Is the IT Revolution Only Hype?
Published by What is its role compared to the industrial revolution and other major events in history?
If we could take one person living in the year 1887 in a major city like New York or London and bring him to the year 1957, would he be more shocked than another man living in the same city in 1937 brought to the year 2007?
The man from 1887 would be very amazed at watching Television, hearing the radio, seeing so many cars on good quality roads and people travelling to far off countries by flying machines. What about the man from 1937? Would people carrying their own telephones in their pockets awe him? Would the Internet, e-mail and Google seem revolutionary to him? Would the man from 1937 be awestruck with wonder or would he be asking why we haven’t colonized other planets, found a cure for cancer or ended wars?
Are the advances in IT technology or ICT technology as it’s also called, Internet and mobile communication taken as a cluster as significant to humanity as the domestication of animals and farming and the industrial revolution? Do we understand the impact of the ongoing communication revolution around us?
Have the advances changed social structures and hierarchies, the effect of culture on individuals or the way people gather their livelihood and engage in social relations?
Have the new inventions changed the relationship between a human being and the power elite or mechanism of governance (whether it is a clan, tribe, community, city, nation state, super power or bodies like the EU)?
Five events stand out as watersheds in the history of human civilization. They are
- The Discovery of Fire
- The Domestication of Animals and Crops
- The Discovery of Writing
- The Industrial Revolution
- The Information Revolution
The First Watershed Event in the History of Civilization
Photo source: Wikimedia Commons
It is very difficult to say exactly when humans discovered fire. The consistent and purposeful use of fire probably began with Homo erectus, who behaved more like a biped rather than an ape already 400,000 years ago.
Fire provided warmth, so crucial during the height of the glacial periods. This may have been a prime factor in human survival. Many animals, especially those in the wild, are afraid of fire. So, early man could use fire to keep the animals away, especially at night while they were sleeping.
Fire may have also played an important role in the early socialization of man. With extra hours of light available to them, they could gather around the fire, planning the next day’s hunting, telling stories and preparing tools. The entire group could come together around the fire and the abilities to communicate and socialize became important factors in an individual’s development and survival.
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On April 3, 2008 at 10:28 am
Very neatly put. The writer clearly enjoys setting out his ideas in an orderly and lucid form and possesses a specific skill in conveying the message to readers. Keep up this excellent work!
On April 3, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Invention of writing is just that, invention, a new development. Revolution usually means a change in existing situation so this new phenomenon, ability to put ideas into writing, cannot be said to be a dawn of a revolution. IT is just an improvement in an old already existing skill.
On April 5, 2008 at 9:46 am
Very good historical analysis. But I disagree about the last sentence as the Internet is compulsory in my life.
On April 5, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Didn’t think of going so far, but now I see in perspective. Great article. The internet has started to control my life and I think it’s importance is growing.
On April 18, 2008 at 2:42 am
Thanks Mervi Takala for your comments. I’m sorry if you got the impression that I would have suggested that the Internet is not important. It’s very important for me to. I was just attempting to put it into perspective.
Thanks Seija Sinha, Sinikka Heiska and John Galto for your comments. All the best to you.
On April 27, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Writing, I think, will never get obsolete. Our way of doing it just changes through time as in using the keyboard when we want to express ourselves. Even new technologies allow writing on-screen, evidence of a return to the conventional. New, mind-reading gadgets (applied in games) could however change the way we communicate.
On June 28, 2008 at 3:09 am
Very good article. I hope that books and newspapers will not disappear.
On March 16, 2009 at 6:47 am
Very well written article. I’ve always wondered if IT revolution is really that important. We actually spend more time taking care of these machines than they save us time – at least this is the feeling I have often.
On April 10, 2009 at 4:04 am
Even if IT spreads all over our lives, writing and face to face communication will still be important. Maybe we these even more than before in a world full of stress.
On April 23, 2009 at 8:58 am
Very good article. The IT phenomenon is much hyped. Sometimes it seems that life has become so much more complicated and even inefficient but at other times I see the great advances in communication.
On June 9, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Found this article through Google. Liked it very much.
On July 25, 2009 at 10:40 am
Very good article and nicely arranged. I agree that the importance of IT is overhyped.
On November 27, 2009 at 5:07 am
Fascinating. We have become very dependant on the INternet and IT everywhere. But still we have choices.
On February 17, 2010 at 10:22 am
I think we have become too obsessed with IT, but very good read. My computer screen broke yesterday and I’m at the library managing fine.
On August 27, 2010 at 1:42 am
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