spirit Shop
• Your Gift Matters
• Mariann Hoag Scholarship Dinner
• MOSAIC Auction
• Summer Camp
• Privacy Policy
• The Roeper Institute

Future Problem Solving Course for 2022-2023

Bloomfield Campus

Birmingham campus.

More From Forbes

The power of diversity and inclusion: driving innovation and success.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Jason Miller helps influential brands and celebrities create generational wealth with their businesses | CEO, Strategic Advisor Board .

Diversity and inclusion is a strategic advantage that promotes innovation in organizations, better decision making and stronger workplace cultures. See the strategies for building a diverse and inclusive organization to achieve long-term business success.

The value of diversity and inclusion has become increasingly recognized in society and in business. Organizations that promote diversity and cultivate inclusive environments are reaping huge rewards in terms of innovation, better decision making and better performance overall. The positive impact of diversity and inclusion extends beyond social responsibility; it is a strategic imperative that drives success and positions companies for long-term sustainability.

The Business Case For Diversity And Inclusion

Diversity can stimulate innovation by challenging conventional thinking, encouraging fresh ideas and promoting creative problem-solving. In research studies, diverse groups with people who have different backgrounds, genders, experiences and perspectives consistently generate more innovative solutions than homogeneous groups. Embracing diversity unlocks the potential for innovative products, services and approaches.

Enhanced Decision Making And Problem-Solving

Organizations can make better decisions by leveraging their workforce's diverse expertise and knowledge. Individuals are empowered to share their opinions and unique insights in inclusive environments. Organizations can benefit from well-rounded discussions and comprehensive evaluations by valuing and incorporating diverse perspectives. As a result of considering a wider range of possibilities and challenging groupthink, diverse teams are more effective at solving complex problems.

Benefits Of Diversity And Inclusion For Organizations

The financial performance of companies prioritizing diversity and inclusion consistently outperforms their peers. Financial returns are strongly correlated with diverse executive boards. Although, it’s important to note that diversity and inclusion should come from a place of increasing better work environments and employee satisfaction, and not firstly from a financially charged approach.

Increasing market share and customer loyalty is easier for companies that focus on diversity since they are better equipped to understand and connect with a broader customer base. Diversity can also foster a competitive advantage for companies attracting and retaining rockstar employees.

Enhanced Employee Engagement And Productivity

An inclusive culture cultivates a sense of belonging, respect and psychological safety, which increases employee engagement and productivity . This is because employees are more likely to feel valued for their unique contributions when they are celebrated and recognized. This type of environment encourages collaboration and innovation, as individuals from a variety of backgrounds bring with them different skills, perspectives and life experiences.

Strengthened Employer Brand And Reputation

Companies prioritizing diversity and inclusion are considered employers of choice by top talent. In today's socially conscious world, committed and dedicated employees are more likely to feel valued for their unique contributions if they are committed and dedicated to achieving organizational culture and promoting diversity in their workforce. This positive perception attracts diverse talent and strengthens relationships with customers, partners and the community.

Benefits Of Diversity And Inclusion For Employees

Creating a diversified workforce provides equal opportunities for all employees to grow and advance in their careers. Employees can then be inspired to push harder if they are celebrated for achieving organizational goals and given the ability to continue developing as staff members and individuals.

To strive towards an inclusive workspace, promote employees' sense of belonging, acceptance and well-being. In addition, you can promote improved mental health by creating supportive environments that encourage open communication, empathy and work-life balance. If employees associate good feelings with their workplaces, they can perform better.

Expanded Cultural Competence And Global Perspective

Diversity and inclusion can expose employees to various cultures, traditions and perspectives. This exposure can foster cultural competence. In my opinion, employees must be motivated, committed and dedicated to achieving organizational goals to feel valued for their unique contributions. Employees can learn and benefit from one another, better navigate diverse markets and build relationships based on cultural understanding and empathy. This cultural competence goes far beyond the workplace and creates stronger communities and a better world.

Strategies For Embracing Diversity And Fostering Inclusion

Creating a diverse and inclusive organization begins with leadership commitment and accountability. Senior leaders must champion diversity and inclusion as strategic priorities and set the tone for the organization. By leading by example, they can inspire others and strive to ensure diversity and inclusion initiatives are integrated into business strategies and practices.

Inclusive Recruitment And Hiring Practices

Organizations can promote diversity by adopting inclusive recruitment and hiring practices. This includes widening the candidate pool, leveraging diverse sourcing channels and hiring individuals from underrepresented communities. Establishing clear diversity goals and promoting diverse representation in all levels of the organization, including leadership positions, is essential and demonstrates the organization's commitment to inclusive practices.

Building Inclusive Work Cultures

Organizational culture can take some time to cultivate, but the effort is worth it. Organizations can achieve this by encouraging collaboration on projects across departments, honest communication and teamwork, and providing opportunities and resources. Training programs and workshops on unconscious bias, cultural competence and inclusive leadership can also help cultivate understanding and awareness.

Continuous Evaluation And Improvement

Building a diverse and inclusive organization is an ongoing journey. It is essential to continuously evaluate diversity and inclusion efforts through metrics, surveys and feedback mechanisms. By gathering data and insights, organizations can identify areas for improvement and develop targeted strategies. Your employees are one of your greatest resources as a business owner. Ask for feedback regularly and work to incorporate new ideas and suggestions generated by employees from all levels of the organization.

Inclusivity is not only the right thing to do, but it is a strategic advantage for organizations aiming to thrive in today's evolving workplace. By building diverse workforces, organizations can propel innovation, improve company decision-making and create an engaging and supportive work environment. Through leadership commitment, inclusive recruitment practices and cultural development, organizations can unlock the full potential of their teams and position themselves for long-term success. Let us embrace diversity and foster inclusion, not just for the benefit of our organizations but society at large.

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

• India Today
• Business Today
• Harper's Bazaar
• Brides Today
• Cosmopolitan
• India Today Hindi
• Reader’s Digest
• Aaj Tak Campus

Download App

Virtual autism is on rise among growing children: Problem and solution

Virtual autism continues to challenge our era of technology but note the emerging innovative solution— stem-based toys. they offer an alternative by developing a child's attention from screens to interactive educational play and thus not only solving the problem at hand but ensuring that we have a future generation of individuals who are: curious, creative, capable..

Listen to Story

Have you ever observed how agitated children become when you take away their phones while they are using them?

Over the past few years, virtual autism has become a major concern for parents, teachers, and health providers. A condition believed to result from excessive screen time, this unexplained epidemic impairs children's development and leads to problems with social engagement, much like actual autism. As kids spend more time with gadgets and digital media, many develop addictive behaviours that seriously affect their cognitive and social well-being. The effects can be drastic: from speech and language delays to problems with social interaction and emotional self-control.

USE OF STEM TOYS

The use of STEM toys can lead to fighting against the downsides that arise due to excessive screen time by motivating children to play with tangible items that breed hands-on experiences — where users are involved. Instead of being passive consumers of what is displayed on a screen, children get actively involved in playing with toys; they use their hands and brains to come up with designs and later investigate them. Cognitive growth can be encouraged by active involvement in such thinking activities that trigger the development of the brain, thereby increasing the retention of what is learned.

The toys offer benefits such as educational value which goes beyond personal use. They are great tools for collaborative learning because when children play with these toys, they have to work together, come up with ideas and solve problems as a team. Developing social skills and teamwork through this cooperative play helps in fighting against loneliness— which is common with too much individual play.

The toys have an educational value that goes beyond personal use; which makes them great tools for group learning. Children are motivated to work together and come up with solutions as a team while playing with these toys— this aspect of cooperation during play helps in developing social skills and teamwork. It also helps in curbing the effects of loneliness (which is usually connected to) too much individualistic play.

FINAL WORDS

Thus, to summarise, virtual autism continues to challenge our era of technology but note the emerging innovative solution— STEM-based toys. They offer an alternative by developing a child's attention from screens to interactive educational play and thus not only solving the problem at hand but ensuring that we have a future generation of individuals who are: curious, creative, capable. "We aim to make learning a joyful journey, where children develop a lifelong love for exploration," says one educational toy company.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Negotiating for Lower Drug Prices Works, Saves Billions

Biden-Harris Administration delivers on promise to lower prescription drug costs for Americans

In a historic moment that will help lower prescription drug prices for millions of people across America, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that it has reached agreements for new, lower prices for all 10 drugs selected for negotiations. These negotiated drugs are some of the most expensive and most frequently dispensed drugs in the Medicare program and are used to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The new prices will go into effect for people with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage beginning January 1, 2026. 

If the new prices had been in effect last year, Medicare would have saved an estimated $6 billion, or approximately 22 percent, across the 10 selected drugs. These negotiated prices range from 38 to 79 percent discounts off of list prices. About nine million people with Medicare use at least one of the 10 drugs selected for negotiation. People with Medicare prescription drug coverage are expected to see aggregated estimated savings of $1.5 billion in their personal out-of-pocket costs in 2026. For more detailed information about the negotiated prices please see the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Negotiated Prices Fact Sheet .  

“Americans pay too much for their prescription drugs. That makes today’s announcement historic. For the first time ever, Medicare negotiated directly with drug companies and the American people are better off for it,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Congressional budget estimators (Congressional Budget Office) predicted about $100 billion savings over 10 years from drug negotiations, and a $3.7 billion savings in the first year alone. Today we’re announcing that in our first year of negotiations we are saving Medicare an estimated $6 billion and Americans who pay out of pocket will be saving another $1.5 billion moving forward. Empowering Medicare to negotiate prices not only strengthens the program for generations to come, but also puts a check on skyrocketing drug prices.”

“CMS is proud to have negotiated drug prices for people with Medicare for the first time. These negotiations will not only lower the prices of critically important medications for cancer, diabetes, heart failure, and more, but will also save billions of dollars,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Medicare drug price negotiation and the lower prices announced today demonstrate the commitment of CMS and the Biden-Harris Administration to lower health care and prescription drug costs for Americans. We made a promise to the American people, and today, we are thrilled to share that we have fulfilled that promise.”

As a hypothetical example, a senior with Medicare who takes Stelara pays a 25% coinsurance on the drug which may amount to about $3,400 today for a 30-day supply. When the negotiated price goes into effect in 2026, that same 25% coinsurance would cost the beneficiary about $1,100 before the person reaches the catastrophic cap, after which the beneficiary will pay no more out of pocket on their prescription drugs. A beneficiary’s actual costs will depend on their plan’s benefit design.

In August 2023, HHS announced the first 10 drugs covered under Medicare Part D selected for the first cycle of negotiations.

The selected drugs accounted for $56.2 billion in total Medicare spending, or about 20 percent of total Part D gross spending in 2023. Overall, total Part D gross spending for the 10 selected drugs more than doubled from 2018 to 2022, from about $20 billion to about $46 billion, an increase of 134 percent. Medicare enrollees paid a total of $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2022 for these drugs.

“CMS negotiated in good faith on behalf of the millions of people who rely on these 10 drugs for their health and well-being. The new negotiated prices will bring much needed financial relief, affordability, and access,” said Meena Seshamani, MD, PhD, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare. “Throughout the process, we remained true to our commitment to be thoughtful and transparent, meeting publicly with patients, providers, health plans, pharmacies, drug companies and others to help inform the process. We will continue to do so for future cycles. Our team is actively working on the next cycle of negotiations where we will combine what we have learned from this first cycle and apply it in negotiating prices for the next round of up to 15 selected drugs.”

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) also released new data today detailing historic pricing trends of the 10 drugs selected for the first cycle of the negotiation program. The report finds that from 2018 to 2023, list prices increased as much as 55 percent.

CMS will select up to 15 more drugs covered under Part D for negotiation for 2027 by February 1, 2025. CMS will select up to 15 more drugs covered by Part B or Part D for 2028, and up to 20 more Part B or Part D drugs for each year after that, as required by the Inflation Reduction Act.

In addition to these newly negotiated prices, people with Medicare are already experiencing lower drug costs thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. And, next year, all Medicare Part D enrollees will benefit from a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on their prescription drug costs, further making prescription drugs more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities.

View the CMS Negotiated Prices Fact Sheet at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fact-sheet-negotiated-prices-initial-price-applicability-year-2026.pdf

View the Historic Trends Fact Sheet from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) at https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/medicare-drug-price-negotiation-program-comparing-drug-price

View a CMS Plain Language infographic at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/infographic-negotiated-prices-maximum-fair-prices.pdf

For more information about the Inflation Reduction Act, including plain language materials, please visit LowerDrugCosts.gov .  For more information available in Spanish, please visit MedicamentosBajoPrecio.gov .

Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases

Subscribe to RSS

Receive latest updates

Related News Releases

Commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the biden-harris lower cost prescription drug law, biden-harris administration releases final part two guidance to help people with medicare prescription drug coverage manage prescription drug costs, hhs announces cost savings for 64 prescription drugs thanks to the medicare rebate program established by the biden-harris administration’s lower cost prescription drug law, media inquiries.

For general media inquiries, please contact  [email protected] .

Disclaimer Policy: Links with this icon ( ) mean that you are leaving the HHS website.

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot guarantee the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not mean that HHS or its employees endorse the sponsors, information, or products presented on the website. HHS links outside of itself to provide you with further information.
• You will be bound by the destination website's privacy policy and/or terms of service when you follow the link.
• HHS is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on private websites.

For more information on HHS's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers .