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Information Age

Industrial shift to information technology / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Information Age (also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, Silicon Age, New Media Age, or Media Age[1]) is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by a rapid shift from traditional industries, as established during the Industrial Revolution, to an economy centered on information technology.[2] The onset of the Information Age has been linked to the development of the transistor in 1947,[2] the optical amplifier in 1957,[3] and Unix time,[4] which began on January 1, 1970. These technological advances have had a significant impact on the way information is processed and transmitted.

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A laptop connects to the Internet to display information from Wikipedia; long-distance communication between computer systems is a hallmark of the Information Age.

According to the United Nations Public Administration Network, the Information Age was formed by capitalizing on computer microminiaturization advances,[5] which led to modernized information systems and internet communications as the driving force of social evolution.[6]