Futurist Parag Khanna spoke with trajectory about the new book he co-authored with wife Ayesha Khanna, “Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human Technology Civilization.” The new e-book is published by TED, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing ideas related to technology, entertainment, and design.

“Since it’s a book about futurism, it seemed odd not to publish as an e-book,” Khanna said.

Khanna, a self-described futurist and geo-strategist, is fascinated by the relationship between power and place, and the book examines shifting political geography in the decades ahead, particularly related to natural resource development, population size, manufacturing, and robotics.

Hybrid Reality outlines the importance of taking a geo-technological approach to understanding global change. While Khanna’s area of focus is more on geography, Ayesha’s concentration is in technology. They posit that this intersection of disciplines represents the need to focus on developing one’s “technology quotient,” or “TQ,” as opposed to the historically coveted high IQ.

“TQ is shorthand for assessing one’s adaptability and preparedness for emerging technologies and integrating them into your skill set, professional life, etc.,” Khanna said.

Khanna also predicts that as more importance is placed on TQ, geo-political power will shift from governments toward more non-state actors. “Even sovereignty is going to be gradually less significant than authority, and authority will derive increasingly from TQ,” he said.