The Fourth Industrial Revolution - (Part 2) A Brief History

Before I discuss the fourth industrialist revelation I feel like a brief history of the first three is warranted.

The first industrial revolution (modern age 1.0) started around 1760 and ended somewhere around 1830. This period marks the transition from basic hand manufacturing techniques to machine-assisted manufacturing as well as automation through water and steam power, mainly in the textile and farming industry, but no aspect of life was left untouched. This period is also marked by unprecedented growth in population as well as sustained improvement in the standard of living for the general public.

The second industrial revelation started in approximately 1870 and continued to 1914. During this time most advancements dealt with the replacing of the old with the new. A few examples are Steel became more available, replacing iron as a standard construction material. Electricity replaced the use of oil lamps. Cars replaced more traditional methods of transportation. Steam engines duet to the use of steel were able to push further out. Basically one could consider this period as the modern age 2.0.

The third Industrial Revelation (modern age 3.0) started around 1950 and like the two previous periods, bough significant change through automation, standardization, and construction material improvements. The most notable change was the conversion from analog to digital electronics leading to the invention of the microprocessors. This period gave birth to the information age we live in now.

There is some debate over the fourth industrial revolution (modern age 4.0) start date. Many believe we have already moved into this period where others say we are still riding the end of the third. Putting my personal beliefs aside either camp could be right and history will record the truth in its own time. I do know that it is an exciting time to be alive and we have either a very bright future or a very dark one before us. I choose to believe in humanity so I will not be portraying the darkness of a dystopian life to come. I truly believe that we will see an expansion of basic human rights, not them being diminished by the misuse of technology.

For Part 3 Click Here