Summary
The Information Age, emerging in the mid-20th century, has witnessed a swift transition from traditional industries to an economy centered on information technology. Key advancements include the transistor in 1947 and the optical amplifier in 1957, enabling efficient information processing and transmission. The United Nations Public Administration Network attributes this shift to advancements in computer miniaturization, which introduced modern information systems and internet communication as driving forces of societal evolution.
History
The digital revolution converted technology from analog to digital formats, allowing for flawless copies of originals. In digital communications, repeating hardware amplified the digital signal without information loss. Equally important was the ability to seamlessly transfer digital information between media and access or distribute it remotely. One pivotal moment was the transition from analog to digitally recorded music.
1947-1969: Origins
The 1947 invention of the transistor led the way to more advanced digital computers. Universities, military, and businesses developed computer systems to automate mathematical calculations, with the LEO being the first commercially available general-purpose computer.
1969-1989: Invention of the Internet, Rise of Home Computers
The ARPANET in 1969 introduced concepts leading to the internet. Packet switched networks facilitated the development of protocols for internetworking. The Whole Earth movement advocated the use of new technology. In the 1970s, home computers, video game consoles, and arcades emerged. Digital technology proliferated, and the transition to digital record keeping became the standard in business.
1989-2005: Invention of the World Wide Web, Mainstreaming of the Internet, Web 1.0
Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989, making it accessible to the public in 1991. Mosaic, the first web browser capable of displaying inline images, was introduced in 1993. By 1996, the internet had become part of mass culture. By 2000, nearly every country had an internet connection.
2005-2020: Web 2.0, Social Media, Smartphones, Digital TV
In 2005, the internet population reached 1 billion, and 3 billion people worldwide used cell phones. HDTV became the standard television broadcasting format. Smartphones, digital media, cloud computing, and social media gained prominence. By 2020, 67% of the world's population was connected to the internet.
Rise in Digital Technology Use
In the late 1980s, less than 1% of the world's digitally stored information was in digital format, but it had grown to 94% by 2007 and over 99% by 2014. The world's capacity to store information has increased from 2.6 exabytes in 1986 to 5 zettabytes in 2014, equivalent to 4,500 stacks of printed books from Earth to the sun.
Different Stage Conceptualizations
The Information Age is compared to the Neolithic Age, Scientific Age, and Industrial Age, highlighting its transformative impact on human yaşam. It is also classified in terms of Schumpeterian long waves, with three distinct metaparadigms focusing on matter, energy, and information.
Information in Social and Economic Activities
The Information Age emphasizes the growing economic, social, and technological role of information. Information-related activities have existed in various forms throughout history, but the Information Revolution has witnessed significant growth in these activities. Information has become a central theme in several new sciences, and some writers believe that the Information Revolution will lead to a fiscal crisis for governments and the disintegration of large structures.
Theory of Information Revolution
The theory of information revolution highlights the distinction between matter, energy, and information in economic activities. Information is considered a factor of production and a commodity with use value and exchange value. The revolution has led to the development of information-generating industries (R&D) and information control and processing functions within enterprises.
Measuring and Modeling the Information Revolution
Various studies have attempted to measure and model the Information Revolution, including Porat's input-output analysis, Veneris' theoretical and economic exploration, and Machlup's work on the knowledge industry. These efforts indicate sustained growth in the world's technological capacity to receive, store, and exchange information.
Economics
Information and communication technology (ICT) has become a significant part of the world economy, with optical networking and microcomputers transforming many businesses and industries.
Jobs and Income Distribution
The Information Age has affected the workforce in several ways, including global job market competition, automation, and the displacement of middle-class jobs due to outsourcing.
Automation, Productivity, and Job Gain
While the Information Age has led to productivity gains, it has also resulted in job losses in manufacturing. However, data suggests that technology creates more jobs than it destroys in the long run.
Information-Intensive Industry
Industry has become more information-intensive, leaving important implications for the workforce, as the value of their labor decreases.
Innovations
The Information Age has been enabled by advancements in transistors, computers, data storage, optical networking, personal computers, and electronic paper.
Economy, Society, and Culture
The Information Age has fostered global interdependence and new relationships between the economy, state, and society. It has also raised concerns about anti-intellectualism and the superficial culture it fosters.