What are signals?

One of the core building blocks of foresight work is looking for examples of the future that are already here in the present. We call these "signals". 

Signals are specific, small or local innovation or disruptions. They are actual things that have the potential to grow in scale and geographic distribution. They can be an event, a new product, a new practice, a new market strategy, a new policy, or a new technology. They are not trends — although they may become them.