The Ongoing Industrial Revolution Research Assignment (Essay Sample)

The Ongoing Industrial Revolution
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Introduction and Background.
Alvin Toffler once said, "To think the new economy is over is like somebody in London in 1830 saying the entire industrial revolution is over because some textile manufacturers in Manchester went broke" ("Alvin Toffler on Technology," n.d). This quote also explains why thinking that the industrial revolution ended with its second phase in the early 1900s is wrong. The revolution, which began in the late 1700s in Britain brought about a shift from hand tools to machines as a means of production ("Industrial Revolution," n.d). These machines were powered by steam and water. There was a change in both the economy and social organization to one that was based on industry and machinery (Hackett, 1992). The second industrial revolution began in the 1850s. It was characterized by the conveyor belt and mass production. This phase ended in the early 1900s. After that period, many people believed that the industrial revolution was over. However, there have been developments that have led to abrupt changes in the various industries, economy, and social organization. The industrial revolution which was deemed to have ended with the steam engine or mass production is, in fact, still ongoing and can be seen today.
Discussion
The industrial revolution did not come to an end. After the second industrial revolution, there was a digital automation of production through electronic and information technology. The machines that were used after the earlier industrial revolutions were replaced with automated ones. These machines did not require human laborers to operate them. The automated milling machines have made factories more efficient. They can change tools, cut in various directions, and "sense" if something is wrong. These technological advances brought about robots which have vision and other sensing abilities. This enables them to carry out duties that human being would have performed. All these improved the efficiency of various industries. For instance, in 1999 the Nissan factory in Britain built 271,157 vehicles using only 4,594 people, and in 2011 they made 480,485 more cars than other car factories with only 5,462 people. This was made possible by automated machines ("A Third Industrial Revolution," 2012). This digital automation of machines is termed as the Third Industrial Revolution. The revolution has resulted in the replacement of human labor with automated machines which are more efficient and cost effective. It encourages economical production of goods in a more flexible manner and at a much lower cost. These advancements are still ongoing. The technological developments that can be seen today include the 3D printers and industrial robots. It is, therefore, evident that industrial revolution did not end.
There have been some advancements that can be termed as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These changes in the industrial markets are as a result of new business trends, models, new consumption, transport, and delivery systems. It includes development in cooperation between cyber and physical systems of manufacture. These technological developments make it possible for physical and virtual systems of production to work together in a flexible manner (Schwab, 2016). These changes can be termed as a revolution for various reasons. First, it results in an unprecedented paradigm shift in the economic and social lives of individuals. Second, it can revolutionize whole systems in companies, societies, and countries. Third, the changes take place at a fast pace (Schwab, 2016). This revolution has brought about new ways of communicating and engaging in commercial transactions. There are new forms of consumption of goods and services. It has also given rise to a revolutionized economy through the advancements in electronic business transactions over the interne (Schwab, 2016). An individual can buy and sell goods and services on the various platforms on the internet and get paid through electronic means. These changes can be seen in most of the aspects of the life of a person in the modern society from communication on social media platforms to self-driven cars being developed by Tesla and Google. All these go to show that the industrial revolution is not over.
The industrial revolution is deemed to have ended before the First World War. It is commonly believed that the industrial revolu...