The Future Has Begun: come and explore the world of standards

How do standards help shape a better future? Why are collaboration and consensus so crucial to their development? How can you get involved to ensure that the standards of tomorrow address everyone’s needs?

Those questions and more are explored in a new interactive exhibition in central London, The Standards Experience 2021: The Future Has Begun. Here, you can travel on an immersive journey through the work of BSI, which was founded in 1901 as the world’s first national standards body.

Scott Steedman, Director-General of Standards at BSI, says: “For over 100 years, the work of BSI has been almost invisible, it’s been work done behind the scenes, behind the curtains. “This is perhaps the first time that we are really opening this up to the public, and we’re inviting people to participate in making and shaping standards for a better world.”

The Future Has Begun

Every year, BSI publishes over 2,700 standards, engaging with industry and academic experts, government bodies, trade associations, consumers and others.

The exhibition offers a new perspective on the concept of standards, highlighting the power of consensus and collaboration in developing them, and the way they benefit individuals, communities and organizations. And, of course, our members.

It contains a series of interactive installations demonstrating how these consensus standards shape the future of work, study, trade, society and the planet.

Mr Steedman explains: “Standards are not about making things the same; standards are about making a better future for everyone. They are a way that people can have their voices heard, that they can agree something.

“We’re facing so many challenges in the world, and this experience is to try and show people how they can contribute. That’s why we wanted to say: the future has begun!”

Interactive installations

Seven topics are explored through a series of custom installations.

One is Future Working Environments, which looks at how employers should adapt as people start to return to offices, factories and shops after the Covid-19 pandemic. BSI is in the process of developing new standards to help employers manage mental health in the workplace.

The Environment installation examines how standards can help address climate change and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. A second stand looks at sustainable finance, asking questions about where they invest their money.

Manufacturing, Engineering and the Built Environment explores the interoperability of data: how data connects objects in the city around us and the products we use every day.

Where's my data?

“Consumers today don’t always realise how much of their data they are giving away,” says Mr Steedman. “It’s very important that we develop standards that help consumers understand what happens to their data, who uses their data, and how that’s controlled and managed. So we’ve got a special stand which is asking that question, and what’s exciting about it is that it films you!”

Meanwhile, Innovation and Digital looks at the apps we download to our smartphones and how trustworthy they are. Visitors are asked to choose between two sorts of apps, exploring the standards behind them so they learn more about which ones they can trust with their data.

Consensus and collaboration

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is another topic, as well as being a key theme that runs throughout the exhibition.

“It’s about making sure that wherever you come from, whoever you are, if you are affected by a standard, you should be in the room and your voice should be heard,” says Mr Steedman.

You can download a dedicated app to engage with the exhibits, share your views, and get further involved in the development of future standards. You can also take part in the conversation on social channels using the hashtag #TheFutureHasBegun.

Mr Steedman explains: “We’re going to use the app to enable you to follow the work that’s going on, and if you want to volunteer to participate, you can do that through BSI.

“We hope people will come to see this exhibition and they will all go away thinking: perhaps I should be involved, perhaps I could be involved.”

The exhibition takes place in the library of the London headquarters of the ICE, which is the birthplace of both BSI and, in 1946, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

It is located at One Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA, and opens Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. Or, if you can’t make it to London, check out https://www.standardsexperience.co.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you.