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petroleum, and steel industries,
fueled by coal and steam power.
This era witnessed the growth of
The 4th Industrial vast corporations and
globalization.
Revolution ● 3rd Industrial Revolution (Digital
Revolution): Began around the
1980s. It involved a transition
from mechanical and analog
What is an industrial technologies to digital
technologies. Key drivers
revolution included improvements in
An industrial revolution is defined as "a communications, computers, and
rapid and major change in an economy, the internet.
driven by a shift in the methods and
types of work undertaken."
Features of the 4th
Industrial revolution
Historical Industrial
Revolutions The 4th Industrial Revolution is
characterized by the fusion of
● 1st Industrial Revolution:
cyber-physical systems, leading to
Occurred in the 18th and 19th
increased autonomy. Key features
centuries. It marked a shift from
include:
rural, agricultural life to urban,
● Fusion of Cyber and Physical
industrialized societies. Key
Systems: These systems are
drivers included steam power
becoming increasingly
and advancements in machinery,
autonomous.
transforming agriculture and
● Impact on Employment: Robotics,
craft industries.
automation, and digitization are
● 2nd Industrial Revolution:
expected to make many jobs
Spanned from 1870-1914. It saw
redundant or fundamentally
already industrialized societies
change existing roles.
further transformed by
● Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
advancements in electricity,
Machine Learning (ML): Improved
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computing speed and optimized remote servers hosted on the
supply chains enable easier and internet, replacing the need for
cheaper product customization. local software installation and
● Machine-Led Manufacturing: The management.
trend is shifting from machines ● Types of Cloud Setups:
assisting workers to workers ○ Public Cloud: Services are
assisting machines. sold by third-party
● Improved Asset Management: companies over the public
Innovations in digitalization, a internet to anyone who
shift to renewables, and wishes to purchase them.-
recycling are anticipated to Google
lead to more efficient use of ○ Private Cloud: IT services
natural assets and benefit the are provided over a
environment. private infrastructure,
typically for the use of a
single organization, often
managed internally. - One
Key Technological drive
driving the digital Features of Cloud Computing:
world
● Advantages:
○ Flexibility and Scalability:
Allows for simple and
frequent upgrades,
Cloud computing avoiding obsolescence of
hardware and software.
Cloud computing is the "delivery of
Organizations can adapt
on-demand computing
to new opportunities and
resources—everything from
working practices.
applications to data centres—over
○ Cost-Efficient: Reduced IT
the internet."
maintenance costs and
hardware expenses, with
● How it works: Users log into an
pay-as-you-go operating
account to access, manage, and
process files and software via
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expenses based on actual providers can be large
usage. targets for malicious
○ Security: Cloud providers attacks, potentially
are specialists whose compromising sensitive
security is fundamental to information. Compliance
their business model. They with data regulations
often have built-in becomes dependent on
disaster recovery and the third party.
backup solutions. ○ Reliance: The reliability of
○ Flexible Working: Supports the cloud service
remote and home working provider is crucial, as the
by allowing access to business's information
data and applications systems may be entirely
from any location. dependent on them.
○ Environment: Reduces
waste from disposing of
obsolete technology and
promotes more efficient Big Data
resource use.
Big Data refers to data sets that are
● Disadvantages:
so large and varied that they are
○ Organizational Change:
beyond the capability of traditional
Requires modifications to
data-processing applications.
working methods and
roles, potentially leading
The 4Vs of Big Data:
to job losses in IT support.
● Volume: The amount of data fed
○ Contract Management:
into the organization.
Managing the relationship
Considerations include the
with a significant
resources (storage, financial
third-party supplier,
investment) needed to manage
monitoring performance,
this data.
and ensuring contractual
● Velocity: The speed at which
obligations introduce new
data is fed into the
challenges and costs.
organization. Systems need to
○ Security, Privacy &
capture and process "real-time"
Compliance: Cloud
data, and the organization
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needs the skills for timely
analysis.
● Variety: The various formats of Data analytics
data received. Systems must be
Data analytics is the process of
compatible with diverse data
collecting, organizing, and analyzing
types. Legal ownership of data
large sets of data (big data) to
and the ability to challenge
discover patterns and information that
third-party data are also
can inform future decisions.
considerations.
● Veracity: The reliability of the
Process:
data received. It's important to
● Collection of Data: Gathering
determine if the data is
data from various internal and
representative of the whole
external sources.(can be
population.
imputed from excel)
● Organization of Data:
Sources of Big Data:
Structuring and storing captured
● Human-Sourced Data:
data, often using data
Generated from social media,
warehousing.
text messages, web browsing,
● Analysis of Data: Using data
emails, etc.
mining software and statistical
● Machine-Generated Data:
algorithms to find correlations
Generated by smart
and patterns.
technologies and the Internet of
Things (IoT), such as sensors in
Uses and Benefits:
devices.
● Fresh Insight and Understanding:
● Processed Data: Traditional
Revealing patterns and insights
data held in business databases
into business operations.
(customers, transactions,
● Performance Improvement:
assets).
Enabling real-time operational
● Open Data: Publicly available
gains and better
data from sources like
decision-making through
governments and national
processed data.
statistics agencies.
● Market Segmentation and
Customization: Refining
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customer groups and tailoring This is often driven by big data
products/services. and IoT.
● Decision Making: Facilitating
faster decisions and competitive
advantage with relevant,
real-time information. Artificial intelligence
● Innovation: Improving existing
Artificial Intelligence is a field of
products or developing new ones
computer science focused on creating
based on customer insights.
intelligent machines that work and
● Risk Management: Enhancing all
react like humans.
stages of the risk management
process.
● Definition (Kaplan & Haenlein): A
system's ability to correctly
interpret external data, learn
Process Automation from it, and use those learnings
to achieve specific goals and
Process automation involves the tasks through flexible
technology-enabled automation of adaptation.
complex business processes or parts ● Advanced Skills AI Can Master:
thereof, aiming to improve consistency, ○ Voice recognition
quality, and speed while reducing ○ Planning
costs. ○ Learning
○ Problem-solving
● Traditional Process Automation: ● Machine Learning (ML): A subset
Machines performing simple, of AI where computer code
repetitive tasks previously done mimics the human brain. It uses
manually. This has driven probability based on past
industrialization and high-volume experiences (data, events) to
production at lower costs. make informed predictions.
● Modern Process Automation: Algorithms adapt to new data
Focuses on complex business and experiences to improve over
areas, becoming "smarter" by time.
using AI and ML to make
decisions based on reasoning,
language, and learned behavior.
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Data visualisation Blockchain
Data visualization transforms large Blockchain is a decentralized,
volumes of complex data into visually distributed, and public digital ledger
appealing and accessible formats, that records transactions across many
making the data easier to understand computers. Records cannot be altered
and use. retroactively without altering all
● Purpose: To present data clearly subsequent blocks and gaining network
and concisely, enabling users to consensus. It enables trust in a shared
grasp information quickly. record of events among parties who do
● Tools: Advanced tools go beyond not know each other.
simple charts and graphs,
offering customizable, ● Benefits:
interactive formats. ○ Security: Addresses
cybersecurity risks
Key Features of Effective Tools: associated with
● Decision Making Ability: traditional "closed"
Results-focused to aid systems by being open
decision-making. and distributed.
● Effective Infrastructure: Relies ○ Trust: Allows individuals to
on sufficient data quantity and trust a shared record
quality. without needing a central
● Integration Capability: authority.
Seamlessly integrates with ○ Transparency:
existing systems and the Transactions are publicly
business. available and distributed
● Prompt Discovery of Rules and across the network.
Insights: Emphasizes live data ● Key Features:
for timely insights. ○ Transactions are
● Real-time Collaboration: Allows recorded by a network of
users to interact with each participants over the
other and the data. internet.
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○ The same records are The Internet of Things describes the
maintained by multiple network of smart devices with
parties. embedded software and internet
○ Verification is done by connectivity, allowing them to
computers in the network, constantly monitor and exchange data.
auditing transactions. ● Connectivity: Any device with an
○ New blocks are "on/off" switch can potentially
cryptographically linked become a "smart" device
to previous blocks, connected to the internet,
ensuring the chain's enabling communication with
integrity. users, applications, and other
○ Altering past transactions devices.
is intentionally difficult ● Examples of Connected Devices:
due to the need to alter ○ Smart meters and home
all subsequent blocks. control devices.
● Typical Stages in a Blockchain ○ Smart doorbells and
Transaction: security systems.
1. A transaction is requested. ○ Wearable technology
2. A digital block representing the (smartwatches, fitness
transaction is created. trackers).
3. The block is sent to every node ○ Smart home appliances
in the network (distributed (lights, refrigerators,
ledger). ovens).
4. Nodes validate the transaction's ○ Connected cars.
authenticity. ○ Transport and
5. Nodes may receive a reward for infrastructure (smart
their proof of work (e.g., motorways).
Bitcoin). ○ Manufacturing equipment
6. The authorized block is added to and plant.
the chain
Mobile Technologies
Internet of things(IoT)
Mobile technologies, underpinned by
technologies like Code-Division Multiple
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Access (CDMA), have evolved from
basic communication devices to
sophisticated smartphones and tablets. 3D Printing(additive
manufacturing)
● Evolution: Mobile phones have
transformed into powerful 3-D printing, also known as additive
computing devices, comparable manufacturing, creates objects layer
to computers. by layer.
● Impact: Mobile technology,
coupled with advancements in ● Process:
internet technology, has 1. A digital blueprint (design) is
transformed numerous created using modeling software
industries: or accessed from online
● Newspapers: Shift from print to communities.
mobile consumption of live news. 2. A 3D printer builds the object
● Advertising: Move from mass layer by layer using materials
advertising to smarter, targeted like thermoplastic composites.
ads. ● Advantages:
● Music: Transition from CDs to ○ Speed: Faster production
MP3s and now to music from prototype to finished
streaming services. article compared to
● Banking: Increased use of mobile traditional methods.
apps for banking, leading to a ○ Cost-Effectiveness:
decline in traditional branches. Reduced labor costs and
● Socializing: Social media eliminates the need for
platforms on smartphones have expensive molds for
changed communication and prototyping.
social interaction. ○ Customization: Easy
● TV/Film: Streaming services and modification of designs to
video platforms designed for meet individual needs.
mobile internet technology. ○ Less Waste: Uses raw
materials more efficiently
by printing only the
required design.
○ Confidentiality: Allows for
in-house prototyping and
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manufacturing, protecting
intellectual property.