Topic of the day: Industry 4.0
Industrial revolution: that is a term invented much later than when it happened, but it is something that changed the world completely from its beginning. The first industrial revolution started in the 18th century when humans invented the steam engine and discovered that steam (which is the evaporation of water) can be used in machines to do many different tasks that would typically need humans or animals to be performed.
Then the second industrial revolution came with the invention of electricity and electric motors which were more efficient and versatile to be used, considering the high-quality level of electricity, which is a source of energy that can be transformed in many other types: heat (thermal energy), movement (mechanical energy), light, and sound energy, to name few. Together with the discovery of electricity came the invention of the internal combustion engines (used in cars and all several other means of transportation), which also made possible moving goods faster from different parts of the earth. The mass production of cars, airplanes, trains, and other goods just followed at a fast pace in the last 100 years.
In the third industrial revolution, the advancements of telecommunication systems and the invention of computers brought forward a great set of data processing capabilities, replacing or modernizing several activities that were before dependent on human decisions alone, and that could then be supported by these advanced communications. At the same time, the automation and remote control of machines increased industrial productivity and made mass production more affordable for many products that were before only available for niche markets.
At the fourth industrial revolution, a new way of integrating humans, machines, and products based on advanced communications and production processes is taking place. The term 4º Industrial Revolution was coined by the German economic scientist Klaus Schwab as “The technological revolution…that is blurring the lines between the physical, the digital and the biological spheres”. Although his description sounds complex to be understood, which is in reality true, the main components of this revolution can be easily understood by examples, which he also describes in his book (The Fourth Industrial Revolution).
One of the main characteristics of the fourth industrial revolution is innovation, and particularly, the fast pace in which it takes place. Every company nowadays has to adapt their methods and processes to new technologies and fast-changing habits of the consumers. Among the main technologies taking place are Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Machine Learning, genetic engineering, and 3D printing, for example.
Artificial processing methods are being built to predict all the possible interactions that a product would have from its concept to its use. In this way, the real product will be much easier and faster produced and delivered, for example using 3D printers located strategically in production hubs.
All these new technologies are constantly integrating information regarding consumer’s needs, life-cycle of products, and improved production processes and resources in a way that efficiency is increased, both regarding time to produce and energy consumed, to the point which raw materials are recycled and reused, reducing the need of new resources. The Renewable Energy technologies available today are already capable of providing the energy needed for this revolution, especially if energy efficiency measures are implemented. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to change our energy matrix, which is still a complex topic of political and economic interests.
Productivity and efficiency will be core components in this revolution, and innovation will come particularly in hand to support these changes. For that, a strong and versatile education model will be needed: the one in which learning does not follow a linear trend, but that absorbs knowledge from different sources and processes it by a mix of human and artificial intelligence. The topic of artificial life and genetic engineering is one of the most complex and controversial topics related to this new revolution. At the same time that robots will be replacing human work, what will this part of the population do? There will definitely be new jobs invented and others transformed, but it is still hard to see how this will happen. Additionally, the new genetic engineering and advancements in the production of artificial organs and body parts using nanotechnology and special materials will at one side help disabled or sick individuals to recover part of their normal functionalities, but at the other side can be used by riches to increase their advantages also on the biological level.
Although there are several technical challenges to be overcome in this new revolution, the main challenge is probably to find balance and equity in well-being for the entire population and not only for a few privileged industrialists. Considering the fast growth rate of the human population and all the climatic and development problems we are globally facing, the fourth industrial revolution will only be successful if it brings dignity and covers at least the basic needs of human society as a whole.
