We can't build it if we can't imagine it: imagining better solutions and how they might actually work in our lives, then, is a really critical tool for creating change. This is especially true when we're talking about cities and their futures. The means of coaxing forth better futures and sharing our ideas about them are rapidly spreading and improving. Take, for instance, the Vision Vessel, a community engagement tool being deployed at 18 locations around Portland, Oregon, capturing and sharing citizen's ideas:

The Vision Vessel is a multi-media recording booth where you can voice your ideas about the City of Portland as it grows and changes in the 21st century. The Vessel creates a living archive of Portlander’s insights, while offering a fresh, practical and innovative approach to urban civic engagement.