The Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) can be summarised as the combination of humans and machines in the workplace. But this is vastly oversimplified and does not even begin to explain the magnitude and complexity of the change. The third and fourth revolutions were hard on humans and hard on the environment.

The four industrial revolutions are coal, gas, electronics and nuclear, and the internet and renewable energy.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work and relate to one another. It is a new chapter in human development, enabled by extraordinary technology advances commensurate with those of the first, second and third industrial revolutions.

The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create mass production. The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production.

In his book The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, asserts that there are actually four distinct periods of industrial revolution throughout history, including the one we’re beginning …

4th Industrial Revolution

Its purpose is to stimulate and facilitate an inclusive national dialogue to shape a coherent national response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa. It aims to complement and support other national activities relating to the 4IR, most notably the Presidential Commission on the 4IR.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) represents a new era of innovation in technology – one that’s enhancing human-machine relationships, unlocking new market opportunities, and fueling growth across the global economy. In South Africa, various groups are promoting the 4IR and taking steps to leverage it.

Advances in automotive safety through Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies can reduce road fatalities and insurance costs, and carbon emissions. Autonomous vehicles can reshape the living spaces of cities, architecture, and roads themselves, and free up space for more social and human-centered spaces.

10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

• Complex problem solving.
• Critical thinking.
• Creativity.
• People management.
• Coordinating with others.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Judgment and decision making.
• Service orientation.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

The exact time frame for the 4IR isn’t known, though Accenture expects that, by 2026, it could unlock around R1. 4 trillion of value in South Africa across agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, and financial services.

At the dawn of a 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) that will feature artificial intelligence, robotics, 3-D printing and the “internet-of-things” (IoT), Africa is far from being ready for the new challenge. This revolution will affect jobs in all sectors, but in phases and to different degrees.

Compared to the rest of the world, the current adoption and impact of industry 4.0 on the African continent remains low. The adoption level of smart technologies that accelerate industry 4.0 remains at a foundation stage in the South African manufacturing industry overall, with some sector differences.

In July 2019 the first Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Digital Economy Summit was held in South Africa. Here President Cyril Ramaphosa positioned Industry 4.0 as an opportunity for South Africa to harness R5-trillion in value over the next decade- approximately the size of SA’s current GDP.

In readiness for 5G, MTN has launched its network in South Africa, with the deployment of 100 5G sites in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Bloemfontein; while Vodacom, which received temporary spectrum from Icasa, launched a 5G mobile network and entered into a roaming agreement with Liquid Telecom, which is building its …

In the late 19th Century, South Africa changed rapidly from an agricultural society, where most people lived off the land, to an industrial society. This took place largely as a result of the discovery of large diamond deposits in Kimberley in 1867 followed in 1886 by the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand.

4IRSA is a platform that creates space for stimulating dialogue, understanding and action to shape a coherent 4IR plan for South Africa.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) offers opportunities for countries to advance their economic prospects through innovative technology that drive growth. The fourth industrial revolution builds on the third revolution but combines multiple technologies from the digital, physical and biological worlds.

In addition to new roles and responsibilities, the 4th Industrial Revolution could also lead to more companies employing specialist contractors or remote workers. It can allow them to recruit a global workforce, increase employee loyalty and commitment, scale at a quicker pace and reach new levels of productivity.

Beginning of the Industrial Revolution in South Africa The discovery of minerals in the late nineteenth century–diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1886- dramatically changed the economic and political structure of southern Africa.

The lingering effects of World War I (1914-1918) caused economic problems in many countries, as Europe struggled to pay war debts and reparations. It was the worst economic disaster in American history. Farm prices fell so drastically that many farmers lost their homes and land.

Industrialization is a transformation away from an agricultural- or resource-based economy, toward an economy based on mass manufacturing. Early industrialization occurred in Europe and North America during the 18th and 19th centuries, and later in other parts of the world.

Before industrialization, families served both social and economic purposes. Married couples and their children often worked together in farms or shops. In 18th-century Great Britain, women and men often worked in their homes doing jobs such as spinning wool into textiles and weaving textiles into cloth.

They are land, labor, capital, technology and connections. Without a generous supply of these basic elements and the ability to organize them, a people cannot develop into an industrial society.

Deindustrialisation refers to the process of social and economic change caused by the removal or reduction of industrial activity and employment in a country or region, especially heavy industry or manufacturing industry.

Why is Industry 4.0 Important in Manufacturing? Cost Efficiency: Machine Monitoring solutions, predictive maintenance strategies, and other advanced operational technology will help manufacturers decrease downtime, increase throughput, and overall, reduce the cost of supplying quality parts.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is an unstoppable force that will have a profound impact on the world. While it will undoubtedly bring many benefits, we must beware it does not increase the already huge gulf between South Africa’s haves and have-nots.

One of the main effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is increased human productivity. With technologies like AI and automation augmenting our professional lives, we’re able to make smart choices, faster than ever before. But it’s not all rosy, and we’re not trying to sugarcoat things for you.