Lesson 3.4: The Fourth Wave: The Industrial Revolution 4.

0
(4IR)

Lesson Summary
This lesson will bring you to reflect on your very own engagement with all the waves of
technology, at the moment (ATM). Blaming the earlier generations for lack of precautionary
measures of the technologies adopted will do no good. However, you have all the chance to be
responsible technology users and be part of the market-driven demand for a sustainable form of
technologies, integrating the economic, environmental, and social implications of any new
inventions or innovations.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. differentiate all the waves of technology, and

2. critique each wave in terms of impacts on economic, environmental, and social
structures.

Motivation Question

Would you like a clone of yourself? Why or why not?

Discussion
How does 4IR differ from the second wave? This is characterized by the blurring on boundaries
of the physical, biological, and digital features applied in technologies (Fig. 3.4) (Schwab,
2016).
It is a fusion of advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D
printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies. These are not
anymore futuristic, but the reality of the world you live in, are they not? Fig. 3.5 shows the
timeline of the agricultural revolution until the present generation.
 Figure 3. 1. The blurring or synergistic effect of
physical, biological, and digital domains of the 4IR.

Table 3. 1. Comparison of the 1st and 4th industrial revolutions

1st industrial revolution 4th industrial revolution (4IR)

• 18th century • potential to raise global income levels and

• discovery of steam
engine
• urbanization
• lead to greater inequality,
particularly in its
potential to disrupt labor
markets
improve the quality of life for populations
around the world as described by Klaus
Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman
of the World Economic Forum
• the job market may become increasingly
segregated into low-skill/low-pay and high-
skill/high-pay roles, which could escalate
social tension

Figure 3. 2. The timeline of the 4 industrial revolutions

(https://c1.sfdcstatic.com/content/dam/blogs/us/thumbnails/what-is-the-fourth-industrial-
revolution/fourth_ir_in_line.png)
Some of the technologies driving the changes in the 4IR
This is an introductory part since there are succeeding topics that will discuss in more detail
some of these technologies especially those already widely adopted in the Philippines that
partly define the generation you belong to.

Artificial intelligence
This is focused on producing computers that can “think” like humans. These are computers that
can recognize and analyze complex patterns, process information, draw conclusions, and make
recommendations. What AI are you using? The autocorrect function on your phone is an
example. Have you heard of Siri or Asimo? How about “Firefly”?

Robotics
This involves a robot, a programmable machine, not just a computer that can imitate and
execute the actions or appearance of an intelligent creature –usually a human. A functional
robot must be able to get information from its surroundings and respond physically as such to
move or manipulate objects. An example of a robot is one that is used to diffuse bombs.
Although this is a costly piece of work and might just be blown up, still life is always priceless.

Blockchain
Have you heard of the digital currency, Bitcoin? This is the best-known blockchain application.
Blockchain is considered to be a secure, decentralized, and transparent way of recording and
sharing data, with no need to rely on third-party intermediaries. The contracts are embedded in
digital code and stored in transparent, shared databases, where they are protected from
deletion, tampering, and revision. Salient points in contracts, processes, tasks, and every
payment would be digitized and signature that could be identified, validated, stored, and shared.
Intermediaries like lawyers, brokers, and bankers might no longer be necessary, albeit,
programmers would be in demand. Interactions of those involved will rely on algorithms with
little friction. The technology is not limited in the economic or financial fields, and this is also
applied in the traceability of supply chains, securing sensitive medical data anonymously, and
detecting and mitigating voter fraud.

New computational technologies

Computers process vast amounts of data faster than ever before. The advent of the “cloud” has
allowed businesses to safely store and access their information from anywhere with internet
access, at any time. The quantitative data analysis from RT-PCR to its descriptive equivalent
involves bioinformatics, the marriage of biological data, and analytics.

Virtual reality (VR)

Virtual reality offers immersive digital experiences (using a VR headset) that simulate the real
world, while augmented reality merges the digital and physical worlds. Do you remember your
experience in 3D movies? Examples include L’Oréal’s makeup app, which allows users to
digitally experiment with makeup products before buying them, and the Google Translate phone
app, which will enable users to scan and instantly translate street signs, menus, and other text.
Biotechnology
Biological organisms are manipulated at the molecular level with end products of enhanced or
desirable traits. Specific segments of DNA with the desirable gene/characteristics are focused.
As this technology is already widespread, a specific module is allocated for this topic.

3D printing
This is also called additive manufacturing that involves the process of making three
dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved
using additive processes. In an additive process, an object is created by laying down successive
layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced
horizontal cross-section of the eventual object. The basic requirements would be your 3D model
and a 3D scanner.

Innovative materials
These include plastics, metal alloys, and biomaterials. These have the potential to shake up
sectors, including manufacturing, renewable energy, construction, and healthcare. In this time of
the pandemic, wearing a facial mask is deemed to be both an effective and preventive measure
of spreading/getting the virus. Have you heard that abaca is being considered to be material for
this mask? Its biodegradability is a plus factor. How about the silver lining of the volcano
eruption? Can you mention some uses of the ash fall of volcanic eruption?

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The “thing” in the IoT refers to an entity or object that has a unique identifier. Like it has a chip,
embedded system like a sensor that can transfer data over a network, especially via the
internet. Have you heard of RFID (Radio-frequency identification)? Common in Luzon highways
are good roads constructed through a partnership of the government and private company.
Users of this road have to pay a toll fee. Rather than paying at the counter every time a vehicle
passes; the owner will buy an RFID tag then attaches it to the vehicle. As the vehicle approaches
the toll gate, RFID is detected, and the gate opens. Would you like to have an ID for VSU with
RFID? Can you think of what you have seen in the movies that are examples of IoT? How about
something that you are exposed to or is actually using? Are you now using a QR code, for what
purpose? Do you know that the library of the VSU main campus has an RFID gate? It might be
operational on time for your physical stepping to the portal of VSU.

Energy Capture, Storage, and Transmission

Batteries
Is your family still using a flashlight powered by ever ready or energizer batteries? How about the
flashlight or torch function of your cell phone? Which version is handier and lasts longer, what
type of battery is it?
Thermal energy
Thermal technology uses heat and cold to create energy on-demand or offset energy needs.
Were you able to enjoy dining out again in fast food and was given the receipt produced using
thermal printing? Rather than using ink or toner that is another resource, the thermal printer
relies on heat to produce the image. The quality and speed of thermal printing make it popular,
especially in receipts or tickets (retrieved from
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3629/thermal-printer).
Mechanical energy storage
The electrical energy can now be stored in the form of mechanical energy. It takes advantage of
kinetic or gravitational forces to store inputted energy. Compared to traditional mechanical
systems (e.g., spin a flywheel or lift weights up a hill), this particular technology enables the
efficient and effective use of these forces that employ high-tech materials, cutting-edge
computer control systems, and innovative designs.
Hydrogen
Look at Fig. 3.6, a vehicle produces a significantly lower amount of CO2 when the source of
energy is a Hydrogen electrolyzer. This is environmentally friendly since CO2 from hydrocarbons
like diesel and gasoline are proven air pollutants. Hydrogen storage is explored for fuel-cell
powered vehicles and hoped to lead to “hydrogen economy” (retrieved from:
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/hydrogen-storage).

Figure 3. 3. CO2 emissions in case of using different fuels as hydrogen storage in a petrol engine vehicle. (retrieved
from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/hydrogen-storage)

Pumped hydropower
At this point, you have been bombarded with convincing proof that indeed technology is a major
force for change, how society behaves changes because of the available technologies used in
daily routines, shifts in personal attitudes and beliefs, even in relationships. Can you name a
specific technology and how it changes a part of you?
In the introduction module, it was already mentioned that science and technology, despite its
noble goal, had already been instrumental in massive destruction. Thus, we are all reminded to
be responsible end-users or these amazing life-uplifting technologies. When we demand or
generate technologies, the creator must have a resolve that it is a technology with a heart.