Digital revolution
Digital revolution
By Digital Revolution we mean the transition from analog-mechanical electrical technology to digital technology. The digital revolution began in 1980 and continues to this day. Indirectly, this term also refers to the sweeping changes brought about by information technology and communication technology during the second half of the 20th century. Similar to the Agrarian Revolution or the Industrial Revolution, the Digital Revolution also marked the beginning of the Information Age.
Central to this revolution is the mass production and widespread use of digital logic circuits and the technologies emanating from it, such as the PC, the mobile phone, and the fax machine.
Short story
This technology was invented during the second half of the 20th century (early 1950s) and its widespread economic adoption came after the invention of the personal computer. The digital revolution replaced pre-existing technology and transformed it from analog to digital. In this way it became possible to create multiple copies identical to the original. Thus, in digital communications, information losses during signal transmission are zeroed.
In the field of multimedia, the digital revolution has radically changed the storage of information. So instead of using different means of storing data (paper for words, phonographic recordings for sound, film for image), the data is stored in binary digital format which is instantly storable and easily transferable to various media. Equally important is the achievement of wireless transmission, access and processing of information between media.
Principles and evolution (1947-1979)
The invention of the transistor in 1947 paved the way for more sophisticated digital computers. In the 1950s and 1960s, the military, governments, and other organizations owned computer systems, and the Whole Earth Catalog of the 1960s led to the inspiration and practical implementation of the World Wide Web. , WWW).
The first personal computers came out in the 70's. Time-sharing computers were, at the time, one-way until the 1980s.
1980s
In the 1980s, computers first became available to the general public in developing countries. Millions of people have bought computers for home use. Although computers were not yet a daily occurrence, the productivity of many businesses depended on computers. That is why the 1980s are considered the beginning of the Digital Revolution. By the end of the decade computers had become an integral part of the job with just a few basic knowledge of their operation.
At the same time, Motorola built the first mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTac 8000X, and launched it in 1973.
1990s
In 1992 the World Wide Web was a fact and by 1996 it was consolidated in the consciousness of the world. So many companies started creating websites with their ads. The end of 1999 found that almost every country in the world had at least one internet connection, and more than half of Americans already used the internet on a daily basis.
Characteristic of rapid growth is that in 1989 about 15% of Americans owned a computer. At the beginning of 2000 the percentage had jumped to 51%.
In this decade, mobile phones have become a daily routine in Western countries, and for the first time, advertisements appeared in cinemas asking the public to put their mobile phones in silence.
Characteristic of rapid growth is that in 1989 about 15% of Americans owned a computer. At the beginning of 2000 the percentage had jumped to 51%.
In this decade, mobile phones have become a daily routine in Western countries, and for the first time, advertisements appeared in cinemas asking the public to put their mobile phones in silence.
Technologies replaced
- Analog technologies (cassette, pickup) ---> CD
- Videos ---> DVD.
- Analogue retransmission ---> Digital retransmission
- Analog phone ---> Digital phone
- Typewriter ---> Printer
- Electronic book (e-book)
- Analog TV ---> Digital TV
Technological basis
The Digital Revolution gave rise to the mass production of digital computers, personal computers, and in particular the microprocessor, the gradual evolution of which (as described in Moore's Law) led to the integration of computer systems into a multitude of devices. Of similar importance was the development of telecommunications technologies, such as computer networking, the Internet, and digital broadcasting. Third-generation (3G) mobile phones, whose social penetration increased exponentially in the 2000s, also played a major role in the digital revolution, as they provided entertainment, communication and internet connection at the same time.
Socio-economic impact
Positive
The positive effects include greater interconnection, ease of communication and public and free reporting of information that in the past could have been more easily suppressed by totalitarian regimes.
The economic implications of the digital revolution have been enormous. For example, without the World Wide Web, globalization would not have reached its current level. The digital revolution has dramatically changed the way businesses work with individuals. From one moment to the next, small businesses gained a foothold and access to large markets. New ideas such as custom services and constructions (on demand) combined with the rapid decline of technological innovations, enabled new innovations in all areas of industry and everyday life.
Negatively
Adverse effects include information overload, cybercrime and media saturation.
In fact, in some cases, the widespread use of computers in companies made employees less productive because they used computers for personal use (e-mail, games, chats, etc.). The use of personal computers as well as other non-employment-related digital activities in the workplace have led to more powerful forms of privacy breaches, such as typing and information filtering (spyware and content control software).
The Digital Revolution, especially with regard to the protection of privacy, copyright, censorship and the exchange of information, remains a controversial issue. As the digital revolution progresses, it remains unclear to what extent it has had an impact on society and whether it will change in the future.
Finally, these problems are exacerbated by the use of digital rights management as well as other copy prevention technologies, which are designed so that data can only be read by specific devices. This may make any future recovery impossible.
