Knowledge Society part 6
Throughout history, knowledge has been important to mankind for improving the quality of life. What have changed over centuries, are the characteristics of knowledge, and the processes by which it is created, transferred, acquired and applied.
Technological progress starts with innovation and new ideas, then demonstrated by scientific theories, and eventually commercialized by business into industries. Innovation is thinking outside the realm of the ordinary and creates something new by observation and development. The industrial revolution started with Thomas Newcomen and James Watt, who developed and commercialized the steam engine in the late 18th century. They were technicians with no formal education or university degrees but believe in machinery and the power of steam. After their invention, universities began to study their ideas and formulate theories such as the laws of thermodynamics and begin the scientific discovery trends that lead to the industrialize revolution in the 19th century. When an idea could be commercialized, investors and financiers will come in to capitalize it and create business, many businesses will form industry, and industries create jobs and economic opportunities. Although many inventions were created in Europe but the environment, at that time, were not ready. Innovators without formal education were not respected by the academic community, many were ridicule or laugh at, and without the endorsement of the academic community, innovators could not get financial support to continue their studies so many left Europe and settled in America.
Two of the most famous innovators, Graham Bell and Thomas Edison had no formal education. They worked in laboratories mostly by trial and error before create products that led to new technologies which formed the bases of new industries in the U.S. The interesting fact was America, still in the process of development, already had financiers who would be willing to take risks such as J.P Morgan and Vanderbilt. A famous quote from Mr. J.P Morgan to Mr. Thomas Edison: “You keep on inventing, and I keep on financing whatever you need then we both can make money, lot of money”. However, Mr. Edison was not rich but Mr. Morgan was the richest person in Wall Street and today his company is still one of the largest capital investments institutions in the U.S. The period between the middle of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century marks the advent of the industrial society characterized by technologies and industries. Technological innovations are financed by investors resulting in the development of several industries (Chemical, Steel, Oil, Car, Railroad, and Aerospace etc.) and become the main driver of economic growth in the U.S with large-scale, assembly-line factories that mass-producing goods to be sold all over the world.
The most important discovery of the 20th century, which changes the entire scientific system and shaping up today's knowledge society, is the quantum theory. This new theory has changed the understanding of the micro world radically, and opened up new science such as atomic and nuclear physics. This branch of physics created another field of solid-state physics which led to the development of electronics and advanced materials. Beginning with the first high-speed electronic computer in 1946, the invention of transistor and the theory of communications open up a new technologies and industries which have profoundly change our lives: The Information and Communication technologies and biotechnology.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) involve innovations in microelectronics, computing (hardware and software), telecommunications, and optoelectronics (microprocessors, semiconductors, fiber optics) enable the processing, storage, transmission of enormous amounts of data through communication networks. Innovations in microprocessor technology lead to the doubling of computing power every 18-24 months (Moore's Law), and in fiber optic technologies double bandwidths every 6 months (Gilder's Law). These laws not only reduce costs but also increases speed allows this field to expand throughout the world at significant rates. Global market for information technologies, which was $ 327 billion in 1997, is expected to rise to $ 3 trillion by 2010. The Internet has grown exponentially, from 16 million users in 1995 to more than 400 million users in 2000 and to an expected 2 billion users in 2010. In 1985, the cost of sending 45 million bits of information per second over one kilometer of optical fiber was approximately 100 dollars; in 1997 this was possible at a cost of just 0.05 cent and today it costs less than 0.0001 cent.
Therefore, it is clear that the information revolution created by ICT technologies has rapidly transformed the industrial Society into the knowledge Society.
The question is “What is the different between industrial and knowledge society?” The answer can be found in the transformation in industry from mass-production techniques to flexible manufacturing systems, and the reduction in the size of products. With the Industrial Society, the major factor is size (The bigger, the better), with the large amount of energy consumption (Gas, Oil), huge amount of raw materials to support large assembly-line manufacturing, and a large labor, especially low-cost labor, to work in industries. However, with the Knowledge Society, the major factor is speed (The faster, the better) with industries substitute traditional raw materials with new and advanced materials such as silicon and composites. The process of miniaturization with the development of submicron techniques in electronics (LSI and VLSI), and manufacturing processes developed at the nanometer-level (Nano-science and nanotechnology) controlled by robots instead of human being. Because of these factors, manufactures will use less energy, less low skilled labors but increase in highly skilled workers with university education.
One important factor that not many people pay attention is the impact of “technology miniaturization” has had on countries whose economies were dependent solely upon raw materials and labor exports. When developed countries use less and buy less, it led to significantly reduced in export revenues for developing countries. Countries that economy are mostly based on export of raw materials, manufacturing goods, low cost labors will lose their key economic drivers and could not meet the increasing costs of economic development, urbanization, industrialization and the expectations of their citizens on the hope of making livings mainly from resource exports. Without strategies to keep up with the fast growing, highly competitive economy, they will no longer be able to participate in the global trades and the consequences could be “Very bleak”.
Another important factor that also deserves attention is the advancement of biotechnology with recombinant DNA technology. This field is transforming life sciences, making huge advances in medicine and agriculture field. Nearly 300 biopharmaceutical products have been approved for use or are being reviewed by the US government. The genomics-based pharmaceutical market is projected to grow from $ 2.2 billion in 1999 to $ 82 billion in 2010. Transgenic crops increased from 2 million hectares planted in 1996 to 94 million hectares in 2007, 98 % of which is in Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the US alone. There are reports that with proper directions, these transgenic crops could produce enough food for the entire human race for hundred of years. The question is “If few countries could produce food in significant amount and at much lower cost than what happen to countries that economy are based strictly on agriculture? How can they compete? How can they survive? Of course, it is still a long way before the full potential of biotechnology is discovered, with many possible healths, environmental, and social and economic risks to be discussed and solved before this industry can exert the impact on a global scale.
The transformation from the industrial society to the knowledge society and the global economy is driven by the increased importance of knowledge, both technical knowledge and knowledge about information and awareness. I believe that we need to look into the knowledge society from a humanistic view, not just focus on how to apply the knowledge but also how to analyze all information so we can make the right decision to benefit our family, our society, our nation and our environment. Just as the steam engine and electricity harnessed power to make possible the industrial revolution, digital and genetic breakthroughs are changing our way of thinking to form the basis of knowledge society.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
