Information Age
Industrial shift to information technology / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Information Age (also known as the Third Industrial Revolution, Computer Age, Digital Age, Silicon Age, New Media Age, Internet Age, or the Digital Revolution[1]) is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by a rapid shift from traditional industries, as established during the Industrial Revolution, to an economy centered on information technology.[2] The onset of the Information Age has been linked to the development of the transistor in 1947[2] and the optical amplifier in 1957.[3] These technological advances have had a significant impact on the way information is processed and transmitted.
Third Industrial Revolution | |||
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1947–Present | |||
Location | Worldwide | ||
Key events | transistor computer microminiaturization Internet | ||
Chronology
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According to the United Nations Public Administration Network, the Information Age was formed by capitalizing on computer microminiaturization advances,[4] which led to modernized information systems and internet communications as the driving force of social evolution.[5]
Many debate if or when the Third Industrial Revolution ended and the Fourth Industrial Revolution began, ranging from 2000 to 2020.[citation needed]