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Karunaratne, Indika & Atukorale, Ajantha & Perera, Hemamali. (2011). Surveillance of human- computer interactions: A way forward to detection of users' Psychological Distress. 2011 IEEE Colloquium on Humanities, Science and Engineering, CHUSER 2011. 10.1109/CHUSER.2011.6163779.

June 9, 2023 / 0 comments / Reading Time: ~ 12 minutes

The Digital Revolution: How Technology is Changing the Way We Communicate and Interact

This article examines the impact of technology on human interaction and explores the ever-evolving landscape of communication. With the rapid advancement of technology, the methods and modes of communication have undergone a significant transformation. This article investigates both the positive and negative implications of this digitalization. Technological innovations, such as smartphones, social media, and instant messaging apps, have provided unprecedented accessibility and convenience, allowing people to connect effortlessly across distances. However, concerns have arisen regarding the quality and authenticity of these interactions. The article explores the benefits of technology, including improved connectivity, enhanced information sharing, and expanded opportunities for collaboration. It also discusses potential negative effects including a decline in in-person interactions, a loss of empathy, and an increase in online anxiety. This article tries to expand our comprehension of the changing nature of communication in the digital age by exposing the many ways that technology has an impact on interpersonal interactions. It emphasizes the necessity of intentional and thoughtful communication techniques to preserve meaningful connections in a society that is becoming more and more reliant on technology.

Introduction:

Technology has significantly transformed our modes of communication and interaction, revolutionizing the way we connect with one another over the past few decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst, expediting this transformative process, and necessitating our exclusive reliance on digital tools for socializing, working, and learning. Platforms like social media and video conferencing have emerged in recent years, expanding our options for virtual communication. The impact of these changes on our lives cannot be ignored. In this article, we will delve into the ways in which technology has altered our communication and interaction patterns and explore the consequences of these changes for our relationships, mental well-being, and society.

To gain a deeper understanding of this topic, I have conducted interviews and surveys, allowing us to gather firsthand insights from individuals of various backgrounds. Additionally, we will compare this firsthand information with the perspectives shared by experts in the field. By drawing on both personal experiences and expert opinions, we seek to provide a comprehensive analysis of how technology influences our interpersonal connections. Through this research, we hope to get a deeper comprehension of the complex interactions between technology and people, enabling us to move mindfully and purposefully through the rapidly changing digital environment.

The Evolution of Communication: From Face-to-Face to Digital Connections:

In the realm of communication, we have various mediums at our disposal, such as face-to-face interactions, telephone conversations, and internet-based communication. According to Nancy Baym, an expert in the field of technology and human connections, face-to-face communication is often regarded as the most personal and intimate, while the phone provides a more personal touch than the internet. She explains this in her book Personal Connections in the Digital Age by stating, “Face-to-face is much more personal; phone is personal as well, but not as intimate as face-to-face… Internet would definitely be the least personal, followed by the phone (which at least has the vocal satisfaction) and the most personal would be face-to-face” (Baym 2015).  These distinctions suggest that different communication mediums are perceived to have varying levels of effectiveness in conveying emotion and building relationships. This distinction raises thought-provoking questions about the impact of technology on our ability to forge meaningful connections. While the internet offers unparalleled convenience and connectivity, it is essential to recognize its limitations in reproducing the depth of personal interaction found in face-to-face encounters. These limitations may be attributed to the absence of nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, which are vital elements in understanding and interpreting emotions accurately.

Traditionally, face-to-face interactions held a prominent role as the primary means of communication, facilitating personal and intimate connections. However, the rise of technology has brought about significant changes, making communication more convenient but potentially less personal. The rise of phones, instant messaging, and social media platforms has revolutionized how we connect with others. While these digital tools offer instant connectivity and enable us to bridge geographical distances, they introduce a layer of blockage that may impact the depth and quality of our interactions. It is worth noting that different communication mediums have their strengths and limitations. Phone conversations, for instance, retain a certain level of personal connection through vocal interactions, allowing for the conveyance of emotions and tones that text-based communication may lack. However, even with this advantage, phone conversations still fall short of the depth and richness found in face-to-face interactions, as they lack visual cues and physical presence.

Internet-based communication, on the other hand, is considered the least personal medium. Online interactions often rely on text-based exchanges, which may not fully capture the nuances of expression, tone, and body language. While the internet offers the ability to connect with a vast network of individuals and share information on a global scale, it may not facilitate the same depth and authenticity that in-person or phone conversations can provide. As a result, establishing meaningful connections and building genuine relationships in an online setting can be challenging. Research and observations support these ideas. Figure 1. titled “Social Interaction after Electronic Media Use,” shows the potential impact of electronic media on social interaction (source: ResearchGate). This research highlights the need to carefully consider the effects of technology on our interpersonal connections. While technology offers convenience and connectivity, it is essential to strike a balance, ensuring that we do not sacrifice the benefits of face-to-face interactions for the sake of digital convenience.

Figure 1:  Increased reliance on electronic media has led to a noticeable decrease in social interaction.

The Limitations and Effects of Digital Communication

In today’s digital age, the limitations and effects of digital communication are becoming increasingly evident. While the phone and internet offer undeniable benefits such as convenience and the ability to connect with people regardless of geographical distance, they fall short in capturing the depth and richness of a face-to-face conversation. The ability to be in the same physical space as the person we’re communicating with, observing their facial expressions, body language, and truly feeling their presence, is something unique and irreplaceable.

Ulrike Schultze, in her thought-provoking TED Talk titled “How Social Media Shapes Identity,” delves further into the impact of digital communication on our lives by stating, “we construct the technology, but the technology also constructs us. We become what technology allows us to become” (Schultze 2015). This concept highlights how our reliance on digital media for interaction has led to a transformation in how we express ourselves and relate to others.

The influence of social media has been profound in shaping our communication patterns and interpersonal dynamics. Research conducted by Kalpathy Subramanian (2017) examined the influence of social media on interpersonal communication, highlighting the changes it brings to the way we interact and express ourselves (Subramanian 2017). The study found that online communication often involves the use of abbreviations, emoticons, and hashtags, which have become embedded in our online discourse. These digital communication shortcuts prioritize speed and efficiency, but they also contribute to a shift away from the physical action of face-to-face conversation, where nonverbal cues and deeper emotional connections can be fostered.

Additionally, the study emphasizes the impact of social media on self-presentation and identity construction. With the rise of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, individuals have a platform to curate and present themselves to the world. This online self-presentation can influence how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us, potentially shaping our identities in the process. The study further suggests that the emphasis on self-presentation and the pressure to maintain a certain image on social media can lead to increased stress and anxiety among users.

Interviews:

I conducted interviews with individuals from different age groups to gain diverse perspectives on how technology and social media have transformed the way we connect with others. By exploring the experiences of a 21-year-old student and an individual in their 40s, we can better understand the evolving dynamics of interpersonal communication in the digital age. These interviews shed light on the prevalence of digital communication among younger generations, their preference for convenience, and the concerns raised by individuals from older age groups regarding the potential loss of deeper emotional connections.

When I asked the 21-year-old classmate about how technology has changed the way they interact with people in person, they expressed, “To be honest, I spend more time texting, messaging, or posting on social media than actually talking face-to-face with others. It’s just so much more convenient.” This response highlights the prevalence of digital communication among younger generations and their preference for convenience over traditional face-to-face interactions. It suggests that technology has significantly transformed the way young people engage with others, with a greater reliance on virtual interactions rather than in-person conversations. Additionally, the mention of convenience as a driving factor raises questions about the potential trade-offs in terms of depth and quality of interpersonal connections.

To gain insight from an individual in their 40s, I conducted another interview. When asked about their experiences with technology and social media, they shared valuable perspectives. They mentioned that while they appreciate the convenience and accessibility offered by technology, they also expressed concerns about its impact on interpersonal connections. They emphasized the importance of face-to-face interactions in building genuine relationships and expressed reservations about the potential loss of deeper emotional connections in digital communication. Additionally, they discussed the challenges of adapting to rapid technological advancements and the potential generational divide in communication preferences.

Comparing the responses from both interviews, it is evident that there are generational differences in the perception and use of technology for communication. While the 21-year-old classmate emphasized convenience as a primary factor in favor of digital communication, the individual in their 40s highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions and expressed concerns about the potential loss of meaningful connections in the digital realm. This comparison raises questions about the potential impact of technology on the depth and quality of interpersonal relationships across different age groups. It also invites further exploration into how societal norms and technological advancements shape individuals’ preferences and experiences.

Overall, the interviews revealed a shift towards digital communication among both younger and older individuals, with varying perspectives. While convenience and connectivity are valued, concerns were raised regarding the potential drawbacks, including the pressure to maintain an idealized online presence and the potential loss of genuine connections. It is evident that technology and social media have transformed the way we communicate and interact with others, but the interviews also highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance and recognizing the value of face-to-face interactions in fostering meaningful relationships.

I have recently conducted a survey with my classmates to gather insights on how technology and social media have influenced communication and interaction among students in their daily lives. Although the number of responses is relatively small, the collected data allows us to gain a glimpse into individual experiences and perspectives on this matter.

One of the questions asked in the survey was how often students rely on digital communication methods, such as texting, messaging, or social media, in comparison to engaging in face-to-face conversations. The responses indicated a clear trend towards increased reliance on digital communication, with 85% of participants stating that they frequently use digital platforms as their primary means of communication. This suggests a significant shift away from traditional face-to-face interactions, highlighting the pervasive influence of technology in shaping our communication habits.

Furthermore, the survey explored changes in the quality of interactions and relationships due to the increased use of technology and social media. Interestingly, 63% of respondents reported that they had noticed a decrease in the depth and intimacy of their connections since incorporating more digital communication into their lives. Many participants expressed concerns about the difficulty of conveying emotions effectively through digital channels and the lack of non-verbal cues that are present in face-to-face interactions. It is important to note that while the survey results provide valuable insights into individual experiences, they are not representative of the entire student population. The small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings. However, the data collected does shed light on the potential impact of technology and social media on communication and interaction patterns among students.

Expanding on the topic, I found an insightful figure from Business Insider that sheds light on how people utilize their smartphones (Business Insider). Figure 2. illustrates the average smartphone owner’s daily time spent on various activities. Notably, communication activities such as texting, talking, and social networking account for a significant portion, comprising 59% of phone usage. This data reinforces the impact of digital communication on our daily lives, indicating the substantial role it plays in shaping our interactions with others.  Upon comparing this research with the data, I have gathered, a clear trend emerges, highlighting that an increasing number of individuals primarily utilize their smartphones for communication and interaction purposes.

Figure 2: The breakdown of daily smartphone usage among average users clearly demonstrates that the phone is primarily used for interactions.

The Digital Make Over:

In today’s digital age, the impact of technology on communication and interaction is evident, particularly in educational settings. As a college student, I have witnessed the transformation firsthand, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The convenience of online submissions for assignments has led to a growing trend of students opting to skip physical classes, relying on the ability to submit their work remotely. Unfortunately, this shift has resulted in a decline in face-to-face interactions and communication among classmates and instructors.

The decrease in physical attendance raises concerns about the potential consequences for both learning and social connections within the academic community. Classroom discussions, collaborative projects, and networking opportunities are often fostered through in-person interactions. By limiting these experiences, students may miss out on valuable learning moments, diverse perspectives, and the chance to establish meaningful connections with their peers and instructors.

Simon Lindgren, in his thought-provoking Ted Talk , “Media Are Not Social, but People Are,” delves deeper into the effects of technology and social media on our interactions. Lindgren highlights a significant point by suggesting that while technology may have the potential to make us better individuals, we must also recognize its potential pitfalls. Social media, for instance, can create filter bubbles that limit our exposure to diverse viewpoints, making us less in touch with reality and more narrow-minded. This cautionary reminder emphasizes the need to approach social media thoughtfully, seeking out diverse perspectives and avoiding the pitfalls of echo chambers. Furthermore, it is crucial to strike a balance between utilizing technology for educational purposes and embracing the benefits of in-person interactions. While technology undoubtedly facilitates certain aspects of education, such as online learning platforms and digital resources, we must not overlook the importance of face-to-face communication. In-person interactions allow for nuanced non-verbal cues, deeper emotional connections, and real-time engagement that contribute to a more comprehensive learning experience.

A study conducted by Times Higher Education delved into this topic, providing valuable insights. Figure 3. from the study illustrates a significant drop in attendance levels after the pandemic’s onset. Undeniably, technology played a crucial role in facilitating the transition to online learning. However, it is important to acknowledge that this shift has also led to a decline in face-to-face interactions, which have long been regarded as essential for effective communication and relationship-building. While technology continues to evolve and reshape the educational landscape, it is imperative that we remain mindful of its impact on communication and interaction. Striking a balance between digital tools and in-person engagement can help ensure that we leverage the benefits of technology while preserving the richness of face-to-face interactions. By doing so, we can foster a holistic educational experience that encompasses the best of both worlds and cultivates meaningful connections among students, instructors, and the academic community.

Figure 3:  This graph offers convincing proof that the COVID-19 pandemic and the extensive use of online submission techniques are to blame for the sharp reduction in in-person student attendance.

When asked about the impact of online submissions for assignments on physical attendance in classes, the survey revealed mixed responses. While 73% of participants admitted that the convenience of online submissions has led them to skip classes occasionally, 27% emphasized the importance of in-person attendance for better learning outcomes and social interactions. This finding suggests that while technology offers convenience, it also poses challenges in maintaining regular face-to-face interactions, potentially hindering educational and social development, and especially damaging the way we communicate and interact with one another. Students are doing this from a young age, and it comes into huge effect once they are trying to enter the work force and interact with others. When examining the survey data alongside the findings from Times Higher Education, striking similarities become apparent regarding how students approach attending classes in person with the overall conclusion being a massive decrease in students attending class which hinders the chance for real life interaction and communication. the convenience and instant gratification provided by technology can create a sense of detachment and impatience in interpersonal interactions. Online platforms allow for quick and immediate responses, and individuals can easily disconnect or switch between conversations. This can result in a lack of attentiveness and reduced focus on the person with whom one is communicating, leading to a superficial engagement that may hinder the establishment of genuine connections.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, the digital revolution has profoundly transformed the way we communicate and interact with one another. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this transformation, leading to increased reliance on digital tools for socializing, working, and learning. While technology offers convenience and connectivity, it also introduces limitations and potential drawbacks. The shift towards digital communication raises concerns about the depth and quality of our connections, as well as the potential loss of face-to-face interactions. However, it is essential to strike a balance between digital and in-person engagement, recognizing the unique value of physical presence, non-verbal cues, and deeper emotional connections that face-to-face interactions provide. By navigating the digital landscape with mindfulness and intentionality, we can harness the transformative power of technology while preserving and nurturing the essential elements of human connection.

Moving forward, it is crucial to consider the impact of technology on our relationships, mental well-being, and society. As technology continues to evolve, we must be cautious of its potential pitfalls, such as the emphasis on self-presentation, the potential for increased stress and anxiety, and the risk of forgetting how to interact in person. Striking a balance between digital and face-to-face interactions can help ensure that technology enhances, rather than replaces, genuine human connections. By prioritizing meaningful engagement, valuing personal interactions, and leveraging the benefits of technology without compromising the depth and quality of our relationships, we can navigate the digital revolution in a way that enriches our lives and fosters authentic connections.

References:

Ballve, M. (2013, June 5). How much time do we really spend on our smartphones every day? Business Insider. Retrieved April 27, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-time-do-we-spend-on-smartphones-2013-6

Baym, N. (2015). Personal Connections in the Digital Age (2nd ed.). Polity.

Karunaratne, Indika & Atukorale, Ajantha & Perera, Hemamali. (2011). Surveillance of human-       computer interactions: A way forward to detection of users’ Psychological Distress. 2011 IEEE Colloquium on Humanities, Science and Engineering, CHUSER 2011.             10.1109/CHUSER.2011.6163779.  https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Social-interaction-vs-electronic-media-use-Hours-per-day-of-face-to-face-social_fig1_254056654

Lindgren, S. (2015, May 20). Media are not social, but people are | Simon Lindgren | TEDxUmeå . YouTube. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ5S7VIWE6k

Ross, J., McKie, A., Havergal, C., Lem, P., & Basken, P. (2022, October 24). Class attendance plummets post-Covid . Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/class-attendance-plummets-post-covid

Schultze, U. (2015, April 23). How social media shapes identity | Ulrike Schultze | TEDxSMU . YouTube. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpyZor-Byk

Subramanian, Dr. K .R. “Influence of Social Media in Interpersonal Communication – Researchgate.” ResearchGate.Net , www.researchgate.net/profile/Kalpathy-Subramanian/publication/319422885_Influence_of_Social_Media_in_Interpersonal_Communication/links/59a96d950f7e9b2790120fea/Influence-of-Social-Media-in-Interpersonal-Communication.pdf. Accessed 12 May 2023 .

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Digital Revolution

The Digital Revolution (also known as the Third Industrial Revolution) is the shift from mechanical and analogue electronic technology to digital electronics, which began in the closing years of the 20th century.

The adoption of computers and other aspects of digital technology has transformed how humans interact with their environment, and these changes continue to the day.

This article will further give details about the Digital Revolution within the context of the Civil Services Examination.

Digital Revolution- Download PDF Here

History of Digital Revolution in Brief

• The invention of the Analytical Engine (the precursor to the modern-day computer) by Charles Babbage in the late 19th century and as well as that of the telegraph is believed to have accelerated the Digital Revolution.
• Digital communication began to be viable for economic reasons when the personal computer was invented.
• The Digital Revolution was all about the conversion of analog technology to that of the digital format. This would make it possible for copies of the original to be made. For example, repeatable hardware was able to amplify the digital signal and pass it on with no loss of information in the signal
• The turning point of the revolution was the change from analogue to digitally recorded music. During the 1980s, the digital format of optical compact discs gradually replaced analog formats, such as vinyl records and cassette tapes, as the popular medium of choice.

Social Impact of the Digital Revolution

The Digital Revolution has come with its fair share of negative and positive factors. They are detailed as follows:

Positive aspects:

• Greater interconnectedness
• Easier communication
• Exposure of information that in the past could have more easily been suppressed by totalitarian regimes.

The revolutions during the Arab Spring of 2010-2012 were enabled by social networking and smartphone technology.

Regarding the economic impact of the digital revolution, there has been a wide- range of impacts. For example, without the advent of the internet, globalization would not be a feasible venture in today’s world

The revolution altered the way individuals and companies interact with each other. Small and medium enterprises today have access to large markets of the world

The adoption of digital technologies has resulted in a boost in economic productivity and its allied activities.

With the increase of technical advances, the digital revolution has created a demand for new job skills.

Negative effects

• Information overload,
• The rise in Internet predators
• Forms of social isolation
• Media saturation
• Infringement in personal privacy

There have been some cases where excessive use of digital devices as well as computers for personal use has been linked to a company’s productivity, or at least such a perception seems to exist.

Personal computing and other non-work related digital activities in the workplace thus helped lead to stronger forms of privacy invasion, such as keystroke recording and information filtering applications (spyware and content-control software).

India and Digital Revolution

• The Digital India programme, launched in July 2015, is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
• India is one of the biggest and fastest-growing digital markets in the world.
• Decisive government action and private-sector innovation are driving rapid, large-scale digital adoption.
• With nearly 1.2 billion mobile subscriptions and 560 million internet subscriptions, India is home to the second-largest mobile subscription base in the world and the second-largest internet.
• The Digital revolution has given considerable benefits to society at large, but it has also brought its fair share of concerns in the process.
• Powers of communication and information sharing have been greatly expanded and with it  new technologies that can exploit the information concerned have also cropped up.
• It has ushered in a new scenario where mass surveillance can become the norm, bringing in its wake new concerns about civil and human rights.

Aspirants can find complete information about upcoming Government Exams through the linked article. More exam-related preparation materials will be found through the links given below

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International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction

HCI 2018: Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction in Context pp 317–333 Cite as

An Essay About the Impact of the Digital Revolution on Higher Education in Art and Design

• Hendrik Wahl 14  
• Conference paper
• First Online: 01 June 2018

4149 Accesses

1 Citations

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 10902))

This paper focuses the shift in human culture and society, delivered by the digital revolution. Due to an expected dematerialization of the most future products and services the contradiction between the classical value of a commodity, negotiated in the traditional exchange systems and the digital economy will further increase. This again will contribute to dramatic changes in production, rendering gigantic industrial complexes obsolete, which puts the personal creativity as an eternal, never expiring source of inspiration, art, design and high elaborated products into the focus.

Starting from this point we want to explore how future-oriented education can meaningfully interlink the widely chaotic processes of art and design production, the absolute necessary fuzziness of an artist’s mind with the cool and sometimes unforgiving logic of the digital machines. We are deeply convinced that this is not a matter of interface-design anymore. That’s why we want to go beyond any conventions and rethink higher education in the domain of art and design related creativity, virtuosity and intellectuality under the impact of the digital revolution from the beginning. By conducting an analytic review of the mindsets and methods applied here, we are expecting to face the major challenge in defining the criteria, which are allowing us to establish and to sustain a dynamic balance between the needs of the carbon beings and the possibilities of their siliconized representations - far apart from buzzword centered platitudes.

• Higher education
• Digital revolution
• Human labor
• Dematerialization
• Fuzziness of the artist’s mind
• Tectonic shift
• Parallels in history
• Industrial robotics
• Uniformity of mass-production
• Intellectuality
• Global society
• Self-regulating markets
• Needs vs. Possibilities
• Lifelong learning

You have full access to this open access chapter,  Download conference paper PDF

1 Introduction

The world we are living in is subjected to a dramatic change. Something deep below in human society has lost coherence. Our certainties, our thinking, our beliefs in enlightenment and progress of the human being, are deeply rocked. At first, subconsciously we get aware of a tectonic shift, delivered to not insignificant extents by the repercussions of the digital revolution. Interpenetrating any aspect of an increasing number of individual lives, the promises made by the concepts of pure reason and formal logic, to deliver a reliable order of knowledge and a predictable vision of the future are becoming astonishingly challenged from an unexpected direction. Suddenly, memories of seemingly long forgotten phenomena deeply believed to be overcome, now arising from nothingness. Newer variations of protectionism, separatism, discrimination, alternative facts, speech regulations and backward oriented sentiments are gaining perceivable relevance within an increasing segment of the population. This development indicates a climate of precariousness, anxiety and the impression of being individually subjected to an overwhelming complexity, controlled by an incomprehensible “establishment” situated somewhere high above.

Since the worldwide networks, the industrial robotics, the magic of digital illusion and other varieties of the technology driven realm, for a longer period have been perceived as a playground of nerds and highly qualified people, now have come of age, unfolding its highly dynamic, chaotic potential on a global scale, a strong urge for simplicity of life, driven by sentiments of easy to understand, compartmentalized structures, for simple criteria of personal identification and distinction has emerged. What has been for years the credo of the user interface design, making highly complex logical systems playful and intuitive accessible for everyone, now shows its flip side - appears to be a mask, disguising, distracting and disconnecting the common user from the actual processes underneath. Sensing this, getting aware of the function of this thin layer, makes an increasing number of people reacting with anger and mistrust in the actually or seemingly in-transparent mechanisms of the contemporary societies and leads not seldom to irrational and crude, “alternative” ideologies.

Looking for parallels to this situation in history, we can recognize a similar increment of social, economic and cultural complexity affecting larger populations - symbolized in the metaphor of the steam engine, heralding in the first industrial revolution. Considering the thinking, of this period (Smith, A., Marx, K.), which has fundamentally shaped the understanding of economy, we can recognize that the paradigms established back then are receiving still highly appreciations in contemporary. Rooted in the conviction that ethical, on mutual benefit oriented collaboration, trust, and fair exchange are the fundamental driving forces of human interaction, the ideas of distributed production-methods and unlimited, self-regulating markets have grown paramount. On the other side, we can find an analytic criticism of the relation between mechanized and human labor and the distribution of the in this way aggregated values. Also a consideration of the metaphor of the assembly line - standing for the industrialized uniformity of mass-production and contributing significantly to the ideology of an eternal economic growth, might help to set up a solid proposition, for the attempt to discuss the correlation between the digital industry and economy on one side and its impact on the commonly as “cultural” considered processes of art and design creation, distribution and education.

2 Proposition

Relaying the deliberations above to the contemporary situation we want to mention a couple of aspects, which are supporting the thesis of the similarity between the industrial and the digital revolution. Seen from the POV of a common person the picture shows at first thrilling but harmless attractions e.g. the computer-generated creatures in blockbuster movies (Tron, Jurassic Park, The Mask,…) comparable with the first mechanical androids e.g. buy Jacques de Vaucanson or Pierre Jaquet-Droz. Next, we want to mention the conflicts about copyrights between the classical music industry and the respective exchange platforms on the Internet in parallel to the emergence of trademarks as D.R.G.M. or MADE IN GERMANY rooted in the British Merchandise Marks Act from 1887. But also this got perceived by the majority to be only a concern of very specific peer groups. Much more severe developments in the domain of industrial robotics, predictive analytics, as well as the activities of security agencies have been for a longer period quite unacknowledged, not to mention the clearly criminal actions in conjunction with digital technology. Also here, we can draw a line to the Luddism in the late 19th century respective to the inventions of Herman Hollerith. In resemblance to the development of various technological supported propaganda methods in the first half of the 20th century, we can see the prosumer contents in the social networks and their influence on democratic and political processes, which has been widely ignored by broader segments of the population - leading now to an increasingly precarious awaken.

Focusing more the domain of industrial robotics and autonomous production it becomes clear, that the distinction between hard- and software describes the frontier where individual human factors as intellectuality, skill-fullness and creativity meets the mechanisms of a global economy and where fundamental changes are taken place. Has the metaphor of the assembly-line established the idea of mass-production as the key to economic efficiency and in extrapolation led to the ideology of a constant growth of welfare, it is nowadays clearly to see that this concept is about to expire. At first, we need to acknowledge that robots are surely able to build robots but never will buy robots. Second, the products of the future will be basically material-less. Since we are able to transfer almost any blueprint and production data in light speed to any place on earth, to any facility, which can generate the specific product without the use of anyone’s hand, the era of the gigantic production plants is inevitable over - because the generators of the actual objects e.g. Maker Bots can be dispensed into the residential areas of the cities. This will deliver a major challenge to the concept of diversification of labor and the idea of expanding markets, which are already experiencing the limitation of the globalized economy. Also, the system-constituting concept of the individual effort as the promise for personal success within a community requires an urgent reconsideration. Since the availability of products will become gradually less a matter of shortage in number or overproduction, the paradigm of quantity will be more and more substituted by the qualities a specific solution can offer within a defined timeframe. Thinking about the already existing material-less products, as software, used in mass communication, media and the creative production we can perceive already a process of democratization. In a situation where a movie, can be made with a cellphone, where games and any other software can be developed on a tablet, where all of this can be distributed due to highly effective digital, common accessible channels it become also in the domain of creative, digital production clear, that the people in future can only rely on their own material-less intrinsic values, their intelligence, creativity and maker skills, which brings us now to the core of this deliberation: education and in particular higher education within the domain of art and design, as a mean for the carbon beings to assert them self and to keep control of the digital spirits we have shouted for.

3 The Subject Matter

Art and design are commonly considered to be cultural subject matters, which are only exist in uplifted spheres, governed by logical non-predictable criteria. But facing a situation where art and in particular design has become increasingly a concern of accessibility, of perceptual narratives and dynamic interconnectivity, this appears to be a non-sufficient argument. When a negligent tip on a smartphone can cause economic turbulences, when a tweet can raise international tensions, when the sublime forces of pictures are commonly used to design opinions - it becomes clear that art and design are increasingly gaining relevance far beyond there traditional domains. Therefore newer ideas in art and design education unconditionally need to pay tribute to the highly interwoven structures and processes of the contemporary and expected societies. Not at least, the ethical momentum as the driving force of human interaction needs to be subjected to a deeper reconsideration.

3.1 Education in Art (Fine Art)

The freedom of art is a well conserved and repeatedly used argument to demand a distinguished understanding for a specific quality in human expression. But to find sufficient indications, justifying the specific difference between art and non-art or to define criteria for a genuine proximity to this subject matter, is everything else as trivial. A significant debate in this domain, which may serve us as an access point here, is the discussion between conceptual constituted art and the phenomenological approach, which refers more to perceivable qualities of certain art pieces. In an attempt of clarification between all the arguments and objections brought forward here, we want to distinguish between sublime narrations and manifest notations, between idea and sensation, between concept and percept. Although these criteria do clearly not matter to the processes of the contemporary art marked, on the other side freedom neither does.

In regard to education the separation between conceptual creativity and practical virtuosity, the ability to evoke the impression of speechless relevance in the spectator’s mind, can nevertheless serve as a significant cornerstone. In contrast to the well-preserved myth that the origin of a significant art piece is a sudden idea, which the artists get aware by e.g. divine infusion and which she/he subsequently just need to bring in a manifest form, the reality looks usually quite different. In order to make intentions inter-subjective accessible a specific form of expression is necessary, which requires a transformation of an idea, a mood, a speechless certainty into a manifest piece. Since human perception (the artists as well as those of the audience) is extremely sensitive and amenable to deception, widely governed by unconscious influences, the process leading to an expression, which subsequently can be considered to be of a certain quality, to be artistic or just breathtaking is everything else but simple. On the other side fine art, appeals in general to perception, to be sensual recognized and to have a certain effect in the mindsets of an extreme heterogeneous audience. Since everyone (except maybe those who suffer from specific physiological insufficiencies) is able to perceive and since any perception is widely governed by pre- and sub-cognitive judgments [ 1 ], it is basically not to comprehend why art in the first place should be a subject of highfalutin deliberations, which only can be conducted by peers of a particular domain, who are claiming not seldom to possess a specific intellectual, mostly not closer described access to the subject matter. The fact, that art is not dependent at all on reason and logical validity, does not support this kind of accords; moreover, it makes clear that art founds its existence fundamentally due to practical efforts. During the process of art production, the same fact of independence constitutes the actual freedom of art. But freedom itself is not a value of its own. It is an opportunity but also the obligation to make decisions. How these artistic decisions are made, how the results of these decisions are evaluated, corrected, emphasized, contrasted or even discarded is the fundamental duty of the artist. This is usually a demanding act and is not subjected to the guidance of a super oriented instance and according to the freedom of art neither dependent on theoretical figures. Moreover, it is the ability of the artist to create based on her/his specific skill-sets a form of expression, which gains relevance due to its sheer existence beyond any convention.

Following from this, we may agree that art due to its fundamental independence from any objective criteria cannot be a subject of systematic teaching. In contrast to this, the development of skill-sets and abilities surely can and must be the goal of a related education. Since creativity and virtuosity can be seen as implicit, tacit knowledge founded largely on sensomotoric constituted certitudes, the method of learning in this domain is less a matter of understanding relations between well-vindicated facts but much more a result of continuous experiments on form, values, contrast, form-ground-relations and so on. The question whether classical methods or digital technology are best suited to support learning in this domain should not be seen as a contradiction. Since the reception and appreciation of art is not a matter of, which methods have been used but how a certain quality has been achieved, classical and digital tools should be applied to supplement each other. In regard to teaching and learning the focus should be laid on the acquisition of the principals, which subsequently supporting the transformation of ideas by a creative act into a manifest form of expression. Since this process is governed to large extents by the application of tacit knowledge, studio classes, which are focused on the development of particular skillsets (classical as well as digital), and which are conjunct each other can be the mean of choice to impart the underlying principals and the advantages of each particular toolset/method.

3.2 Education in Design (Product, Motion, Interaction, Visual)

The distinction between design and fine art is commonalty reasoned by the specific way human creativity is respectively applied. In contrast to the fundamental rejection of any convention rightly demanded by the fine and some performing arts, the domain of design is much more determined by concrete and methodic aspects. Nevertheless also here the common phrase used to appreciate extraordinary design is; to experience something new, a new look or style, a new approach to a formal or gestalt problem, a new manner of user interaction or the application of newer concepts of knowledge as e.g. cloud intelligence, procedural creativity or network distributed automata. Since we are facing a development of dematerialization, functional integration and common accessibility in regards to future products and services in contrast to an astonishing resilience of classical economic exchange methods, design today is less a matter of well established, reductionist approaches as form follows function, phantasy, fun, fiction, emotion and so on. Design today faces much more pivotal questions, referring to the eternal problem about the relation between the un-extended ideas (virtualities) and the actual, extended realms everyone is an inherent part of. The duty of design today (among of course other disciplines), is nothing else but to find practical solutions to define the relation between the increments of complexity we are facing in the interaction with the highly dynamic processes of the contemporary world and the fundamental needs of any individual. These needs are on the first hand not compulsory of an aesthetically nature. Moreover, they are increasingly defined by an individual’s relation to it’s particular and global environment, they are a matter of mutually beneficial interaction, of a meaningful, balanced life, of the cultivation of needs, of the conscious use of resources and of sovereign interacting within the contemporary society. Design today is a question of the relation between the forms of objects, the forms of dynamics and the forms of intuition.

Conducting an approach towards a contemporary design education - it might be useful for methodical reasons, to pay tribute to reductionism in order to distinguish 3 major elements of equal importance (creativity, virtuosity, intellectuality), which any design process is consisting of. At first and foremost we need to consider creativity. Creativity is characterized as the ability to generate something unprecedented, something, which carries a momentum of surprise, which delivers unconventional solutions and what therefore barely can be a subject of methodical teaching. But looking closer, we can define creativity as the ability to connect given or hypothetical figures in a manner, which can suffice the criteria above. To ignite and to propel this process, various side conditions and methodical measures can be found e.g. in the well establish rules of brainstorming. But using the brain only, which traditional deals with categorization to increase the effectiveness of thinking, might be not enough. When we want to overcome boundaries given by classical formalized notation systems as specific languages or subconsciously established traditions of thinking, it can be very helpful to interconnect the text with nonverbal forms of expression. When we start to scribble, to sketch, to knead a chunk of clay or to run computerized iterations on a simple shape, we can achieve figures, forms and types of connection of which, we would not have a word neither an idea before. Doing this in a team of equitable members in a non-competitive situation will increase the chances to achieve unique solution furthermore. If we complement the realm of rhetoric with the domain of nonverbal expression we are facing the next major element of our canon, practical virtuosity.

A sketch, an accord, a color scheme, a specific type of motion or interaction can trigger our perceptual system in most effective ways and push ideas in unexpected directions, far apart from the boredom of, the extensive use of prefabricated templates, the coward attempts of “luxuryzation”, or the hesitantly conducted “brand-cosmetics” so often perceived today. Off course the development of skill-sets, virtuosity and craftsmanship in the domain of visual, procedural or product design is not limited to visual thinking, but moreover a major factor in order to develop ideas further, to gain confidence about a particular solution and to communicate process and status of a specific design project. To focus on the development of creative craftsmanship is, therefore, an unconditional necessity for a contemporary whole person education in any field of design. To draw a well tense line, to create constant curvature in freeform (A-class) surfaces, to achieve color consistency or complementary, to reach continuity in time-based media, or to provide smooth blends in interaction is definitely not a question of whether it has attempted but gains relevance when these qualities are just presented to perception. In particular when this takes place on a subconscious way, we can achieve a momentum of surprise, emphasizing the well known quote, which says: outstanding design is invisible. Due to the nature of the implicit, tacit subjects of learning here, we need to understand that the only way to develop mastership, to gain virtuosity is to conduct frequent exercises of the particular skills as e.g. sketching, perspective drawing, rendering, color composition, typography, animation and motion design, virtual and physical prototyping. Since we clearly can not accurately predict the final outcome of a virtuous creative process, since any methodical approach in this regard does not guarantee a specific effect, we want to suggest to consider the efforts leading to outstanding design solutions as non - reductionist. Facing the significant effect of nonlinear approaches conducted by creative virtuosity, the methodical methods (analog, digital or intellectual) applied here, can be clearly indicated as tools, which only gaining relevance due to their application within the creative process. So the question whether analog or digital techniques are the mean of choice within contemporary design education becomes finally subordinate.

Nevertheless, since we have characterized the actual processes within the realm of design as not linear constituted, we are now on the edge where creativity and virtuosity need to be supplemented and interwoven with intellectual, theoretical deliberations. The role of intellectuality within a state of the art design or applied arts education can in the first instance seen as the development of an open, whitely scoped mind, which is interested in various implications and relations. It is indisputable that an individual, which has developed a well-founded, heterogeneous and wide-ranging knowledge base possesses significant advantages when it is requested to generate highly integrated and unconventional constituted mind maps or to conduct creative explorations. It is also self-evident, that a person who can supplement thinking with visual expressions, emotional narrations and a procedural understanding of form and gestalt will much more likely be able to find sufficient solutions on particular design problems. Therefore theoretical and research-oriented approaches towards design related phenomena are already fundamental justified. But there is another dimension, which exceeds the traditional theory in the domain of design. Since we are facing a radical increment of the complexity of almost any aspect of everyone’s life, we are urged to find solutions at the edge between the overwhelming amount of virtual opportunities, granted by the digital domain, and the basic aspects, which are defining our self-concept as independent individuals. A strategy to find answers to this problem can be oriented in two main directions. On one side we see the obligation of any one to define its own freedom by making well-founded decisions. In the process of contemporary creative design, this must be directed to the acquisition of individual abilities regarding to the creation of unconventional solutions, which are earning appreciations and getting considered to be of a certain, distinguished quality. The efforts to be undertaken in this regard are of an individual, practical nature as the continuous exploration of form, gestalt, interconnectivity, and the lifelong acquisition of knowledge. On the other side and interconnected with the point above, it becomes increasingly important and someone may say difficult, not only to keep up to date with the progressive acceleration within the digital domain. Moreover, it is eminent to define the essential ethical needs of the human being, as social-economical stability, mind- and meaningful interaction, mutual beneficial collaboration and the conscious use of resources as the conditions, which any technological development should be aligned to. The realms of art and design, in this regard are not the worst places to start on. Since predictive analytics are wildly considered to deliver quite reliable forecasts of behaviors within human populations and to model average personalities; the artist, the designer today is nothing else but requested to exceed this average in order to sustain a mindset, which is expressed in the term individual. The means to do so are provided to not insignificant extends by digital technology, but the ways to use them, to act in unpredictable manners are still in the hand of the carbon inter-agent.

In order to close this paragraph, we want to paraphrase the structure-defining elements; a contemporary education in art and design should be committed to. In the first place stands the idea, to focus the actual needs of the human being. Considering beneficial interacting as more important then profit making, brings the problem of how to make things in the focus. This is basically not a matter of numbers or data and conjunct with an emphasis to tacit qualifications, as creativity, virtuosity and the ability of unconventional intellectual reflection. Done frequently and various manners (classical and digital), this aims to a cultivation of sensitivity in perception, creation, interaction and subsequently is a prerequisites to achieve creative, virtuous mastership. By supplementing the practical efforts with theoretical activities in order to foster critical independent minds, which are assessing any promise made by technology, ideology or economy, the answer on the question of design today is a constant approach to the relation between the form of objects, the forms of dynamics and the forms of intuition.

4 Criticism

Coming back to the discussion above, regarding the increment of complexity pervading all aspects of anyone’s life due to the progress in the realm of technology, we can identify a series of indications, which are delivering severe repercussions to the economic and social structures of contemporary and expected societies.

At first, we need to recognize, that the idea of an unlimited expansion of the markets is reaching an ultimate boundary, defined by the limitation of the nowadays-actual globalized economy. Facing a situation, in which any physical, as well as any virtual product, can be created everywhere on earth to any extent and subsequently can be distributed due to highly elaborate logistic networks anywhere, the classical merchant doctrine of supply and demand as the ultimate regulating principal is becoming fundamental questionable. This leads to an emphasis on intensification, in order to sustain the increase of profit. The reaction to this problem, expressed from the standpoint of the classical intuition, is to demand radical deregulation. In particular custom duties, but also variations in technological, social or environmental protection standards as well as specific cultural implications of local markets are seen as significant restraints, detaining the unimpeded flow within the global economy, allegedly guaranteeing an eternal growth of profit and subsequently leading to an increment of common welfare.

On the other hand, we can find strong indications that the idea, which supposes, that common benefits can be only achieved due to the enforcement of individual self-interested behavior does not gain a common appreciation anymore. In conjunction with this, the classical theme of capitalism, insisting that individual success in life is a matter of pure determination, of self-optimization, of acquiring highest grades in education, and delivering maximal performance is losing charmingness. What has been a promise of chance, twists under the conditions of the global economy, automata production and highly distributed labor more and more into in a figure of linear thinking, which delivers sublime threads to the individuals, who are scattered around the globe and requested to offer their abilities to unrestricted marked conditions.

Looking in this regard closer on the economic concept of market prices, which suggests that the final price of a product is constituted, not by the actual expenses on raw material nor by intellectual effort or labor force applied in production, but by the amount a customer is finally willing or convinced to spend, illustrates the situation in which individual creativity, virtuosity, skills, and intellectuality are requested to be offered and applied. The criteria on which the decision to purchase a certain product is made, is in the most cases also less a matter of an actual need, bud widely influenced by implications as limited availability, seasonal trends, the promise of exclusivity or a special discount. This is where the marketing and advertising industry derives its right to exist. Here we can perceive various methods and attempts to gain influence on the equilibrium between supply and demand. In order to achieve or to enforce the desired profit a scope of activities is applied, ranging from reasonable means of customer care over the application of predictive analytics and further to ethical clearly questionable measures. Thinking of production methods fundamentally relying on the exploitation of labor under precarious social conditions around the globe, of marketing mechanisms to enforce overpricing by establishing artificial shortages or alleged exclusivity, of actions which are in regard to existing market regulations are just illegal as price rigging or of even more severe criminal activities, as the conspiracy we have seen e.g. in regard to the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal [ 2 ], the unrestricted freedom of economy shows its dark flip side. An indication, that the mindset behind this kind of activities is not a regrettable exception, executed by a small number of ethical mislead individuals, but an inherent characteristics of an ideology, which refers repeatedly and with emphasis to the idea of the freedom of business and markets, can be easily found already by Adam Smith. “People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the publick [sic.], or in some contrivance to raise prices. It is impossible indeed to prevent such meetings, by any law which either could be executed, or would be consistent with liberty and justice. But though the law cannot hinder people of the same trade from sometimes assembling together, it ought to do nothing to facilitate such assemblies; much less to render them necessary” [ 3 ].

Nevertheless, during the age of the uniformity of mass production the relation between supply and demand, of applied labor and more or less fair wages has been, at least within the industrialized nations and due to the constant altercation and strive in a social economical balance. But the character of the actual product has over time become subjected to significant changes. Has the products of the early assembly line helped to content dramatic needs, the capacity of the industrialized mass production soon provided oversupply, putting marketing and the question of the distribution of the generated values into the focus of the intellectual and political discussion. An indication of this development can be seen in the thesis of alienated work, by Karl Marx [ 4 ]. The product, which is created in an industrial manner, does not refer to any individual needs anymore. The relation a worker, who assembles just a part of a machine, develops to the product she/he is working on no direct relation but sees the time and energy spend in the factory as a mean to earn a specific salary. Seen from the other side of the table, a specific product also is not of a particular interest, since the quantity of mass production and its average quality deliver the key figures, in which the success of a company is measured. Due to the process of technology and automata in production, the relation between production, distribution, and consumption is drifting even further apart. On one side we can recognize a trend in the creation of value, which more and more finds its expression in virtual processes e.g. within the sector of the finance and reinsurance industry. On the other hand, we are facing a constant dematerialization of contemporary products and services. Conjunct with this development of virtualization we can also perceive an ongoing separation between the design, the development, the actual production process and the manner products and service are distributed and used. Thinking of an production-pipeline of classical machinery to day, it is not difficult to imagine, that a specific finance and business concept is be made in e.g. Great Britain or America, the design of the product and the interaction narratives might be made in Italy or Korea, while software components are developed in Finland or Japan, feeding production facilities in France or Brazil, from where sub-assembled units or the end-product will be finally shipped to the worldwide markets. Thinking further, of the productive collaborations applied in software development, the structure of the creation can be described in a similar way, but without the need of physical logistics already today. Imagining the extreme points of such a development, we may think about a situation where all design data of any product are instantaneous digital accessible everywhere around the globe, just in the way as the 24/7 accessibility to software products is already. Now the actual production of a specific good can be done on demand at the home or e.g. a digital prototyping center in the vicinity of the residential area, where the end-user is situated. This, in consequence renders vast production plants, storage and transportation facilities widely obsolete and brings the point of production to the identical place as the point of sale. The place where the actual design and development of such a product takes place is respectively also not necessarily located at a specific geographical area but can be dispersed to the home offices of the individual developers. Going one step further along this thoughts brings us to a situation, in which the actual physical product might become finally obsolete at all. Since it is not a question whether but moreover when and how we will be able to achieve a level of technical, sensorial and motoric stimulation, which allows evoking any type of impression by seamless blending any kind of virtuality in our cognitive reality, this is not a tail from utopia. Soon, we will be able, by wearing a VT/AR device, or even further having a respective user interface implanted in everyone’s brain, to face the opportunity to access any augmented immersion e.g. driving a vintage car on a scenic road, having an exclusive meal at the top of Olympus Mons on mars or to satisfying our deep interwoven desire of competition by fighting virtual creatures in breathtaking game levels, without the presence of any physical product, which is result of an classical design, development or production process. Apart from the idea of augmenting cognitive reality to the maximal extent, in which consequently any interface between technological virtuality and cognitive integrity vanishes away, delivering a singularity, where any discussion leads immediately to an infinite regress and to a denial of individuality, personality, and humanity, we can still find valid access points to think further.

Despite a situation where the concept of the actual product is increasingly less suited to justify a specific value (due to its instant and unlimited availability), we are facing a world full of overwhelming supply of virtual services and digital opportunities, which can be seen as an indication of the shift from expansion to intensification in worldwide economics. Since we just need to talk to Alexa, Siri or the Google Assistant in order to enter full-scale pampered living, questions pointing to the concepts of free will, independent mind, individual creativity and how to prevent that the human being is becoming in consequence, just an expendable appendix of the silicon logic, gaining relevance again. On one side the fully interconnection of any data a individual is “producing” due to the use of digital devices (smartphones, home pods, bracelets) offers great opportunities in regard to obtain living quality for larger populations. On the other side, the way in which the so acquired data are used, delivers serious conflicts in regard to transparency of social-economic processes and private autonomy. This becomes significantly lucid under the aspect of how those data becoming subjects of the traditional capitalistic economy. Under the paradigm, which sees those processes as a law of nature like technological evolution, any attempt to translate all kind of human activity into digital data, into the ultimate raw material for whatever algorithms, capable to predict, to steers and to manipulate social interaction are absolutely justified means to shape future societies. Following this ideology we can recognize a tectonic shift between the concept of quality and quantity, resonating the theme of the industrial mass production further to likes and followers into contemporary. But does this approach, of which the term predictive analytics is standing for and which fundamentally relies on the concept of the average deliver enough system-constituting significance to replace the idea of excellence? Is the logical methodology able to deliver a comprehensive, indisputable narrative, able to operate with any kind of frequently chaotic human behavior, social interaction and political opinion formation? At least the communist ideology, which has claimed similarly by the alleged or proclaimed descendants of Karl Marx, has been obviously proven wrong in this regard.

In a situation, in which the concept of the actual product as the carrier of a specific value is losing significance, where the question of raw material is expected to shift gradually from the exploration of natural resources towards an infinite reproducible and expandable binary matrix, where any product is instantaneous and to any extent accessible, rendering classics merchant doctrine to zero and where computing power is undergoing an dramatic process of democratization, the only source which can be a subject of generating value or profit, in the classical intuition of capitalism is human intellectual and creative ability.

This seems to be formidable news for anyone who sees the field of excellent and lifelong education as the realm where meaningful efforts in the development of the human society can be undertaken. While this is basically not to deny, the contemporary situation delivers severe contradictions. Since we rightly can speak of a creative, intellectual proletariat in order to describe high educated, creative people who are requested to offer there energy and time to an economy which shows a quite stiff resilience to the technological, social and cultural development today - the criticism, which need to be applied does not go to technology, art or design but to the concept of amount and eternal growth of profit, which is apparently incapable to deliver a commonly acceptable vision of the future.

4.1 Looking for Answers

Looking for answers to this unsatisfactory situation can be done along two premises. At first, we need to understand that all of us are subjected to the autopoietic processes of the social systems we are living in [ 5 ]. Thinking about the idea of the invisible hand [ 6 ] delivers another indication to understand this highly complex processes, as, non-linear and dynamic constituted. In addition, we also perceive a continuously dispute about how the various relations within a human population should be organized best. From the beginning of philosophy [ 7 ] up to now, nary methodical approach towards this problem has delivered a commonly accepted metaphor, leading to a coherent narration and further to an ideal constituted government. Despite this, the human society has been undergone significant developments, which usually just post factual has led to respective theories. Therefore we want to consider the processes within a human population as in principal chaotic. This does not mean, that we want to understand those processes as erratic, but neither to be sufficiently characterized in the figure of linear thinking [ 8 ]. Moreover, we want to consider the human society with its sub-domains as art, technology, economy, ethics… as a given situation, where a present status, within certain parameter determines the future, but an approximation of the present does not determine a holistic vision of the worlds to come.

Second, we want to consider the capabilities and the limitation of a pure methodical, algorithmic approach towards the non-linear dynamics of human societies. The mindset behind all the activities sub-summarized in the term predictive analytics relies fundamentally on statistics. By quantifying all aspects of human life, by processing this data, by recognizing the pattern in the behavior of a population or an individual, the fundamental conviction expressed here is, to reduce the human being into a quite predictable entity within a social swarm. The contradiction, which emerges from this conception, can be articulated in several ways. We can ask whether it is a good idea to approach social problems with ice-cold technocratic efficiency, whether a government should be organized like a business, whether the human being can and should be comprehensibly measured in numbers and whether the measurable part of the world, represents actually the entire universe. Or is mathematics just a tool, developed by insufficient beings in order to project “Ordo” into their everyday chaotic life. What has been for centuries a practical mean especially of the merchants has grown over time to pure science. Mathematics claims rightly, to be the only discipline, which can make universal valid predictions, has become in the digital age the metabolism of the economy, which in its original meaning refers to counting, comparing, ranking. Since digital economy today is still largely relying on the application of human intelligence and creativity it is easy to understand, where this conviction is rooted and how it aims to the modeling of social-economic processes in mathematical terms. Understanding the processes within the human economy and society, as mentioned above as nonlinear dynamics, the logical approach today goes not to a certain individual (as in the age of enlightenment), or a specific class (as Karl Marx supposed), but “limits” itself to the behavior of any member of the whole population. This approach can be seen, and is not seldom characterized as the ultimate realization of democracy. Only the actual activity of each inhabitant (conscious or unconscious), will be detected, analyzed, evaluated and becomes part of the collective narration, written in binary language. Any need, desire, lust or action will be anticipated and assistance will be provided at any occasion. The only request of the system towards its inhabitants is system conformity, “Brave new world 2.0”. As compelling such a scenario may appear to certain people in the first instance, it is highly questionable whether it can reach conformity with the fundamentals of the human nature at all.

First, the basic narrative resulting from such a mindset can be criticized with the argument, that actually any ideology before has promised in similar but could never establish a commonly accepted and sustainable equilibrium within the human society. Second, asking the traditional question “Cui bono?” in this case logically would deliver the answer: everyone. Hard to believe, that in particular digital technology should be inspired by altruistic sentiments. And it is even more unlikely, that a larger group of individuals is willing or actually able to overcome the concept of the individual self (origin and precondition of self-interested, self-centered behavior), which has guaranteed the survival of the human being since the cave age on. Third and most important, if we would accept a social-economic situation, which fundamental relies on system conformity of its inhabitants, or moreover where this is factual enforced (thinking off pre-crime analytics), we would finally drown in boredom, mediocrity, arbitrariness, and conventionality. This would be the end of any ethical, political or intellectual discussion but also creative or artistic activities, because the interaction between humans under the paradigm of total system conformity would require a level of “political correctness” where any meaning, any thinking, any idea vanishes in subordination to the rules of grammar.

Any system in nature on the other side, any species, structure or intellectual concept, which is the result of an evolution, has post-factual proven its right to exist. Due to its ability to adapt to instability or to take advantage of the underlying randomness and noise perceivable at any empirical approach to science, the eternal driving force behind nature is rather to describe as constant alternation then static codification. The mutation in a DNA leads to new sets of abilities, which assessed by the particular environment getting improved or extinguished, a minor deviation in gravity can tip the equilibrium of a cosmic body’s trajectory, bringing it on a collision course to earth, a glimmer of hope can motivate people to fight and to overcome any hardship and a modicum of sense renders vast ideologies, committed to the idea of total stability and preservation of the status quo easily obsolete. The momentum of deviation, the unconventionality of creativity, the capacity to make and to understand pictures [ 9 ], the ability to overcome self-centered affection and to be inspired by mutual beneficial collaboration, the miracle of falling in love are factors, which are deeply interwoven into the fabric of which human beings are made from. Thinking about, how these aspects can be acquired and reliable transformed into the raw material for pure logical algorithms, can be an inspiring task for people who are looking from the technological side to this problem. There is not a shadow of a doubt that there are countless attempts in this direction (thinking about dating-portals today may illustrate this). To be not misunderstood, each of these attempts is justified in the regard, as it represents a deviation from the status quo. Which and whether an algorithm will gain relevance, is under this mindset largely a question of software Darwinism, isn’t it? From the systems point of view, which is not committed to particular interests; this appears to be an example of absolute conformity. Supposed a machine, makes the algorithm, which is an entity of the same kind as the system, everything could be seen, to be quite coherent. If the algorithm is man-made, if it is a product of human labor, effort, of the transformation process of the widely chaotic human creativity into methodical applications, we are starting to sense the tectonic shift underneath. Having an ultra-efficient digital infrastructure on one side, interested in nothing capable to do everything and constituted to be total opaque in regard to the mechanisms inside renders the human being just irrelevant. It neither can compete in speed, endurance, means of perception, the extent of its formalized knowledge base or any other criteria, which matter within the digital networks, nor is it able to acquire a profound understanding of the processes situated behind the masks of the user interfaces. In particular, the last indication can be seen as quite critical. Since the in-transparency of such systems is on one side result of the concept of intellectual property owned and secretly hidden by the system carriers and providers, which theoretically can be overcome - on the other side opacity gradually becomes a contingent feature of such systems, due to self-learning algorithms. These algorithms, which are able to emulate evolutionary principals in order to process data sets of incremental complexity and non-linear dynamics, do apparently deliver logical appropriate solution to given problems. But no one is finally able to understand how these solutions are made (compare: AlphaGo against Lee Sedol, [ 10 ]) and which parameter are relevant and which not. This puts the human being under an immense sublime pressure, rendering the system constituting narrative of capitalism, that everyone can reach anything by determination, enhancing of performance and the acquisition of knowledge and skills just meaningless.

4.2 How to Deal with This Situation?

The typical reactions, which are resulting from the evolution of human creativity, in a situation which appears to be dominated by totality (technological, economical, ideological) is not seldom retreat or the establishment of private save-spaces (echo chambers) and the development of idiosyncratic narratives. On the other side, it also can be perceived, that individuals are attempting to reach system conformity at all cost by denying their individuality, by the use of self-enhancement methods (medication on an individual base or e.g. prenatal diagnostic in regard of their descendants) or by employing measures, which are ethical even more questionable, as the implementation of distinct in transparent value systems (thinking about clan structures, lobbyism or nepotism). This can explain the urge for departmentalization and separation to be perceived in contemporarily politics, the boom of cosmetics surgery or respective medication and the rise of cybercrime. Since all these phenomena are indicating an alignment to the concept of intensification, following the leitmotif of the industrial age, of uniformity and mass-production, of an ideology of continues economic growth by piling up commodities and virtual values, it might be helpful to shift the focus in other directions. Being saturated with the idea of problem solving, of being committed to perform efficient accordantly incomprehensible criteria, is something, which narrows attention, limits understanding and extinguishes creativity, which is perceived to be unhealthy and not an expression of the fundamentals of the human nature. Due to the fact, that this unilateral point of view does not considers the unspoken and unspeakable (not meaningful formalizable) qualities of human existence, addressed by the implicit, tacit efforts undertaken in the realm of art and design, we want to understand this fraction of the human nature as the actual domain where a related education ion art and design can deliver significant contributions.

5 The Digital Age and Higher Education in Art and Design Today

Turning away from the idea of being surrounded by more or less critical problems, which need to be solved in increasing shorter timespans, in order to be efficient and therefor a valuable member of the society, we can ask: which particular problem have actually been solved by artistic expressions or iconic design pieces as e.g. the painting “Hauptwege und Nebenwege” (Highway and Byways) by Paul Klee (1929), the “Matteuspassion” (Matthew Passion) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1727) or the Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames (1956)? To reduce the answer, to this question to utilitarian aspects, to a matter of prestige by the particular owner or to a question of entertainment will surely fall far to short in this regard. If we have the impression of getting inspired, enriched, touched, by an artwork or an iconic design, by a piece of music or performing arts we are perceiving something, which is not and does not need to be logical, precise or calculable. Despite this, the results from those clearly not problem-solving oriented expressions of the human nature do certainly deliver significant impacts to our perception, mindsets and doing. There is nothing to define in regards to the question, what actually can be the subject or outcome of a creative art and design process. People are interested to create, to express unspeakable certitudes, to transform thoughts by gestures of the visible hand into manifest art or design pieces - from the cave age on. Since then, the products of this deep inherent urge are gaining relevance to other individuals, who are getting inspired, enriched, challenged to do similar or to find new approaches, to change their mind or to provide insights to there individual thinking and doing.

Given a world, which offers any amount of binary raw material, any mean of design and production facility to transform data into physical objects and any kind of distribution channel, it makes no sense at all to compete with technology and the cadence of the machines (today measured in GHz). Also, the idea of mass production, the accumulation and concentration of nonproductive value to insanity, the ideology of an eternal growth of welfare by expanding into untapped markets appears to be increasingly less compelling. In front of this backdrop, the question of “what” to do in order to generate profit turns gradually into the question of “how” to make things, which actually matter to people - and this is basically the access point where education in art and design can connect to. Since the relevance of a product resulting from the creative process is increasingly less restrained from technological limitations, the side conditions under which art and design related efforts can be conducted best, shifts into the focus. Here we can think about concepts, which are aiming to obtain the living, and working conditions of any individual in order to unleash the creative potential, today most applied to suffice the paradigm of the number. This is everything else but trivial, but the three main premises, mention above can serve as a guiding idea.

First, we can think about an education concept referring to the development of interdisciplinary creativity. Since we have characterized creativity as in principal oriented to reach non-conventional results, the act of deviation needs to be emphasized. To propel this act, a high amount of professional and ethical integrity is required in order to establish an atmosphere in which individuals can go beyond their traditional thinking, cultural imprints and practiced behavior. Supplemented by means of visualization, the domain of implicit, tacit knowledge can be seamlessly integrated into the creative process, leading to a much more flow-like interaction with individual thoughts and within the inter-subjective communication. Developing the ability to create compelling visual, haptic or processual designs, which are deliver speechless perfection marks the second domain, in which respective efforts should be oriented. Since implicit, tacit knowledge and skillsets are neither a matter of logical thinking nor do they deliver methodical predictable outcomes, the concept of effectiveness is barely suited to be a guideline of learning a teaching within this domain. Moreover, it is the individual involvement, the relationship between the student and the person (the word teacher would fall to short), who has proven its ability to develop, to communicate and to exemplify the art of speechless expression, which matters most in this regard.

To close the circle, we want again emphasize the momentum delivered by a well-founded sense of quality, by a approach which puts more attention of the necessary instead of the possible, by being mindful and sensible for silence, vague, unspoken expressions and by sensing the manner, how Qualia [ 11 ] leaving significant traces in perception and mind, without being a stringent argument. Doing this, with an inner urge to understand the approaches, conducted over centuries, by people who are fundamentally more interested in knowledge than in profit, can constitute a mindset, which is critical against any ideology, interested in the deviation from the common, driven to achieve speechless perfection and resilient to adopt to “Innovations” proclaimed by any type of mainstream. Individuals, who can commit their self to this kind of endeavor, who are willing and able to adapt their perception and mind to the unspoken truth, will be best prepared to apply creativity, virtuosity and ethical principals in order to sustain the independence of the carbon-being, in critical opposition and creative, virtuous conjunction with the silicon logic. Whether this can be achieved in total, is everything else but certain. And totality is not at all the mindset behind this article, but we shall never stop any attempt, to make the human society as congenial and adaptive to further developments, as possible and digital technology is a powerful mean to do so.

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Wahl, H. (2018). An Essay About the Impact of the Digital Revolution on Higher Education in Art and Design. In: Kurosu, M. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. Interaction in Context. HCI 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10902. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91244-8_26

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The Digital Revolution: Its Advantages and Disadvantages

The Digital Revolution is the newest economic revolution. Like the Industrial Revolution, the Digital Revolution marks a complete shift in our society, signals a new era, and alters many aspects of our lives. While not everyone is familiar with the term, the Digital Revolution refers to the shift from technology based on analog and mechanical electronics to digital technology.

Digital technology allows information to be copied and replicated precisely. It is due to digital technology that our society is now so defined by computers, smart phones, internet access, and cell phone communication. The Digital Revolution, in fact, marks the beginning of a new age: the Information Age.

It isn’t hard to see the advantages of the Digital Revolution. You probably benefit from it every day. In fact, if you are reading this article, then you are experiencing one of the benefits of the Revolution – it vastly increases the knowledge at our fingertips, expanding our understanding of the world, and compiling entire encyclopedias of knowledge in online databases. Consider some other advantages of this Revolution:

• The Digital Revolution links individuals and groups together. Never before have we been able to communicate real-time with others in distant corners of the world. And this advantage is not limited to international communication – we now have instant access to our friends and family members a few miles away. Unlike traditional telephones, cell phones have brought this ‘communication power’ into our hands in the most remote locations.
• The Digital Revolution has created tools that are catalysts for sharing ideas. No longer do you need to be the executive of a wealthy business in order to share your thoughts with others on a broad scale – using social media and common technologies, ideas can be shared and innovation can be accelerated.
• Similarly, we now have a world of online opportunity. Start-up companies can begin in a bedroom with a single laptop. Jobs can be obtained – and worked – in the back of a truck deep in the forest. You can find and purchase rare books through online services without getting out of bed.
• While not all may appreciate it, the Digital Revolution forces competitiveness on a global scale. Prior to the revolution, stores only needed to compete with other stores in their region. A book may not have been the best book on the subject, but only needed to be the best book that the library had. Now, the level of competition is global. If this competitiveness hurts smaller, less efficient and lower-quality entities, it allows us, the consumers, access to a far wider marketplace of goods and knowledge.

Disadvantages

While we can all recognize and appreciate the powerful advantages that the Digital Revolution brings to our fingertips, I write this article primarily so that we would recognize the disadvantages that tag along. The Digital Revolution has become such an ubiquitous part of our lives that we may hardly notice the damaging effects that it brings along. My point is not to focus on those clear and obvious evils such as hackers and organized crime that are so obvious – you probably already understand those problems. Rather, consider how the Digital Revolution can bring about such disadvantages on a personal and societal level:

• You and I are gifted beyond measure to live in an age when so much knowledge is available, but as I have previously described , people abuse this wealth of knowledge in three ways: (1) by only wishing to be acquainted with many things, (2) by turning its blessing into a curse, and (3) by wishing to know only for the sake of knowing. ( You can read more about the abuse of knowledge here ).
• By opening up so much knowledge to us – and presenting it at our fingertips – the Information Age allows evil to spawn and grow at an alarming rate. From the questionable to the perverted, from the dubious to the depraved, the same information can be presented to us instantly and transit the globe in moments, without allowing society time to sit back and consider the information or ideas that are offered to us.
• A whole family can now live in a single house and yet live like single people, because this Revolution breaks down many relationships and our sense of community. While we can maintain friendships in distant states and countries, it breaks down all those friendships which are not actively fostered in the digital realm. When you get on a bus or train full of people on their smartphones, it reveals this sad truth: that everyone is connected, but only to those whom they chose to connect with.
• Similarly, digital technology breaks apart our sense of political and regional community. This has been in decay for some time now, but the Information Age is tearing it apart faster than ever. The idea that we can choose our friends through social media, and stay connected with only those – without spending time with those who live and interact around us – tears down the idea that we live in a community, in a special place in the world. It tears down the idea that we need our neighbors on a political level, which prepares for the abuse of democracy.
• Finally, the digital realm encourages passivism, rather than discernment. Having information presented on a screen (as it constantly is in the Information Age) welcomes viewers to sit back, accept the message that is presented, and move on without time for reflection. While movies and media all communicate messages, digital electronics have a strange way of obscuring that fact and encouraging passive consumerism. Television has been around for some time, but only multiply the problem.

Like fire, electronics make a handy servant but a dangerous master. Or, as we could alter the phrase, ‘ Electronics make a stultifying master but an astonishing servant .’ When they dominate our lives, they encourage us to sit back, stop thinking, and grow ignorant and disconnected. When we harness them as a servant, then electronics are some of the most beneficial tools ever known to man.

If you enjoyed this article, click HERE to read more about the digital revolution and electronics.

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The Digital Revolution Creating Essay (Book Review)

Introduction, summary of the book, most interesting things, helpful takeaways, my future goals, insights from the author, concluding remarks: additional ideas, works cited.

Most of the technologies enjoyed by humankind today such as the Internet are not attributable to giants or great entrepreneurs. The book “The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution” gives a detailed analysis of the achievements of different inventors such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Page, and Robert Noyce. These geniuses used their efforts and resources to create what is known as the digital revolution. This report presents the book’s summary and insights that can be borrowed to support my goals.

Walter Isaacson begins by examining the achievements and contributions of innovators whose breakthroughs in the fields of computer science and technology transformed the world. Ada Lovelace presented and applied the concept of computer programming. He managed to come up with innovative features and products that led to numerous inventions. The author goes further to describe how the invention of the integrated circuit (IC) opened new doors for the development of personal computers (Isaacson 34).

The combined efforts by different innovators made it easier for them achieve their goals. For example, Paul Allen and Bill Gates delivered consequential results at Microsoft. This was also the same case for Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs at Apple. Most of the programmers and innovators were passionate about their gals without focusing on profits (Isaacson 139). They developed appropriate cultures that heartened their followers to pursue the intended goals. The concept of creativity empowered them to work hard and eventually achieve the intended aims.

The reader can identify various interesting aspects from the book. The first fascinating observation is that the current world of digital technology did not happen or develop overnight (Isaacson 26). The field has been evolving for many decades since the time of great thinkers such as Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace. The efforts and activities of these innovators made it possible for numerous gains to be made in the future.

The second interesting thing is that most of the achievements made in the world of technology were possible because of the combination of ideas and skill-sets. For instance, some engineers collaborated with mathematicians to achieve their aims in innovation. Additionally, some people with managerial skills made it possible to empower others in an attempt to emerge successful (Menuez 54). These collaborative strategies made it easier for the innovators to achieve these accomplishments.

The third observation is the fact that the individuals described in the text were mostly driven by passion and hard work. They never focused on profits or financial gains. It was after realizing their objectives that they established powerful business empires (Isaacson 78). Another thing is that many entrepreneurs and innovators contributed to the current nature of digital technology.

This book presents various lessons that can make it possible for many people to succeed in their lives and careers. The first takeaway is the concept of teamwork. The personalities described in the text were able to achieve their goals due to the power of teamwork. Such efforts resulted in positive results within the shortest time possible. The second takeaway is the importance of enthusiasm (Sidhu 101). When a person is passionate about his or her goals, it will be easier to work hard and eventually achieve desirable outcomes.

The third lesson gained from the book is that of leadership. It is agreeable that most of these innovators were geniuses or ambitious. However, the concept of leadership was at the center of their respective models. The leadership was either personal or organizational. Individuals who embrace the concept will be achieve their goals much faster and emerge successful (Menuez 82).

My future goal is to start a company and support it until it becomes successful. The firm’s goal will be to offer superior services and products to the customers. The company will be deigning advanced apps and software products depending on the needs of the clients. I will also engage in lifelong learning to acquire powerful competencies that can make the business successful. This goal is possible since more people are focusing on the power of modern technologies such as the Internet (Sidhu 63).

The ideas presented in the book will be used as guiding principles to support my aims. For instance, the notion of teamwork will be applied in every department to foster innovation and productivity. The lessons learned from the initiatives adopted by these innovators can promote coordination and collaboration. Leadership can support every follower and employee in an attempt to deliver meaningful results within the shortest time possible (Sidhu 92).

The book by Isaacson shows clearly how people cannot understand the present without examining the past. The world has benefited from the selfless contributions of the great innovators, engineers, and programmers discussed in the text. I would read more books about the lives of these innovators in order to acquire new ideas that can make me successful. I would also encourage more people to read the text in an attempt to develop new concepts that can support their professional and personal goals.

Isaacson, Walter. The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution . Simon & Schuster, 2014.

Menuez, Doug. Fearless Genius: The Digital Revolution in Silicon Valley 1985-2000. Simon and Schuster, 2014.

Sidhu, Inder. The Digital Revolution: How Connected Digital Innovations are Transforming Your Industry, Company, and Career. Pearson Education, 2016.

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Going digital: how technology use may influence human brains and behavior


Camino a la digitalización: influencia de la tecnología en el cerebro y el comportamiento humano, passage au tout numérique : influence de la technologie sur le cerveau et le comportement humains, margret r. hoehe.

Author affiliations: Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany

Florence Thibaut

University Hospital Cochin - site Tarnier; University of Paris; INSERM U1266, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Paris, France

The digital revolution has changed, and continues to change, our world and our lives. Currently, major aspects of our lives have moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic, and social distancing has necessitated virtual togetherness. In a synopsis of 10 articles we present ample evidence that the use of digital technology may influence human brains and behavior in both negative and positive ways. For instance, brain imaging techniques show concrete morphological alterations in early childhood and during adolescence that are associated with intensive digital media use. Technology use apparently affects brain functions, for example visual perception, language, and cognition. Extensive studies could not confirm common concerns that excessive screen time is linked to mental health problems, or the deterioration of well-being. Nevertheless, it is important to use digital technology consciously, creatively, and sensibly to improve personal and professional relationships. Digital technology has great potential for mental health assessment and treatment, and the improvement of personal mental performance.


La revolución digital ha cambiado y continúa cambiando nuestro mundo y nuestras vidas. Actualmente, los principales aspectos de nuestras vidas han migrado hacia el funcionamiento “online” debido a la pandemia del coronavirus, y el distanciamiento social ha requerido de cercanías virtuales. En una sinopsis de 10 artículos, se presenta una amplia evidencia de que el empleo de la tecnología digital puede influir en el cerebro y en el comportamiento humano de manera negativa y positiva. Por ejemplo, las técnicas de imágenes cerebrales muestran alteraciones morfológicas concretas en la primera infancia y durante la adolescencia, las cuales están asociadas con el empleo intenso de medios digitales. En apariencia, la utilización de la tecnología afecta las funciones cerebrales, como la percepción visual, el lenguaje y la cognición. Numerosos estudios no pudieron confirmar las preocupaciones comunes en cuanto a que el tiempo excesivo de pantalla esté relacionado con problemas de salud mental o el deterioro del bienestar. Sin embargo, es importante emplear la tecnología digital de manera consciente, creativa y sensata para mejorar las relaciones personales y profesionales. La tecnología digital tiene un gran potencial para la evaluación y el tratamiento de la salud mental, y el aumento del rendimiento mental personal.

La révolution numérique a modifié et continue à modifier notre monde et nos vies. La pandémie actuelle due au coronavirus a fait basculer en ligne de nombreux pans de notre existence et la distanciation sociale a imposé la virtualité des rassemblements. Les données des dix articles présentés ici attestent de l’influence de la technologie numérique sur les cerveaux et les comportements, de manière positive et négative. Par exemple,l’imagerie cérébrale montre des altérations morphologiques concrètes apparaissant tôt dans l’enfance et pendant l’adolescence lors d’une pratique intensive des media numériques. Cela concernerait certaines fonctions cérébrales comme la perception visuelle, le langage et la cognition. Des études approfondies n’ont pas confirmé les inquiétudes courantes quant aux répercussions d’un temps excessif passé devant un écran en termes de santé mentale ou de qualité de vie. Il est néanmoins important de privilégier une utilisation consciente, créative et raisonnable des technologies numériques afin d’améliorer les relations personnelles et professionnelles. Ces technologies ont un grand potentiel dans l’évaluation et le traitement de la santé mentale ainsi que dans l’amélioration des performances mentales personnelles.

The “Digital Revolution”: remaking the world


Within a few decades, digital technology has transformed our lives. At any time, we can access almost unlimited amounts of information just as we can produce, process, and store colossal amounts of data. We can constantly interact, and connect, with each other by use of digital devices and social media. Coping with the daily demands of life as well as pursuing pleasure in recreational activities appears inconceivable without the use of smartphones, tablets, computers, and access to Internet platforms. Presently, over 4.57 billion people, 59% of the world population, use the Internet according to recent estimates (December 31 st , 2019), ranging between 39% (Africa) and 95% (North America). 1 People are spending an enormous, “insane” amount of time online, according to the latest Digital 2019 report compiled by Ofcom 2 : on average 6 hours and 42 minutes (06:42) each day (between 03:45 in Japan and 10:02 in the Philippines), half of that on mobile devices, on average equating to more than 100 days per year for every Internet user. According to a landmark report on the impact of the “decade of the smartphone,” 3 the average person in the UK spends 24 hours a week online, with 20% of all adults spending as much as 40 hours, and those aged 16 to 24 on average 34.3 hours a week. Britons are checking their smartphones on average every 12 minutes. In the US, teen screen time averages over 7 hours a day, excluding time for homework. Digital technology has become ubiquitous and entwined with our modern lives. As Richard Hodson in the Nature Outlook on “Digital Revolution,” 2018, concluded, “an explosion in information technology is remaking the world, leaving few aspects of society untouched. In the space of 50 years, the digital world has grown to become crucial to the functioning of society.” 4 This period of societal transformation has been considered “the most recent long wave of humanity’s socio-economic evolution”. As a “meta-paradigm of societal modernization based on technological change” induced by the transformation of information, it supersedes earlier periods of technological revolution based on the transformation of material and energy, respectively, spanning over 2 million years altogether (Hilbert, p 189 in this issue). 


In particular, the excessive use of digital technology during adolescence has given rise to grave concerns that this technology is harmful and damages the (developing) brain or may even cause mental health problems. Public concern culminated in Jean Twenge’s 2017 article “Have Phones Destroyed a Generation?,” 5 which linked the rise in suicide, depression, and anxiety among teens after 2012 to the appearance of smartphones. All-too-familiar pictures: parents and children, or couples, or friends, at the table, staring at their phones, texting; colleagues staring at screens, busy with emails; individuals, heads down, hooked on their phones, blind to their surroundings, wherever they are. Individuals interacting with their devices, not with each other. “The flight from conversation,” which may erode (close) human relationships and with them the capacity for empathy, introspection, creativity, and productivity - ultimately, the social fabric of our communities. Sherry Turkle, who has studied the relationship of humans with technology for decades, has articulated these concerns in Alone Together and Reclaiming Conversation . 6 , 7 Thus, “life offline” has become a consideration and advice to limit screen time and practice digital minimalism has become popular. 8 The concerns about screen time and efforts to keep us from staring at our devices and detox our digital lives came to a sudden end with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. 9 Almost overnight, nearly our entire personal, professional, educational, cultural, and political activities were moved online. The dictum of social distancing necessitated virtual togetherness.


Changing human brains and behavior?


The use of digital technology has changed, and continues to change, our lives. How could this affect human brains and behavior, in both negative and positive ways? Apparently, the ability of the human brain to adapt to any changes plays a key role in generating structural and/or functional changes induced by the usage of digital devices. The most direct evidence for an effect of frequent smart phone use on the brain is provided by the demonstration of changes in cortical activity (Korte, p 101 in this issue). Touching the screen repetitively – the average American user touches it 2176 times a day 10 – induces an increase of the cortical potentials allotted to the tactile receptors on the fingertips, leading to an enlargement, ie, reorganization of the motor and sensory cortex. It remains to be determined whether this reshaping of cortical sensory representation occurs at the expense of other motor coordination skills. Processes of neuroplasticity are particularly active in the developing brain, especially during stages of dynamic brain growth in early childhood. For instance, as demonstrated by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), extensive childhood experience with the game “Pokémon” influences the organization of the visual cortex, with distinct effects on the perception of visual objects even decades later. Furthermore, as shown by diffusion tensor MRI, early extensive screen-based media use is significantly associated with lower microstructural integrity of brain white matter tracts supporting language and literacy skills in preschoolers. 11 Also, adolescence is a time of significant development, with the brain areas involved in emotional and social behavior undergoing marked changes. Social media use can have a profound effect; eg, the size of an adolescent’s online social network was closely linked to brain anatomy alterations as demonstrated by structural MRI. The impact of digital technology use, both negative and positive, on these and many more brain-related phenomena has been elaborated in the review by Korte, who provides a comprehensive overview of the field. 


The most direct approach to assess the effect of excessive digital media use on (adolescent) brains presently appears to be the analysis of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying Internet and Gaming Disorder (IGD) (Weinstein and Lejoyeux, p 113 in this issue). The authors thoroughly survey existing brain imaging studies, summarizing the effects of IGD on the resting state, the brain’s gray matter volume and white matter density, cortical thickness, functional connectivity, and brain activations, especially in regions related to reward and decision making, and neurotransmitter systems. Taken together, individuals with IGD share many typical neurobiological alterations with other forms of addiction, but also show unique patterns of activation specifically in brain regions which are associated with cognitive, motor, and sensory function. The effects of the Internet on cognition have been comprehensively elaborated by Firth et al. 12 Examining psychological, psychiatric, and neuroimaging data, they provide evidence for both acute and sustained alterations in specific areas of cognition, which may reflect structural and functional changes in the brain. These affect: (i) attentional capacities, which are divided between multiple online sources at the loss of sustained concentration on a single task; (ii) memory processes - permanently accessible online information can change the ways in which we retrieve, store, recall and even value knowledge; and (iii) social cognition; the prospects for social interactions and the contexts within which social relationships can happen have dramatically changed. A complementary contribution rounding up these reviews is provided by Small et al (p 179 in this issue). Among the possible harmful “brain health consequences,” these investigators emphasize attention problems and their potential link to symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); furthermore the (paradoxical) association of excessive social media use with the perception of social isolation, observable at any age; the impaired emotional and social intelligence, poorer cognitive/language and brain development, and disrupted sleep. A substantial part of this review is devoted to the positive effects benefiting brain health in adults and the elderly, which are referred to below. Independent of ongoing research on the negative and positive implications of digital technology use, there remains a common feeling that there is something about the whole phenomenon that is just not “natural.” “We did not evolve to be staring at a screen for most of our waking hours. We evolved to be interacting with each other face-to-face, using our senses of smell and touch and taste – not just sight and sound… it cannot be healthy to stray so far from the activities for which nature has shaped our brains and our bodies.” Giedd (p 127 in this issue) challenges this notion in his fascinating review on “The natural allure of digital media,” putting the intensive digital media use during adolescence into a grand evolutionary perspective. He argues that the “desire for digital media is in fact exquisitely aligned with the biology of the teen brain and our evolutionary heritage,” with three features of adolescence being particularly relevant to this issue: (i) hunger for human connectedness; (ii) appetite for adventure; and (iii) desire for information.


Screen time: boon or bane?


As with any major innovation that has a profound impact on our lives, finding useful information and orientation means discerning scientific evidence from media narratives. Thus, synthesizing data from recent narrative reviews and meta-analyses including more than 50 studies, Odgers and Jensen (p 143 in this issue) could not confirm a strong linkage between the quantity of adolescents’ digital technology engagement and mental health problems. “There doesn’t seem to be an evidence base that would explain the level of panic and consternation around these issues” said Odgers, in the New York Times. 13 The authors point to significant limitations and foundational flaws in the existing knowledge base related to this topic; for instance, the nearly sole reliance on screen time metrics; the disregard of individual differences; the circumstance that almost none of the study designs allowed causal inference. On the other hand, a highly robust finding across multiple studies was that offline vulnerabilities (such as risks present in low-income families, communities, etc) tend to mirror and shape online risks. The observed social and digital divides are presently being magnified through the coronavirus crisis and most likely to increase in the future, further amplifying the existing inequalities in education, mental health, and prospects for youth. The authors strongly advocate the need and opportunities to leverage digital technology to support youth in an increasingly digital, unequal society in an uncertain age; see their suggestions for parents, clinicians, educators, designers and adolescents in Box 1 . Similarly, performing an in depth overview of the existing literature, Dienlin and Johannes (p 135 in this issue) could not substantiate the common concerns that digital technology use has a negative impact on young (and adult) peoples’ mental well-being. Their findings imply that the general effects are in the negative spectrum but very small – potentially too small to matter. Importantly, different types of use have different effects: thus, procrastination and passive use were related to more negative effects, and social and active use to more positive effects. Thus, “screen time” has different effects for different people. Digital technology use tends to exert short-term effects on well-being rather than long-lasting effects on life satisfaction. “The dose makes the poison”: both low and excessive use are related to decreased well-being, while moderate use increases well-being. With a strong sense for clear explanation, the authors introduce the concepts, terms, and definitions underlying this complex field, a most valuable primer to educate the interested reader, while also addressing the methodological shortcomings that contribute to the overall controversial experimental evidence. 


Thus, against common concerns, digital technology as such does not affect mental health or deteriorate well-being. Its use can have both negative and positive consequences. Technology simply does not “happen” to people. Individuals can shape the experiences they have with technologies and the results of those experiences. Thus, it is important to shift the focus towards an active, conscious use of this technology, with the intention to improve our lives and meaningfully connect with each other. This has become, more than ever, important now: “There is increased urgency, due to coronavirus, to use technology in ways that strengthen our relationships. Much of the world has been working, educating, and socializing online for months, and many important activities will remain virtual for the foreseeable future. This period of physical distancing has shed light on what we need from technology and each other… “ Morris (p 151 in this issue) introduces her article addressing the enhancement of relationships through technology in the most timely manner with a preface on “Connecting during COVID-19 and beyond.” In this synopsis, she sums up five directions to “build on as we connect during and after the pandemic.” Furthermore, in her review, she examines how technology can be shaped in positive ways by parents, caregivers, romantic partners, and clinicians and illustrates with real life examples creative and sensible ways to adapt technology to personal and relational goals (see also ref 14 ). Highlighting the importance of context, motivation, and the nuances of use, this review encourages people to understand how technologies can be optimally used to improve personal and clinical relationships. 


Digital tools in diagnosis and therapy


The use of digital tools for practical clinical applications and improvement of mental health conditions is gaining increasing acceptance, especially due to smartphone accessibility. This could fill at least in part the treatment gap and lack of access to specialized (psychotherapeutic) care, particularly in developing countries. Even in countries with well-developed health care systems, only a minority of patients receives treatment in line with the recommendations provided by evidence-based treatment guidelines. Thus, as elaborated in a thorough, comprehensive review by Hegerl and Oehler (p 161 in this issue), web-based interventions, especially in the case of Major Depression (MD), a highly prevalent and severe disorder, promise to be a method that provides resource-efficient and widespread access to psychotherapeutic support. The authors provide detailed information on available tools for digital intervention and their core principles; these are mostly based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, but also include elements of other psychotherapeutic approaches. As evident from meta-analyses summarizing studies that use face-to-face psychotherapy as a comparator, digital interventions can have equivalent antidepressant efficacy. Importantly, web-based interventions are most efficient when accompanied by adequate professional guidance and, if well designed, can be successfully integrated into routine care. The authors also address carefully the risks and limitations as well as unwanted effects of available digital interventions. Another powerful digital technology is gaining importance as a clinical tool in mental health research and practice, virtual reality (VR). According to Valmaggia and collaborators (p 169 in this issue), “At any time or place, individuals can be transported into immersive and interactive virtual worlds that are in full control of the researcher or clinician. This capability is central to recent interest in how VR might be harnessed in both treatment and assessment of mental health conditions.” To date, VR exposure treatments have proven effective across a range of disorders including schizophrenia, anxiety, and panic disorders. In their review, the authors summarize comprehensively the advantages of using VR as a clinical assessment tool, which could “radically transform the landscape of assessment in mental health.” Thus, VR may overcome many of the limitations concerning the diagnosis of psychological phenomena through its ability to generate highly controlled environments, that is, real-world experiences. In addition to increasing ecological validity, VR enhances personalization, that is, VR experiences can be tailored to match individual needs, abilities, or preferences. Furthermore, VR enhances an individual’s engagement with the test or assessment. Additional advantages include the capture of real-time, automated data in real-world contexts. In sum, the authors have thoroughly addressed the opportunities and challenges of VR in any relevant aspect. Finally, to complement the applications of digital technology to improve mental health, Small et al (p 179 in this issue) provide, in the second part of their review, rich information about specific programs, videogames, and other online tools, particularly for the aging brain. These may provide mental exercises that activate neural circuitry, improve cognitive functioning, reduce anxiety, increase restful sleep, and offer many other brain health benefits.


Emerging key messages


Several key messages emerge from these reviews, which cover a substantial amount of studies: first of all, scientific evidence does not support the common concerns that excessive use of digital technology causes mental health problems and a deterioration of well-being. There is increasing consensus that the methodological foundation is weak in many studies, in part explaining the controversial results and small effect sizes obtained to date. Above all, it appears absurd to collapse, as was common practice, the highly complex interaction between “machine and man” into a uniform quantitative screen time measure. Research, public policies, and interventions need to focus on the user , and not the extent of usage of technology. Who spends time and in what form with the digital devices is what is important. This leads us to what should be the main subject of interest, but has mostly — conceptually and factually — been disregarded: the human “individual” with its motivation, intentions, goals, needs, predispositions, familial, educational and social background, and support systems, or lack thereof. Needless to say, this calls for the consideration of individual differences in all aspects of research and application. Thus, digital technology is not intrinsically good or bad: it depends on the uses it is being put to by the user, and it can be utilized by individuals in both negative and positive ways. Now, more than ever, during and post coronavirus times, it is important that technology is taken advantage of to improve communication and enhance personal, professional, and societal relationships, guaranteeing equal opportunities for access and development for all.

The digital revolution: Implications for gender equality and women’s rights 25 years after Beijing

Publication year: 2020.

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The digital revolution brings immense potential to improve social and economic outcomes for women. Yet, it also poses the risk of perpetuating existing patterns of gender inequality. Despite several important initiatives, a significant digital gender gap remains, limiting the equitable realization of the benefits of digital transformation across high-, low- and middle-income countries.

This paper begins by outlining a conceptual framework for understanding the mutual shaping relationship between gender and technology . It then focuses on three areas to identify opportunities and risks in the digital revolution: education, work, and social/welfare services.

First, we examine the ways in which the digital skills gap in the education sector can lead to the encoding of gender biases in technology, how education technologies might help or hinder the situation, and the masculine stereotypes within STEM fields.

Second, we consider the implications for women of the changing world of work, such as the increasing precarity of jobs and “masculine defaults” within tech workplace climates. We show how the underrepresentation of women in technical fields partakes in a feedback loop, amplifying gender bias in AI and machine learning systems.

Third, we look at the benefits and risks of the implementation of automated decision-making in social and welfare services. The human rights of the most vulnerable are especially at risk in the digital welfare state, and we present pathways for ensuring gender equality, such as establishing external accountability mechanisms.

The paper concludes by offering concrete policy recommendations to advance progress for women’s rights within the digital society.

This paper is part of the  “UN Women discussion paper series” .

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Childhood's End

Nations, alliances of nations, and national institutions are in decline, while a state perhaps best described as  Oligarchia  is on the ascent. George Dyson explains in this, the first Edge New Year's Essay.

GEORGE DYSON is the author of  Turing’s Cathedral  and  Darwin Among the Machines.  George Dyson's Edge Bio Page

"To ring in the New Year in the most depressing and hope-crushing way possible, Dyson sat down with Edge.org” —  Brett Tingley, Mysterious Universe

Childhood's End

  All revolutions come to an end, whether they succeed or fail.

The digital revolution began when stored-program computers broke the distinction between numbers that mean things and numbers that do things. Numbers that do things now rule the world. But who rules over the machines?

Once it was simple: programmers wrote the instructions that were supplied to the machines. Since the machines were controlled by these instructions, those who wrote the instructions controlled the machines.

All revolutions come to an end, whether they succeed or fail.

Two things then happened. As computers proliferated, the humans providing instructions could no longer keep up with the insatiable appetite of the machines. Codes became self-replicating, and machines began supplying instructions to other machines. Vast fortunes were made by those who had a hand in this. A small number of people and companies who helped spawn self-replicating codes became some of the richest and most powerful individuals and organizations in the world.

Then something changed. There is now more code than ever, but it is increasingly difficult to find anyone who has their hands on the wheel. Individual agency is on the wane. Most of us, most of the time, are following instructions delivered to us by computers rather than the other way around. The digital revolution has come full circle and the next revolution, an analog revolution, has begun. None dare speak its name.

Childhood’s End was Arthur C. Clarke’s masterpiece, published in 1953, chronicling the arrival of benevolent Overlords who bring many of the same conveniences now delivered by the Keepers of the Internet to Earth. It does not end well.

To those seeking true intelligence, autonomy, and control among machines, the domain of analog computing, not digital computing, is the place to look.

The digital revolution progressed through five stages: the repurposing of war-surplus analog vacuum tube components into the first generation of fully-electronic stored-program computers; the era of large central mainframes; the era of the microprocessor and personal computer; the advent of the Internet; and finally the era of fully-metazoan codes that populate the mobile landscape of today. The next revolution is the assembly of digital components into analog computers, similar to the way analog components were assembled into digital computers in the aftermath of World War II.

Nature uses digital coding for the storage, replication, recombination, and error correction of sequences of nucleotides, but relies on analog coding and analog computing for intelligence and control. No programming, no code. To those seeking true intelligence, autonomy, and control among machines, the domain of analog computing, not digital computing, is the place to look.

Digital computers deal with integers, binary sequences, deterministic logic, algorithms, and time that is idealized into discrete increments. Analog computers deal with real numbers, non-deterministic logic, and continuous functions, including time as it exists as a continuum in the real world. In analog computing, complexity resides in topology, not code. Information is processed as continuous functions of values such as voltage and relative pulse frequency rather than by logical operations on discrete strings of bits. Digital computing, intolerant of error or ambiguity, depends upon precise definitions and error correction at every step. Analog computing not only tolerates errors and ambiguities, but thrives on them. Digital computers, in a technical sense, are analog computers, so hardened against noise that they have lost their immunity to it. Analog computers  embrace  noise; a real-world neural network needing a certain level of noise to work.

Electronics underwent two fundamental transitions over the past 100 years: from analog to digital and from vacuum tubes to solid state. That these transitions occurred together does not imply a necessary link. Just as digital computation was first implemented using vacuum tube components, analog computation can be implemented in solid state. Analog computation is alive and well despite vacuum tubes being commercially extinct.

The spectacular success of digital computers in modeling real-world phenomena, encoded as algorithms with the results used as output to control something in the real world, has outshadowed very different ways that digital computers, and networks of digital computers, can be used. Algorithms and digital simulations have become so embedded in our culture and world view that we find it almost impossible to recognize that other forms of computation, without algorithms or digital models, effectively control much of the world.

We assume that a search engine company builds a model of human knowledge and allows us to query that model, or that some other company (or maybe it’s the same company) builds a model of road traffic and allows us to access that model, or that yet another company builds a model of the social graph and allows us to join that model — for a price we are not quite told. This fits our preconceptions that an army of programmers is still in control somewhere but it is no longer the way the world now works.

The genius — sometimes deliberate, sometimes accidental — of the enterprises now on such a steep ascent is that they have found their way through the looking-glass and emerged as something else. Their models are no longer models. The search engine is no longer a model of human knowledge, it  is  human knowledge. What began as a mapping of human meaning now defines human meaning, and has begun to control, rather than simply catalog or index, human thought. No one is at the controls. If enough drivers subscribe to a real-time map, traffic is controlled, with no central model except the traffic itself. The successful social network is no longer a model of the social graph, it is the social graph. This is why it is a winner-take-all game. Governments, with an allegiance to antiquated models and control systems, are being left behind.

These new hybrid organizations, although built upon digital computers, are operating as analog computers on a vast, global scale, processing information as continuous functions and treating streams of bits the way vacuum tubes treat streams of electrons, or the way neurons treat information in a brain. Large hybrid analog/digital computer networks, in the form of economies, have existed for a long time, but for most of history the information circulated at the speed of gold and silver and only recently at the speed of light.

We imagine that individuals, or individual algorithms, are still behind the curtain somewhere, in control. We are fooling ourselves. The new gatekeepers, by controlling the flow of information, rule a growing sector of the world. 

What deserves our full attention is not the success of a few companies that have harnessed the powers of hybrid analog/digital computing, but what is happening as these powers escape into the wild and consume the rest of the world.

The next revolution will be the ascent of analog systems over which the dominion of digital programming comes to an end. Nature’s answer to those who sought to control nature through programmable machines is to allow us to build machines whose nature is beyond programmable control.

By Brett Tingley January 18, 2019

To ring in the New Year in the most depressing and hope-crushing way possible, Dyson sat down with Edge.org to discuss the digital revolution and where he sees it heading.

George Dyson: After the digital revolution, the wheel continues to turn. But who is in control?

January 11, 2019

That's what we mean by understanding how our digitized world works. But the science historian George Dyson continues to look and looks for the digital to raise an analogous revolution. And that, he warns, could take the book out of his hands.

[Continue to the German translation]

[ED. NOTE: George Dyson, Kafka, Heidegger, Pirsig, Arendt, Wiener, and Edge ]

By Nicolás Boullosa January 8, 2019

George Dyson dedicates an interesting  essay  in  Edge  to explore digital evolution from a human system to an algorithm that no longer depends on human programmers, and the worrying implications of this phenomenon. But Dyson does not settle for the diagnosis and explores an original proposal for a solution: returning cybernetics to its analogue heart .

For Dyson, what we know today as a digital revolution has not ended, but it has mutated into something very different, abandoning the possibility of the first years and leaving behind its "childhood". For a long time, computer science has not responded to the old paradigm of machines controlled by instructions that, in turn, have been designed by humans, who supervise execution.

By Nick Bilton January 3, 2019

Could 2019 be the year that these and other emergent technologies evolve from merely creepy to potentially totalitarian? In a New Year’s Day  column  published on  Edge , a Web site devoted to discussions about science, technology, and philosophy, George Dyson, the science historian and author, argues that we’ve reached an inflection point. “Once it was simple: programmers wrote the instructions that were supplied to the machines,” Dyson writes. “Since the machines were controlled by these instructions, those who wrote the instructions controlled the machines.” Today, code itself has come alive: algorithms sift through our search histories, credit-card purchases, and geolocation to model our personalities and anticipate our desires. For this, a small number of people such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, and Larry Page, have become unimaginably rich.

In the beginning of the essay, Dyson cites the novel  Childhood’s End , written by Arthur C. Clarke in 1953, which tells the story of a peaceful alien invasion of Earth by mysterious “Overlords” who “bring many of the same conveniences now delivered by the Keepers of the Internet to Earth.” As Dyson points out, this story, much like our own story, “does not end well.”

By  David Pescovitz ,  January 2, 2019

Over at  EDGE.org , the must-read hub of intellectual inquiry and head-spinning science, Boing Boing pal and legendary book agent John Brockman is launching a new series of essays "from important third culture thinkers to address the empirically-driven and science related hot-button cultural issues of our time." First up is author George Dyson's  "Childhood's End,"  a provocative riff on how the digital revolution has stripped much of our individual agency and that "to those seeking true intelligence, autonomy, and control among machines, the domain of analog computing, not digital computing, is the place to look."

January 4, 2019

"The search engine, initially an attempt to map human meaning, now defines human meaning. It controls, rather than simply catalogs or indexes, human thought..."  [Continue reading George Dyson's "Childhood's End"]

January 2, 2019

Powerful  short essay  on the digital revolution. The map has become the territory. “We assume that a search engine company builds a model of human knowledge and allows us to query that model, or that some other company builds a model of road traffic and allows us to access that model. This fits our preconception that an army of programmers is still in control somewhere, but it is no longer the way the world works. The search engine is no longer a model of human knowledge, it is human knowledge. If enough drivers subscribe to a real-time map, traffic is controlled with no central model except the traffic itself. The social network is no longer a model of the social graph, it is the social graph” (1,250 words)

Brett Tigley January 18, 2019

Despite the  frequent warnings  of both experts in the field and laymen, we continue to march along towards a future dominated by artificial intelligence constructs. For some reason, those with the ability to shape our futures just really want us to become the subservient Terminator fodder of a superintelligent AI hivemind built right into the very fabric of the technosphere. Are we creating our new overlords? Even worse, have already already created them? Could it be possible that we’ve already passed the tipping point and are already controlled by AI constructs?

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution

What is the fourth industrial revolution.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), also known as Industry 4.0, is a new era of development in which digital, physical and biological systems converge, fundamentally transforming industries, economies and societies.  

The term Fourth Industrial Revolution was coined by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He introduced this concept in his book, The Fourth Industrial Revolution, published in 2016. In it, he discusses how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics have begun to merge with the physical, digital and biological worlds and, thus, have revolutionized economies, industries and societies in the process.   

 In this video, discover how the 4IR is transforming the world: 

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The 4IR’s alternate name, Industry 4.0, is usually referred to in the context of the manufacturing and industrial sectors. This term highlights the revolution's focus on the integration of digital technologies into the heart of industry to create smart factories that embody the convergence of the physical and digital worlds. 

This revolution is distinguished by its unprecedented speed, scope and impact on human life—it offers immense opportunities for progress but also poses significant challenges, including ethical considerations and the potential for increased inequality. Klaus Schwab argues that this era is more than just a technological upgrade—it’s an opportunity to help everyone, including leaders, policymakers and people from all income groups and nations, to harness converging technologies in order to create an inclusive, human-centered future. The 4IR compels us to rethink how we create, exchange and distribute value, with particular emphasis on the need for global cooperation and inclusive policies to harness its potential for the betterment of humanity. 

The 4IR expands upon the breakthroughs of the Third Industrial Revolution, also known as the digital revolution, that occurred from the 1950s through the early 2000s. During this time, innovations like computers, diverse electronic devices, the Internet and numerous other technological advances emerged. 

Fourth Industrial Revolution: Integration of Design and Technology 

The 4IR is marked by the integration of technologies like AI, IoT, robotics and VR, which demands a holistic design approach that considers not only the form and function but also the interconnectedness and intelligence of products and systems. 

The Apple Vision Pro epitomizes the convergence of design, technology, AI and VR—it’s a significant release of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This device combines Apple's renowned design ethos with cutting-edge virtual reality capabilities to offer users immersive experiences that blur the line between the digital and physical worlds. The Vision Pro is powered by sophisticated AI to deliver personalized, intuitive interactions—it’s expected to set a new standard for how technology interfaces with human behavior.  

Watch Apple’s first announcement video for the Vision Pro: 

 As technology becomes more embedded in everyday life, design in the 4IR emphasizes user-centric solutions and personalized experiences, enabled by data analytics and machine learning. There's also a growing focus on sustainable and circular design principles driven by global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity. 

The complexity of 4IR technologies requires designers to work collaboratively across disciplines, integrating insights from engineering, biology, computer science and psychology. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial for innovation and for addressing the ethical, social and environmental implications of new technologies. 

The 4IR encourages designers to engage in speculative and critical design practices, exploring future scenarios and the societal impact of emerging technologies. This approach helps to envision potential futures and guide the development of technology in a responsible and human-centered direction. 

What Are the Key Technologies of the 4IR 

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning 

AI involves machines and programs capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Machine learning, a subset of AI, enables computers to learn from data and improve over time. These technologies are revolutionizing sectors by enhancing decision-making, automating tasks and creating new services and products. 

In this video, AI Product Designer Ioana Teleanu discusses AI’s impact on the world:  

 Learn more about machine learning in this video: 

Internet of Things (IoT) 

IoT refers to the network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. This interconnectivity enables more efficient processes and improved data analytics, which impacts everything from home automation to industrial manufacturing.  

Smart lighting product, Philips Hue, uses IoT technology to offer a wide range of smart bulbs, lamps, and light fixtures that can be controlled via the Philips Hue app or through integration with other smart home systems. These lights can change color, brightness, and even sync with media content for an immersive experience. See how Philips uses IoT in their product expansion, Philips Hue Secure, in this video:   

Robotics technology involves the design, construction, operation and use of robots for various tasks. With advancements in AI and machine learning, robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated, capable of performing complex tasks autonomously or augmenting human capabilities in industries like manufacturing, healthcare and services. 

 In this video, Robotic company Boston Dynamics demonstrates how their robot Atlas can aid in construction:

Blockchain 

Blockchain is a decentralized ledger of all transactions across a network, which enables secure, transparent and tamper-proof record-keeping. While it underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, its applications extend to secure transactions, smart contracts and supply chain management. 

Organizations like IBM's Food Trust network uses blockchain to trace the production, processing, and distribution of food products to enhance safety and reduce waste.   

Quantum Computing 

Quantum computing represents a significant leap forward in computing power—it uses principles of quantum mechanics to process information at speeds unattainable by traditional computers. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as cryptography, drug discovery and complex system simulation. 

Google's quantum AI lab is researching how quantum computing could accelerate machine learning tasks by processing complex data more efficiently than classical computers. Learn more in this video:    

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 

3D printing builds objects layer by layer from digital models. This offers unprecedented flexibility in manufacturing. It enables rapid prototyping, custom manufacturing and complex designs not possible with traditional methods which impacts industries from healthcare (with prosthetics and organ printing) to aerospace and automotive. 

 In this video by Mayo Clinic, 3D printing is used to create more hygienic and effective casts and splints for a patient with fractures and other injuries:  

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering 

Advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering have enabled us to manipulate living organisms or their components to develop or make products, which improves healthcare, agriculture and environmental sustainability. Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing have opened new possibilities for disease treatment and precision medicine. 

Learn more about gene editing in this video by TED-Ed:

Nanotechnology  

Nanotechnology manipulates matter at the atomic and molecular scale and promises significant advancements in materials science, medicine and electronics. Its applications range from more effective drug delivery systems to water treatment processes that remove contaminants at a molecular level. 

 In this video by Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, learn how nanotechnology can be used to fight cancer:  

 Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) 

AR and VR technologies are changing the way we interact with digital environments. AR overlays digital information onto the physical world, while VR creates immersive digital environments. These technologies have applications in education, training, entertainment and beyond. 

 Learn more about VR, its history and its future in this video: 

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) 

CPS are integrations of computation, networking and physical processes. Embedded computers and networks monitor and control the physical processes, with feedback loops where physical processes affect computations and vice versa. This integration is foundational for smart grids, autonomous vehicle systems and smart factories. 

 In this video watch how a Tesla vehicle drives itself:   

These technologies are not only transformative in their own right, but are also interrelated. They often converge to create innovative solutions and opportunities across a variety of sectors and different levels of society and the economy. The potential of the 4IR lies in how these technologies are harnessed to drive forward human progress, address global challenges and reshape the world for the better. 

The Impact of the 4IR: Case Studies 

Environmental protection: iot for monitoring and conservation .

Rainforest Connection transforms recycled smartphones into solar-powered acoustic devices that monitor rainforest sounds. AI algorithms analyze these sounds to detect illegal logging and poaching in real time, enabling rapid response to protect wildlife and forests. This case study highlights how 4IR technologies can be creatively applied to combat environmental destruction and biodiversity loss. 

 Learn more about Rainforest Connection’s work in this video:  

Agro 4.0: More Efficient Farming 

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) introduced technology to small and medium farms in Colombia. The technology includes soil, water and climate sensors, as well as AI, cloud computing and drones. The project managed to reduce the farmer's costs by 30% and increase their yields by 20%.  

 Watch the C4IR video to learn more   

Healthcare: AI-Driven Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine 

Google's DeepMind developed an artificial intelligence system that can accurately detect over 50 types of eye diseases from 3D scans. Scientists from Google's DeepMind division, University College London (UCL) and Moorfields Eye Hospital developed software through deep learning techniques that can detect numerous prevalent eye conditions from 3D scans and subsequently recommend treatment options for the patient. This technology enables early diagnosis and treatment to potentially prevent vision loss in millions of people worldwide. Not only does it improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes, but it can also reduce healthcare costs.  

© UCL, Moorfields, DeepMind, et al, Fair Use

What are the Impacts of the 4IR? 

The 4IR is not just a technological revolution; it's a catalyst for comprehensive change—how we live, work and relate to one another. Here are some of the major impacts and implications of the 4IR: 

Economic Transformation 

Productivity and efficiency : The integration of technologies like AI, robotics and IoT significantly boosts productivity and operational efficiencies across industries. In most cases, this leads to reduced costs, improved production rates and enhanced product quality. 

New business models and markets : The 4IR has enabled new, innovative business models (e.g., platform-based economies like Airbnb and sharing economies like Uber) and the creation of markets that didn't exist before, particularly in the digital and service sectors. 

Job displacement and creation : While automation and AI have displaced many traditional jobs, particularly in manufacturing and routine white-collar tasks, they also create new jobs that require advanced digital skills and competencies in technology development, data analysis and cybersecurity. 

Societal Changes 

Education and skill development : There's a growing need for education systems to adapt and an emphasis on STEM education, critical thinking, creativity and lifelong learning to prepare individuals for the jobs of the future. 

Inequality and digital divide : The benefits of the 4IR risk being unevenly distributed, which could exacerbate income inequality and widen the digital divide between those with access to new technologies and skills and those without. 

Enhanced connectivity and communication : The global proliferation of the internet and mobile devices has led to unprecedented levels of connectivity to enable new forms of social interaction, collaboration and information exchange. 

Technological Advancements 

Accelerated innovation : The rapid pace of technological advancement in fields like biotechnology, nanotechnology and quantum computing has already begun to revolutionize healthcare, energy and other industries.  

Cybersecurity challenges : As more devices and systems are connected, vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks increase. Data privacy and system security are increasingly critical challenges. 

Environmental Considerations 

Sustainable development : Technologies emerging from the 4IR offer promising solutions to environmental challenges, including more efficient resource use, renewable energy technologies and smarter, more sustainable cities. 

Climate change mitigation : Advances in technology are crucial for monitoring environmental changes, improving energy efficiency and developing new methods for carbon capture and storage to combat climate change. 

Ethical and Governance Issues 

Ethical considerations : The development and application of technologies like AI and genetic engineering raise profound ethical questions about privacy, consent and the nature of human identity. 

Regulation and governance : There is an increasing need for effective governance frameworks to ensure that the development and deployment of new technologies are aligned with societal values and ethical principles. Policymakers are challenged to keep pace with technological innovation while safeguarding public interests. 

The History of the World’s Industrial Revolutions 

The 4IR is built upon the foundation laid by the three previous industrial revolutions, each marked by a significant leap in technological capabilities that transformed societies and economies. It's important to understand these precursors as they provide essential context to grasp the scale and scope of the changes the 4IR represents. 

First Industrial Revolution: Late 18th to Early 19th Century 

The first Industrial Revolution’s start and end date are widely debated, but the general consensus is that it spanned from about 1760 to 1840. It was characterized by the transition from hand production methods to machines through the use of steam power and water power. The textile industry was among the first to be transformed, with the invention of the spinning jenny and the power loom. This era saw the rise of mechanized factories, which significantly increased production capabilities and led to urbanization as people moved to cities for work. 

A factory from the First Industrial Revolution. The machinery harnessed steam and water power.

© National Geographic, CC BY-SA 4.0

Second Industrial Revolution: Late 19th to Early 20th Century 

This period is roughly dated between 1870 and the beginning of World War I in 1914. The Second Industrial Revolution was marked by the introduction of electricity—this transformation led to more advanced manufacturing and production technologies. The development of the assembly line, notably used by Henry Ford in the mass production of automobiles, drastically increased efficiency and made goods more accessible to the masses. This period also saw significant advancements in chemical, electrical and steel production. 

The Ford Model T assembly line circa 1913-1914. Henry Ford was one of the first to use an assembly line for mass production. When a Model T left the assembly line at Ford's Highland Park plant to be shipped by rail, it was not fully assembled. In this photograph, workers temporarily place bodies onto a chassis. At the loading dock, bodies and wheels would be removed and packed separately to conserve freight car space. Full assembly took place at branch plants closer to the vehicles' final destination.

© The Henry Ford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Third Industrial Revolution: Mid-Late 20th Century  

Also known as the Digital Revolution, this era started around the 1950s-1970s. It’s defined by the move from analog electronic and mechanical devices to digital technologies. The invention of the personal computer, the internet and information and communications technology (ICT) transformed the way people live, work and communicate. It laid the groundwork for the globalized, interconnected world of today. The Third Industrial Revolution transitioned into the Fourth Industrial Revolution around the early 21st century, so there is no definitive end date for this period.  

Steve Jobs with the Apple II. It was released in 1977 and is an example of an early personal computer.

© Alamy, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fourth Industrial Revolution: 21st Century 

The 4IR builds on the digital revolution and is marked by a fusion of technologies that blur the lines between the physical, digital and biological. It’s characterized by breakthroughs in a range of areas including AI, robotics, the Internet of Things, genetic engineering, quantum computing and others. Unlike previous revolutions, the 4IR evolves at an exponential rate, transforming almost every industry and many aspects of human life. 

Each industrial revolution brought about drastic changes in economic structures, social systems and the global order. While the first three revolutions introduced and then expanded upon mechanization, electrification and digitization, respectively, the 4IR stands out for its potential to integrate cyber-physical systems and impact all disciplines, economies and industries on a global scale.  

How the Industrial Revolutions Have Impacted Design 

The industrial revolutions have profoundly influenced design. The technological, social and economic shifts of each era have shaped how, what and why humans design. Here's how each industrial revolution has impacted design: 

First Industrial Revolution 

Mass Production : The advent of steam-powered machinery enabled the mass production of goods, leading to product standardization. Design during this period focused on functionality and manufacturability, often at the expense of aesthetics and individuality. 

This British printed cotton textile is an example of the 1820 is an example of Regency design.

Second Industrial Revolution 

Industrial design : The introduction of assembly line manufacturing and advancements in materials and processes, such as steel production and electrical engineering, birthed the discipline of industrial design. Designers began to focus on the user experience, ergonomics and aesthetic appeal of products and thus recognized the value of design in marketing and brand differentiation. 

A Singer sewing machine circa 1880.

© Singer, Fair Use

The Singer sewing machine is a pivotal and recognizable invention from the 19th Century. Isaac Merritt Singer, an American inventor, patented the first practical sewing machine in 1851. Their machines were a combination of practical functionality with elaborate Victorian aesthetics. Its design not only made sewing more efficient and less labor-intensive but also turned the sewing machine into a desirable household item. In 1889, they released the first electric sewing machine. The Singer Company's innovations in mass production and global marketing strategies are classic examples of Second Industrial Revolution practices.  

An advertisement for the Singer 99k-13, the first electric sewing machine released in 1889.

Third Industrial Revolution 

Digital design : The Digital Revolution introduced computers and digital technology which revolutionized the way designers work. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and other digital tools enabled more complex and precise designs to foster innovation in product development, architecture and graphic design. The rise of the internet also opened new avenues for digital and web design and emphasized user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. 

Milton Glaser's "I Love NY" logo was designed in 1977 for a New York State advertising campaign—it’s one of the most iconic works in graphic design. With its simple yet impactful composition, the American Typewriter font paired with a heart symbol replacing the word "love", Glaser's design captured the essence of New York City's resilience and appeal during a time of economic hardship and social unrest. This logo revitalized New York's image and showcased the power of graphic design in shaping public perception and fostering a sense of community and pride. Although the Digital Revolution was in its nascent stage, the impact of evolving technologies on design practices was becoming increasingly apparent.

© Milton Glaser, Fair Use

Learn More About the Fourth Industrial Revolution 

Read Klaus Schwab’s book The Fourth Industrial Revolution . 

Visit the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution .  

Read McKinsey and Company’s piece, What are Industry 4.0, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and 4IR?  

Read about the World Economic Forum’s various 4IR projects . 

Check out National Geographic’s collection on the Industrial Revolution .  ​​​​

Questions about The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Emerging technologies such as AI and IoT are fundamentally transforming the design industry through the introduction of new capabilities for automation, personalization and connectivity. AI is being leveraged to automate routine design tasks, generate innovative design options and provide data-driven insights that can enhance efficiency and creativity. For example, Autodesk's Dreamcatcher is an AI-based generative design system that enables designers to input design goals along with parameters such as materials, manufacturing methods and cost constraints. The system then explores all the possible permutations of a solution and quickly generates design alternatives. IoT, on the other hand, integrates physical objects with sensors and software to allow designers to create interconnected products that can communicate with each other and with users in real-time. A notable example is the Philips Hue lighting system, which allows users to control light settings from their mobile devices, creating personalized environments.  

 Learn more about how AI is changing design and the world in this video with AI Product Designer, Ioana Teleanu:  

In the 4IR, essential skills for designers extend beyond traditional design competencies to include digital literacy, an understanding of emerging technologies and the ability to work with data. Proficiency in tools and platforms that leverage AI, IoT, VR/AR and 3D printing has become increasingly important. For instance, designers must be adept at using AI for user experience personalization and predictive analytics, as seen in platforms like Adobe Sensei, which helps automate and enhance creative tasks. Additionally, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving remain foundational and enable designers to devise innovative solutions to complex problems. Collaboration skills are also vital, as the multidisciplinary nature of 4IR projects often requires working closely with engineers, data scientists and other specialists. The ability to continuously learn and adapt is crucial, given the rapid pace of technological change.  

 Learn more about essential skills for the 4IR in our courses AI for Designers , UX Design for Virtual Reality and UX Design for Augmented Reality .

The 4IR has significantly impacted UX and UI design practices by pushing the boundaries of customization, interactivity and user engagement. With the integration of technologies such as AI, IoT, VR and AR, designers are now able to create more personalized and immersive experiences. AI and machine learning offer the ability to analyze user data in real-time which enables the creation of interfaces that adapt to user behaviors and preferences. For example, Spotify uses machine learning to tailor music recommendations to individual tastes to enhance the user experience through personalization. 

 In addition, VR and AR technologies are redefining user interactions with digital products by offering immersive experiences that were previously not possible. AR apps like IKEA Place allow users to visualize furniture in their homes before making a purchase, merging digital and physical realities to improve decision-making and satisfaction. These advancements demand that UX/UI designers not only focus on traditional design principles but also on understanding and leveraging these emerging technologies to create seamless, intuitive and engaging user experiences. The emphasis on user-centered design has never been more critical as designers strive to ensure that technological advancements enhance rather than complicate the user experience. 

 Learn more about UX and UI Design for AR, VR and XR in our courses UX Design for Virtual Reality and UX Design for Augmented Reality , as well as our Master Classes How To Craft Immersive Experiences in XR and How to Innovate with XR .

Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) are transforming product design by enabling designers to create immersive and interactive prototypes which enhances the design process, user testing and user engagement. This capability is invaluable for industries such as automotive and architecture, where designers and engineers can virtually walk through a building or experience a car's interior before any physical prototype is built. For example, Ford uses VR to simulate car designs to allow for rapid iteration and testing of ergonomic and aesthetic features without the need for physical models. 

AR, on the other hand, overlays digital information onto the real world to enhance a user's perception of reality. This technology is particularly transformative in retail and interior design, as seen in. IKEA's AR app, IKEA Place. 

VR and AR technologies offer powerful tools for designers to not only improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the design process but also to create products and experiences that are more aligned with user needs and expectations. These technologies facilitate a more iterative design process, where feedback can be gathered and implemented quickly and lead to higher-quality and more user-friendly products. 

Learn more about UX Design for VR and AR in our courses UX Design for Virtual Reality and UX Design for Augmented Reality .

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) coined the term term the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He introduced this concept in his 2016 book of the same name. It remains the most influential book on the topic.   

Schwab, K. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Portfolio. 

In the 4IR, data analytics plays a crucial role in design—it empowers designers with insights that drive more informed, user-centric decisions. Through the analysis of large datasets, designers can uncover patterns, trends and user behaviors that inform every stage of the design process, from conceptualization to final product development. This data-driven approach enables the creation of products and services that truly meet user needs and preferences. 

For example, in UX/UI design, data analytics can optimize user interfaces based on actual user interaction data and lead to more intuitive and effective designs. Companies like Netflix use data analytics to tailor content and recommendations to individual users, which enhances user experience. In product design, data analytics can inform feature development, usability improvements and even predict future trends, to ensure products remain relevant and competitive.  

Additionally, in the context of sustainable design, data analytics can identify areas where resources can be optimized or reduced, contributing to more environmentally friendly design solutions. Overall, data analytics bridges the gap between user expectations and design outcomes, making it an indispensable tool in the 4IR design toolkit. 

Learn more about data-driven design in our course Data-Driven Design: Quantitative Research for UX . 

Designers can leverage machine learning (ML) and AI in their work to enhance creativity, efficiency and user experience. One primary way is through the automation of routine tasks such as data analysis, which allows designers to focus more on the creative aspects of their projects. For example, Adobe Sensei, Adobe's AI and ML technology, automates complex processes like image editing and pattern recognition, to speed up the design workflow. 

Additionally, ML and AI can generate design alternatives and suggest improvements by learning from vast datasets of design elements and user interactions. This capability supports designers in exploring a wider range of options and making informed decisions based on predicted user preferences and behaviors. 

AI can also personalize user experiences in real-time by adapting interfaces, content and recommendations to individual user needs. Streaming services like Netflix and Spotify use AI to analyze viewing or listening habits, respectively, to deliver highly personalized content recommendations, to improve user satisfaction. 

Additionally, designers can use AI for more accurate user testing and feedback gathering. Tools powered by AI can simulate how users interact with designs to provide valuable insights without the need for extensive user testing sessions. 

Learn more about AI and ML, especially in the context of design, in our course AI for Designers . 

Watch the trailer here:  

In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, designers face several ethical considerations that stem from the increased use of emerging technologies like AI, IoT and big data analytics. Key ethical considerations include: 

Privacy and data protection : With the extensive collection and analysis of user data, designers must ensure they respect user privacy and comply with data protection laws. This involves designing systems that are secure by default and transparent about how user data is collected, used and stored. 

Bias and fairness : AI and machine learning algorithms can inadvertently perpetuate biases present in their training data, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes. Designers must strive to use diverse datasets and regularly audit algorithms to minimize bias. 

Accessibility and inclusiveness : The 4IR offers opportunities to make designs more accessible to a wider audience, including people with disabilities. Designers have a responsibility to ensure their products and services are inclusive, providing equal access and opportunities for everyone. 

Sustainability : With the growing concern over environmental issues, designers must consider the ecological impact of their designs. This includes choosing sustainable materials, designing for energy efficiency and considering the entire lifecycle of products to minimize waste. 

Accountability and transparency : As AI systems become more autonomous, designers must ensure that these systems are transparent in their decision-making processes and that there are mechanisms in place for accountability, especially in critical applications like healthcare or autonomous vehicles. 

User autonomy and manipulation : Designers need to be mindful of not creating manipulative designs that exploit user psychology for profit, such as dark patterns that trick users into making decisions against their interests. 

An example of ethical design in practice is the development of AI in healthcare, where designers and developers are working to ensure systems are transparent, explainable and free from bias to recognize the critical impact these systems have on patient care and outcomes. Ethical considerations in the 4IR are complex and evolving, requiring designers to stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in technology ethics. 

Learn more about the ethics and transparency in AI in the article AI Challenges and How You Can Overcome Them: How to Design for Trust .  

The role of human-centered design (HCD) is evolving significantly with the advent of the 4IR technologies, such as AI, IoT, VR/AR and big data analytics. HCD's core principle is to design with a deep focus on the needs, wants and limitations of end-users. That remains intact, but the scope and impact of this approach have expanded dramatically. 

In the 4IR, HCD is not just about products and services that are easy and intuitive to use; it's increasingly about how designers can leverage technology to make life better, work more productive and societies more inclusive. For example, AI and machine learning are being used to create more personalized experiences in everything from healthcare apps that provide tailored health advice, to educational platforms that adapt to the learning pace of individual students. 

In addition, HCD in the 4IR means designing for ethics and sustainability—to consider not just the immediate impact of a design on users, but also its long-term effects on society and the environment. This includes using IoT to create smart cities that enhance the quality of life, employing VR to train medical professionals without the need for physical resources and applying big data analytics to tackle complex social issues like poverty and climate change.  

Learn more about HCD in our Master Class Human-Centered Design for AI and our article Human-Centered Design: How to Focus on People When You Solve Complex Global Challenges . 

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has had a profound impact on sustainable and inclusive design—it’s offered new opportunities and challenges to create solutions that are environmentally friendly and accessible to all. The integration of technologies such as AI, IoT, VR/AR and big data analytics into the design process enables more informed decision-making, which leads to designs that can better address environmental concerns and social inequalities. 

In terms of sustainability, 4IR technologies allow for the optimization of resources and energy efficiency in product design and manufacturing processes. For example, AI can be used to analyze and predict patterns in energy consumption, which leads to the development of smarter, more energy-efficient buildings. Similarly, 3D printing technology enables the production of components with minimal waste and the use of sustainable materials further reduces the environmental footprint of manufactured goods. 

From an inclusivity perspective, 4IR technologies are breaking down barriers for people with disabilities and those in marginalized communities. For instance, AI-powered assistive devices can improve the quality of life for people with visual or auditory impairments, while AR and VR technologies offer new ways to experience content and services for those who may be physically unable to access them in traditional ways. 

Moreover, big data analytics play a crucial role in identifying and addressing gaps in accessibility and inclusivity and enable designers to create products and services that cater to a wider range of needs and preferences. This data-driven approach ensures that design decisions are based on real-world insights for more effective and impactful solutions. 

Learn more about sustainable design in our piece What is Sustainable Design? Take our course Design for Better World with Don Norman for an in-depth learning experience. 

Literature on The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Here’s the entire UX literature on The Fourth Industrial Revolution by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:

Learn more about The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Take a deep dive into The Fourth Industrial Revolution with our course Design for a Better World with Don Norman .

“Because everyone designs, we are all designers, so it is up to all of us to change the world. However, those of us who are professional designers have an even greater responsibility, for professional designers have the training and the knowledge to have a major impact on the lives of people and therefore on the earth.” — Don Norman, Design for a Better World

Our world is full of complex socio-technical problems:

Unsustainable and wasteful practices that cause extreme climate changes such as floods and droughts.

Wars that worsen hunger and poverty .

Pandemics that disrupt entire economies and cripple healthcare .

Widespread misinformation that undermines education.

All these problems are massive and interconnected. They seem daunting, but as you'll see in this course, we can overcome them.

Design for a Better World with Don Norman is taught by cognitive psychologist and computer scientist Don Norman. Widely regarded as the father (and even the grandfather) of user experience, he is the former VP of the Advanced Technology Group at Apple and co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group.

Don Norman has constantly advocated the role of design. His book “The Design of Everyday Things” is a masterful introduction to the importance of design in everyday objects. Over the years, his conviction in the larger role of design and designers to solve complex socio-technical problems has only increased.

This course is based on his latest book “Design for a Better World,” released in March 2023. Don Norman urges designers to think about the whole of humanity, not just individual people or small groups.

In lesson 1, you'll learn about the importance of meaningful measurements . Everything around us is artificial, and so are the metrics we use. Don Norman challenges traditional numerical metrics since they do not capture the complexity of human life and the environment. He advocates for alternative measurements alongside traditional ones to truly understand the complete picture.

In lesson 2, you'll learn about and explore multiple examples of sustainability and circular design in practice. In lesson 3, you'll dive into humanity-centered design and learn how to apply incremental modular design to large and complex socio-technical problems.

In lesson 4, you'll discover how designers can facilitate behavior-change , which is crucial to address the world's most significant issues. Finally, in the last lesson, you'll learn how designers can contribute to designing a better world on a practical level and the role of artificial intelligence in the future of design.

Throughout the course, you'll get practical tips to apply in real-life projects. In the " Build Your Case Study" project, you'll step into the field and seek examples of organizations and people who already practice the philosophy and methods you’ll learn in this course.

You'll get step-by-step guidelines to help you identify which organizations and projects genuinely change the world and which are superficial. Most importantly, you'll understand what gaps currently exist and will be able to recommend better ways to implement projects. You will build on your case study in each lesson, so once you have completed the course, you will have an in-depth piece for your portfolio .

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Essay on Digital Revolution In India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Digital Revolution In India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Digital Revolution In India

Introduction.

The digital revolution in India is a change brought about by digital technology. It started in the late 20th century and continues today. It has changed many aspects of life, like communication, business, and education.

Impact on Communication

Digital technology has changed how we communicate. Mobile phones and the internet make it easy to talk to anyone, anywhere. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter allow us to share our thoughts and ideas with the world.

Changes in Business

Businesses have also been affected. Online shopping is now common, with websites like Amazon and Flipkart. These sites allow us to buy things without leaving our homes. Digital payments have also become popular.

Education Transformation

Education has seen big changes too. Online learning platforms like Byju’s and Unacademy have made learning more accessible. Students can now learn at their own pace, from the comfort of their homes.

In conclusion, the digital revolution in India has brought about many changes. It has made life easier and more convenient. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more changes in the future.

250 Words Essay on Digital Revolution In India

The digital revolution in India is a big change that has happened in recent years. It is about using digital technology in all areas of life. This has made things easier and faster.

Changes in Communication

One of the biggest changes is in the way we communicate. Before, we used to send letters or make long-distance calls. Now, we can send emails and messages instantly. We can even video call with people in different parts of the world.

Online Shopping and Payments

Shopping has also changed a lot. We can now buy things online from anywhere. We can pay for these things online too. This is safer and more convenient.

Education and Learning

Education has also seen big changes. Students can now learn from home. They can watch videos, take tests, and even talk to their teachers online. This makes learning more flexible and accessible.

Government Services

Even government services have gone digital. People can now apply for things like passports and driving licenses online. They can also pay taxes and check their bank accounts. This saves time and reduces paperwork.

The digital revolution in India has made life easier and faster. It has changed the way we communicate, shop, learn, and even interact with the government. It is a big step towards a more modern and efficient India.

500 Words Essay on Digital Revolution In India

The digital revolution in India is a big change that is happening right now. It is about using computers, the internet, and other digital tools to make life better and easier in India. This revolution is changing how we learn, work, and live.

What is the Digital Revolution?

The digital revolution is a change from old ways of doing things to new digital ways. This means using digital technology like computers, smartphones, and the internet instead of paper, pens, and other old tools. In India, this revolution is happening very fast and is changing many parts of life.

How is it Changing Education?

The digital revolution is changing how we learn in India. Before, we had to go to a school or a library to learn. Now, we can learn from home using a computer or a smartphone. We can watch videos, read books, and even talk to teachers online. This makes learning easier and more fun.

How is it Changing Work?

The digital revolution is also changing how we work in India. Before, we had to go to an office or a factory to work. Now, we can work from home using a computer or a smartphone. We can send emails, make presentations, and even have meetings online. This makes work more flexible and less tiring.

How is it Changing Life?

The digital revolution is also changing how we live in India. Before, we had to go to a shop or a bank to buy things or manage money. Now, we can do these things from home using a computer or a smartphone. We can order food, shop for clothes, and even pay bills online. This makes life more convenient and less stressful.

The digital revolution in India is a big change that is making life better and easier. It is changing how we learn, work, and live. It is helping us save time, effort, and money. But, it is also making us depend more on digital technology. So, we need to use it wisely and safely. If we do this, the digital revolution will be a great boon for India.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Digital Revolution
• Essay on Digital Privacy
• Essay on Digital Marketing Boon Or Bane

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — E Commerce — The Evolution Of Marketing In The Digital Era

The Evolution of Marketing in The Digital Era

• Categories: E Commerce Online Shopping

About this sample

Words: 1777 |

Published: Feb 8, 2022

Words: 1777 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, the evolution of digital and technological advancements in marketing, rise of e-commerce and online social networks.

• Micheal Henson (2019), what are the technological advancement in marketing https://urbancursor.com/technological-advancements-marketing/
• Digital Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide https://neilpatel.com/what-is-digital-marketing/
• Avantika Monnappa (March 18, 2020), The History and Evolution of Digital Marketing https://www.simplilearn.com/history-and-evolution-of-digital-marketing-article
• Edward Curlin (January 3 , 2020) Digital marketing : the era of revolution in digital marketing. https://adigitallamp.com/the-era-of-revolution-in-digital-marketing/
• Digital Marketing Institute: Digital innovation and the future of digital markrting https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/digital-innovation-and-the-future-of-digital-marketing
• Francisco J. Mata & Ariella Quesada (January 2014) Web2.0, Social networks and E-commerce as marketing tools : Journal of theoretical And Applied Electronic commerce Research:https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0718-18762014000100006&script=sci_arttext&tlng=e

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