Rodrigo Alonso Salas Musso was born in Lima, Peru, and holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de Lima. Even as a young man, Mr. Salas Musso was interested in how quickly the world around him was changing as the digital age ushered in a new way of living, working, and playing.
But, it is Rodrigo Alonso Salas Musso’s education that opened his eyes to see how the world is witnessing today as a digital revolution is simply a revival of an earlier manufacturing phenomenon that spanned the globe – the industrial revolution.
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How the industrial revolution changed the world
The Industrial Revolution ushered in our modern way of living, with mechanical processes that took advantage of new machinery that ran on new energy sources such as coal, the steam engine, electricity, and the internal combustion engine.
Also, new materials like iron and steel replaced less sturdy materials like timber and brick. So buildings got taller, cars lasted longer, and home appliances lasted longer. So, how did the industrial revolution change the world besides providing higher paying factory jobs instead of home-crafted products and services.
Not only were people able to buy more products in a store due to the increased efficiency and productivity of factories, but these products also cost less and were more readily available, according to Rodrigo Alonso Salas Musso. Additionally, the Industrial Revolution ushered in the creation of urban areas and a migration from rural living.
The New Industrial Digital Revolution
Rodrigo Alonso Salas Musso believes that the widespread use of computers and connected devices have ushered in a digital revolution that has changed our modern in ways similar to the original industrial revolution.
While the Industrial Revolution minimized manpower on one scale (using machines to do the heavy lifting), the digital revolution has replaced the need for much human input by applying digital technology to equipment and workflows that automate many processes.
But, unlike the original revolution that increased the need for man and created many jobs that eventually spawned the working middle class, the digital revolution tended to displace many workers initially.
This Fourth Industrial Revolution also represents a change in human development. No longer will we gain strength by working hard, nor will we gain increased intelligence by working smarter – but we will be able to develop other senses of inert creativity, human kindness, and self-development, which Rodrigo Alonso Salas Musso views as just as important.
With the advent of industrial automation, we see improved safety and cleaner environments in manufacturing, along with reduced labor costs – but increased salaries for both men and women. Repetitive tasks, toxic environments, and heavy lifting are virtually eliminated in almost all workplaces.
Our physical, digital, and biological worlds will continue to meld into an extraordinary way of living. It will have us all rethink how countries develop and the value of organizations – not just for profit but for advancing peace and unity.
(The four industrial revolutions are commonly classified by the main energy resources and include water/steam power, coal/gas power, electricity/nuclear power, and digital/renewable energy.)