04/12/2019
Fourth industrial revolution (4IR or Industry 4.0)
Foreword
From the onset let me start by stating unambiguously that to the readers of this introductory series that I am not expert in this field of the Fourth industrial revolution as also doubt if there is any such expert on such a newly evolving phenomenon.
However, I believe I have read quite considerably on that subject/field such that I can share some insights that may be useful in the way we view the evolving dynamics of the world in which we are living in and how such changes will affect our lives and the lives of our children, how they learn and the kinds of jobs they will do and how we will relate with them at home and in the society in general.
The interactions on this platform will be in form of indefinite number of series that will focus on different aspects of the fourth industrial revolution and mainly how those are and will affect the way we live and interact with the world and our immediate surrounding
Series_1: Introduction
The fourth industrial revolution
The term fourth industrial revolution is one that most of us have heard or read about but very few of us are yet interested in what exactly it is all about. However majority, if not all of us, reading this post have or are experiencing the effects of the fourth industrial revolution in their daily lives.
The way we communicate, the way we share information, the way we do our shopping, the way our kids are learning at school and even the way we learn ourselves in our various fields of studies, the way we do our work, the way we travel in private and public transport, the way we compare information and facts, the way we watch our televisions, listen to music and watch videos, everywhere we are noticing a lot of changes mainly for the better.
For some of us who have been fortunate to be around from around the 1980s through to 1990s and eventually in the 2000s and 2010s, the differences are vast and observable in all dimensions of our lives. In simple terms those are the effects of what is called the fourth industrial revolution. Now let me try to define what is meant by the fourth industrial revolution in simple language.
What is the fourth industrial revolution?
The term fourth industrial revolution is a term that was coined by Prof Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
In simple terms the fourth industrial revolution defines a world in which people move between digital domains and offline reality with the use of connected technology to enable and manage their lives. This revolution is characterised by:
a much more available and mobile internet,
smaller and more powerful sensors and smart gadgets that have become cheaper, and
by artificial intelligence and machine learning which are enabling machines/robots to do things that previously could only be done by human beings
End of Series_1
(Series_2: Broad dimensions of the Fourth industrial revolution)
Your inputs, critique, additions and subtractions are most welcome
