John Dalton

About

John Dalton, VP of Research, studies emerging interfaces (augmented reality, virtual reality, speech, gesture, biometrics), deep technologies such as synthetic biology, advanced robotics and space exploration. Prior to joining Fidelity, John was a research director at Forrester, where he led the customer experience practice. Before that, he was a filmmaker and a medievalist.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dalton-699a135a

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LATEST WORK

Sociocultural

A Conversation with J. Doyne Farmer: Author of Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World

By: John Dalton | May 14, 2025

FCAT’s John Dalton met with J. Doyne Farmer, author of Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World to discuss complexity economics, as well as climate and agent-based modeling.

sociocultural

Article

05/12/2025

Sociocultural

Curious Minds: A Conversation with Dani S. Bassett and Perry Zurn

By: John Dalton | December 11, 2023

In their most recent book, Curious Minds: The Power of Connection, Dani S. Bassett and Perry Zurn, explore how curiosity works and how we can improve the practice of curiosity in our own lives. John Dalton, VP of Research at FCAT, spoke with Dani and Perry about their research.

Sociocultural

Article

12/11/2023

Sociocultural

A Conversation with Tiffany Shlain: The Power of Unplugging

By: John Dalton | October 18, 2023

In her most recent book, 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day A Week, Tiffany Shlain, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and founder of the Webby Awards, explains how turning off our screens can enhance our well-being, focus, relationships and creativity. John Dalton, VP of Research at FCAT, spoke with Tiffany about her experiences embracing a break from tech and why she believes more of us should shut down our devices more regularly.

sociocultural

Article

10/18/2023

Artificial Intelligence

A Conversation on the Future of AI with Stephen Wolfram

By: John Dalton | July 17, 2023

Generative AI is all the rage now. Coverage of tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E2, and Midjourney has been breathless, with pundits and practitioners predicting either doom or a new golden age for computing. What is really going on here?

Artificial Intelligence

Article

07/17/2023

FCAT…IN PLAY

Humanity-Centered Design: An Interview with Don Norman

BY: John Dalton | February 14, 2023

Humanity-centered design is used to create solutions that benefit the good of humanity, which includes all people in the world, animals, plants, and the environment. We still must design for people, but we must also think about the secondary effects of those human-centered designs. We must look at the impact of what we're designing, not just on the profitability of the company, but instead the profitability of the world.

Design

Article

02/13/2023

Sociocultural

The Upswing: Q & A with Robert D. Putnam

BY: JOHN DALTON | November 3, 2022

By many measures, Americans are more polarized than ever. Can we come together to solve our biggest social, economic and environmental challenges? After a recent Speaker Series event, legendary political scientist Robert D. Putnam shared some insights with FCAT's John Dalton on how America's past may hold the keys to its future. Robert D. Putnam is the Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and a former Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Sociocultural

Article

11/03/2022

ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE

Human Centered AI: Q & A with Ben Shneiderman

By: JOHN DALTON | August 18, 2022

The remarkable progress in algorithms for machine and deep learning have opened the doors to new opportunities, and some dark possibilities. However, a bright future awaits those who build on their working methods by including human-centered AI strategies of design and testing. As many technology companies and thought leaders have argued, the goal is not to replace people but to empower them by making design choices that give humans control over technology.

ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE

Article

08/16/2022

Blockchain

Synthetic Biology: No Longer Life As We Know It?

BY: JOHN DALTON | May 10 2022

Synthetic biology is the promising and controversial technology platform that combines biology and artificial intelligence, opening up the potential to program biological systems much as we program computers.
FCAT recently hosted Amy Webb, founder of the Future Today Institute, and the author of “The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology,” where she discussed the science, and the ethical, moral, and religious issues surrounding synthetic biology

sociocultural

Artificial Intelligence

Article

04/26/2022

FCAT…IN PLAY

Life and Work Through the Anthropological Lens: A Q&A with Gillian Tett of the Financial Times

BY: JOHN DALTON | February 3, 2022

FCAT recently hosted a presentation by Gillian Tett, Chair of the Editorial board and Editor-at-Large, US, of the Financial Times. Her recent book, “Anthro-Vision: A New Way to See in Business and Life”, has just been published. Following her presentation, FCAT’s John Dalton caught up with Gillian to ask a few additional questions on how anthropology can be used effectively in navigating business and social trends.

sociocultural

Article

02/02/2022

FCAT RESEARCH

How We Do Research

BY: JOHN DALTON | February 4, 2021

FCAT Research is a bet on the value of outside-in thinking, a rigorous analysis of external trends that we believe will have a dramatic impact on our business, our industry, and on the lives of our customers and associates. Our goal is to help Fidelity associates reimagine the future of our business. So where do we look for the most promising trends?

SocioCultural

Fintech

Article

02/04/2021

Connect with us.

This website is operated by Fidelity Center for Applied Technology LLC (FCAT^®). FCAT experiments with and provides innovative products, services, content and tools, as a service to its affiliates and as a subsidiary of FMR LLC. Based on input and feedback, FCAT is better able to engage in technology research and planning for the Fidelity family of companies. Unless otherwise indicated, the information and items presented are provided by FCAT and are not intended to provide tax, legal, insurance or investment advice and should not be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by any Fidelity entity or any third-party. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of FMR LLC or its affiliated companies.

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