Information Age

The Information Age is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century. It marks a big change from old industries, like those from the Industrial Revolution, to a new economy focused on information technology. This shift started when the transistor was invented in 1947, which changed how we handle and send information.

Because of advances in making computers smaller, we saw the creation of modern information systems and the internet. These changes have been major forces in how society has evolved, according to the United Nations Public Administration Network.

Today, people sometimes wonder if the Third Industrial Revolution has ended. New developments in areas like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and machine learning might be leading us into a Fourth Industrial Revolution. Some believe this could bring about an Imagination Age and the Internet of things, where everyday objects are connected to the internet.

History

Further information: History of computing hardware

The Information Age began in the mid-20th century, shifting from traditional industries to an economy centered on information technology. This change was sparked by the invention of the transistor in 1947, which allowed for smaller, faster, and more reliable electronic devices.

Before this, people used tools like the abacus and astrolabe for counting and calculating. Later, more complex devices such as mechanical calculators and the punch card were developed. The 20th century saw the creation of early computers, such as the Z3, the world's first working programmable digital computer, and the Harvard Mark I, an electromechanical computer.

The 1960s and 1970s brought important advances, including the invention of the transistor and the development of digital communication. The 1970s saw the rise of home computers and video games, with companies like Apple becoming well-known. By the 1980s, computers were common in schools, homes, and businesses.

The 1990s introduced the World Wide Web, making the internet accessible to the public. This era also saw the spread of cell phones and digital cameras. Today, the Information Age continues to evolve with technologies like social media, smartphones, and digital television.

Rise in digital technology and commercialization of computers

Further information: History of the Internet

In the late 1980s, very little of the world's stored information was in digital form—less than 1%. But by 2007, this jumped to 94%, and by 2014, it was over 99%.

The world's ability to store digital information grew enormously, from about 2.6 exabytes in 1986 to around 5,000 exabytes (or 5 zettabytes) in 2014. This shows how quickly digital technology and computers became important in our lives.

Overview of early developments

The Information Age began in the mid-20th century, shifting economies from traditional industries to ones focused on information technology. A key moment was the invention of the transistor in 1947, which paved the way for modern electronics.

Libraries started changing in the 1940s when Fremont Rider suggested using small photographs instead of large books. Later, digital technology replaced these with computers, making it easier to share and store information. By the 1980s, personal computers became common, allowing people to access and exchange data quickly. The ability to store and send information grew very fast, similar to how the number of tiny parts in computers, described by Moore's law, increased over time.

Different stage conceptualizations

Human history has seen many periods of big change, like the Neolithic Age, the Scientific Revolution, and the Industrial Age. These changes usually took hundreds or even thousands of years. But the Information Age changed everything in just a few years because information could move so fast.

The Information Age started when we learned to use electricity and light to send data quickly. Before this, we used newspapers, radio, and TV. Now, we have the Internet, satellite TV, and mobile phones to connect everyone around the world. Some people think of the Information Age in three stages: the first with old media like newspapers, the second with new tech like the Internet, and the third mixing both old and new ways to share information.

Information in social and economic activities

The main feature of the Information Age is the growing importance of information in our lives. Information has always been part of human societies, from ancient schools like the Platonic Academy and the Library of Alexandria to the Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. But during the Information Age, information became even more central.

New sciences such as Shannon's Information Theory and Wiener's Cybernetics showed how important information is. Some people thought these changes might cause big problems for governments and large organizations.

The theory of information revolution

The term information revolution is often compared to the Industrial Revolution and the Agricultural Revolution. It talks about how our economy and work change when we focus on information instead of just making things.

Information is now a important part of making and selling things, just like materials or workers. New ideas and inventions are very important, and they change how businesses work and grow. As new technologies spread, they can change whole industries and create new ways of doing business.

Measuring and modeling the information revolution

Researchers have studied how to measure the information sector in countries. They use special methods to look at how much information is made, shared, and used in our economy. One important book said that knowledge made up a big part of the economy in the United States.

We now know that the world’s ability to share, store, and think about information has grown very fast over the years. For example, the way we send information to each other grew by about 30% each year from 1986 to 2007.

Economics

Information and communication technology (ICT) such as computers, computerized machinery, fiber optics, communication satellites, and the Internet became very important in the world's economy. These tools changed many businesses and industries. In his 1995 book Being Digital, Nicholas Negroponte wrote about how products made of atoms are different from products made of bits.

The Information Age has changed jobs in many ways. Workers now compete in a global job market. Computers can do some jobs faster and better than people, so some workers need to find new kinds of jobs. This can be hard, especially in industrial cities. Some jobs, like assembly line work and data processing, have disappeared because companies can do these tasks cheaper in other countries. This means workers in developed countries sometimes lose jobs or earn less money. However, the internet has also created new opportunities for workers in developing countries, allowing them to offer services and compete globally.

Although automation has led to higher productivity, it has also caused job losses in manufacturing. For example, in the United States, manufacturing jobs decreased from 1972 to 2010, even though the value of what was made increased. Even so, technology often creates more jobs than it removes over time.

Main article: Information industry

Innovations

Revolutions in digital technology started the Information Age. These changes built on earlier Technological Revolution developments.

Transistors

Main articles: Transistor, History of the transistor, and MOSFET

Further information: Semiconductor device

The Information Age began with the invention of transistors. The idea of a transistor was first suggested in 1925. The first practical transistor was made in 1947 by scientists at Bell Labs. This invention was important because it started modern technology. Later, new types of transistors were made, changing how we use computers and technology.

Computers

Main articles: Computer and History of computing hardware

Further information: Integrated circuit, Invention of the integrated circuit, Microprocessor, and Moore's law

Before electronic parts, computers were big machines that could only do simple math. World War II helped create the first electronic computers. The transistor made computers smaller and faster. By the 1970s, personal computers like the Apple II let people use computers at home.

Data

Further information: History of telecommunication, Computer memory, Computer data storage, Data compression, Internet access, and Social media

Storing data changed a lot over time. Early ways used photographs and film. Later, computers used magnetic tapes and disks. The Internet started in the 1960s, and the World Wide Web made it easy for everyone to share information.

Personal computers

Main article: History of personal computers

By 1976, companies were racing to make the first popular personal computers. Machines like the Apple II became very popular. These computers had color graphics and could be expanded with new parts.

Apple II

Main article: Apple II

Steve Wozniak designed the Apple I computer and, with Steve Jobs, started Apple Computer. The Apple II, released in 1977, became very successful. It had color graphics and could be expanded with new parts. Over time, millions of Apple IIs were sold.

Optical networking

Further information: Fiber-optic communication, Image sensor, and Optical fiber

Optical communication helps send information over long distances. It uses optical fibers and amplifiers. These technologies made the Internet possible and are important for the Information Age.

Economy, society, and culture

Manuel Castells, in his book The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture, describes how the world became more connected. He talks about new ways that economies, governments, and societies relate to each other, calling it a "new society-in-the-making." He believes this time period marks the start of a new age where we can focus more on culture and ideas rather than just surviving.

Thomas Chatterton Williams wrote about the risks of anti-intellectualism in the Information Age. Even though we have more information than ever, much of it isn’t very important or deep. The focus on being fast rather than expert can lead to a culture where even smart people might ignore the best ideas and thoughts we have.