Information age (Digital age)
The Information Age, also known as the Digital Age, is a period characterized by the rapid expansion of information technology and the Internet, fundamentally changing how individuals access and share information. This era began with the creation of the World Wide Web and gained momentum with the development of personal computers by companies like Microsoft and Apple, making technology more accessible to the general public. As a result, people can now find and disseminate information more quickly than ever before.
Key advancements in this age include the establishment of ARPANET in 1969, which laid the groundwork for the modern Internet, and the proliferation of personal computers in the 1980s and 1990s. By the early 21st century, the number of Internet users surged, with billions accessing various platforms for communication, shopping, and entertainment. However, while the Information Age provides significant benefits, it also presents challenges, such as privacy concerns, the spread of misinformation, and unequal access to technology. The rise of social media platforms has further transformed personal interactions, allowing individuals to connect with a larger network but also contributing to information overload. Overall, the Information Age represents a complex mix of advancements and obstacles in the digital landscape.
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Information age (Digital age)
The information age (digital age) is characterized by the spread of the Internet and information technology. In the information age, individuals are able to access more information than ever before at faster speeds than history previously allowed. The information age truly began with the creation of the World Wide Web. However, its advantages began to spread with the advent of the personal computer, which was improved and advanced by technology companies such as Microsoft and Apple. Although the information age ushered in many advantages, it also introduced problems, such as invasion of privacy and the spread of inaccurate information.
Background
Previous periods in history contributed to the rise of the information age. The Renaissance, which stretched from the fifteenth century to the seventeenth century, bred numerous great thinkers who heavily influenced later generations. Renaissance writers rediscovered Greek and Roman philosophers and applied logic to outdated traditions, openly challenging them. The Renaissance featured a significant increase in public perception of the importance of education and in the importance of invention. The printing press, a new machine that could mass produce printed works, allowed information to spread at a vastly increased rate. As a result, the general populace of Europe became better educated than ever before. Prior to the printing press, books had to be handwritten, which made them more expensive to produce and purchase.
In the eighteenth century, humanity entered the Industrial Revolution. This period brought about numerous technological advancements that drastically changed the way most individuals lived. The mass production of goods began, which lowered prices and made products more accessible to the common person. The Industrial Revolution saw the invention of factories and the assembly line and the development of several new, technology-fueled industries, such as textile manufacturing. Society embraced these industries, which allowed them to grow quickly in economic power.
Near the middle of the nineteenth century, researchers began to imagine the first computers. In the twentieth century, the first digital computers were created. These machines were massive, difficult to use, and extremely limited in their mathematical capabilities. However, they provided the foundation for the information age.
Overview
In 1969, the foundation of the modern Internet was created. The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was created. ARPANET was the first successful packet switching network. A packet is a small amount of information transmitted to another destination over a network. This made ARPANET the first functioning information-sharing network.
ARPANET was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an arm of the US Department of Defense. It allowed the University of California, Los Angeles; the Stanford Research Institute; the University of California, Santa Barbara; and the University of Utah to communicate. The system was unstable at first, but it was refined and stabilized over the next several years. By 1973, the University College of London and the Royal Radar Establishment in Norway had successfully connected to ARPANET. These connections marked the beginning of the global Internet. The following year, the first commercial version of ARPANET was marketed to consumers.
The development of the transistor allowed computer chips to drastically shrink in size, which allowed computer engineers to make more powerful machines in smaller packages. This paved the way for machines that consumers could easily keep in their homes. At the time, most computers were difficult to use and were marketed toward hobbyists and computer engineers. The first successful personal computer, the Apple 1, was designed for the average consumer. Soon Microsoft, one of Apple's strongest competitors, began manufacturing and selling personal computers. The two companies quickly advanced the field of personal computing, creating more convenient interfaces and more powerful home machines. By the 1990s, it was not unusual for the average American family to own a computer.
In 1990, the total number of Internet users across the world was under 3 million. Access to the Internet was difficult to secure, and webpages loaded slowly. In time, businesses began to create webpages on which they could advertise to consumers. Consumers began to utilize various email and forum services as forms of communication. As the Internet became faster and easier to use, businesses continued to invest in their web presence. Some universities utilized the Internet for research. The number of consumers using the Internet quickly increased. By 2002, 631 million individuals regularly accessed the Internet. They used it for communicating with other consumers, for purchasing goods, and for obtaining media. By 2015, the number of Internet users had surged beyond the 3-billion mark. It would eventually reach 5.5 billion, more than half the global population, in 2024.
The information age was marked by the ease with which information could be spread or accessed. As the Internet gained in popularity and average Internet speeds increased, individuals could find news, media, and means of communication more easily than ever before. With the advent of the smartphone, individuals could search the Internet on a portable personal computer at any time.
Social media allowed consumers to share their lives in ways that had never before been possible. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms allowed consumers to keep in contact with hundreds of individuals at once while sharing and documenting photographs, videos, and personal events. This vastly expanded many individuals' social networks.
While the information age brought numerous benefits to the average person, it also brought problems. Many individuals are flooded with information, which can make it difficult to know what requires attention and what should be ignored. Not all the information distributed through social media sites and elsewhere on the Internet is accurate or true. Understanding which sources of information should be trusted is not always possible. Additionally, while access to information is easier than ever before, it is still far from equal. To profit from the information age, consumers must have access to electronic devices that provide access to the Internet.
Finally, the ease at which information is spread in the information age is not conducive to privacy. Information can easily be stolen, or harvested without consent, and then distributed for profit. Keeping phone records, Internet records, physical locations, and other data private is becoming increasingly difficult.
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