Thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- Identify the physical and digital impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
We’re living in a time of great change, when technology is evolving so quickly that it can be hard to keep pace.
Throughout human history, there have been three main industrial revolutions: (1) steam, (2) electricity, and (3) computing, with the latter powered largely by the rise of the Internet. But now we’re in the middle of a fourth industrial revolution defined by all kinds of new and emerging tech that is providing continuous experiences and connecting people in entirely new ways.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has introduced a host of new technologies, including:
- Robotics
- 3D printing
- Internet of Things (IoT) and connected devices
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
- Virtual and augmented reality
You'll find all of the resources we mentioned in the video at the bottom of this unit.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT, and connected products are transforming how we work and live every day—everything from how we shop to how we provide healthcare to how we travel.
Almost every industry has been transformed as companies create smart devices that change how we interact with each other and the products we use every day. Every customer is connected, and every customer expects the companies they do business with to connect with them in new ways.
As companies, we need to transform to meet this expectation.
New technologies can be powerful agents for good. However, while the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the power to change the world positively, we also have to remember that these novel technologies can have negative results if we don’t think about how they can change us.
Learn more about the Fourth Industrial Revolution here on Trailhead.
