4th Industrial Revolution
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The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or 4IR, is the fourth major industrial era since the initial Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. The Fourth Industrial Revolution can be described as a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, and impacting all disciplines, economies and industries.[1]
Central to this revolution are emerging technology breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing and nanotechnology.[2]
Industrial revolutions
First Industrial Revolution
The First Industrial Revolution took place from the 18th to 19th centuries in Europe and America. It was a period that saw the transition from mostly agrarian, rural societies became industrial and urban.[3] The iron and textile industries, along with the development of the steam engine, played central roles in the Industrial Revolution.[3]
Second Industrial Revolution
The Second Industrial Revolution took place between 1870 and 1914, just before World War I.[4] It was a period of growth for pre-existing industries and expansion of new ones, such as the steel, oil and electricity fields, and used electric power to create mass production. Major technological advances during this period included the telephone, light bulb, phonograph and the internal combustion engine.[5]
Third Industrial Revolution
The Third Industrial Revolution, or the Digital Revolution, refers to the advancement of technology from analog electronic and mechanical devices to the digital technology available today. The era started to during the 1980s and is ongoing.[6] Advancements during the Third Industrial Revolution include the personal computer, the internet, and information and communications technology (ICT).
Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Fourth Industrial Revolution builds on the Digital Revolution, representing new ways in which technology becomes embedded within societies and even the human body.[7] The Fourth Industrial Revolution is marked by emerging technology breakthroughs in a number of fields, including robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology, Internet of Things, 3D printing and autonomous vehicles.
In his book, The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, describes how this fourth revolution is fundamentally different from the previous three, which were characterized mainly by advances in technology. These technologies have great potential to continue to connect billions more people to the web, drastically improve the efficiency of business and organizations and help regenerate the natural environment through better asset management.[8]
“Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution” was the theme of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2016 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
See also
References
- ^ Schwab, Klaus (January 11, 2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. World Economic Forum. ISBN 1944835008.
- ^ Schwab, Klaus. "The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means, how to respond". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Industrial Revolution". History Channel.
- ^ "Second Industrial Revolution: The Technological Revolution - RVA". Richmond Vale Academy. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
- ^ "The Second Industrial Revolution, 1870-1914 - US History Scene". US History Scene. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
- ^ "What is the Digital Revolution? - Definition from Techopedia". Techopedia.com. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
- ^ "What is the fourth industrial revolution?". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
- ^ Marr, Bernard. "Why Everyone Must Get Ready For The 4th Industrial Revolution". Forbes (blog). Retrieved 2016-12-12.