University of Kwazulu-Natal

The Rise Of The Machines A Historical Perspective

Bonisiwe Shabane
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the rise of the machines a historical perspective

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Industrial Revolution, the period in which agrarian and handicraft economies shifted rapidly to industrial and machine-manufacturing-dominated ones, began in the United Kingdom in the 18th century and later spread throughout many other parts... This economic transformation changed not only how work was done and goods were produced, but it also altered how people related both to one another and to the planet at large. This wholesale change in societal organization continues today, and it has produced several effects that have rippled throughout Earth’s political, ecological, and cultural spheres. The following list describes some of the great benefits as well as some of the significant shortcomings associated with the Industrial Revolution. Pro: Goods Became More Affordable and More Accessible

Factories and the machines that they housed began to produce items faster and cheaper than could be made by hand. As the supply of various items rose, their cost to the consumer declined (see supply and demand). Shoes, clothing, household goods, tools, and other items that enhance people’s quality of life became more common and less expensive. Foreign markets also were created for these goods, and the balance of trade shifted in favor of the producer—which brought increased wealth to the companies that produced these goods and added tax revenue to... However, it also contributed to the wealth inequality between goods-producing and goods-consuming countries. Pro: The Rapid Evolution of Labor-Saving Inventions

The concept of machines automating human labor dates back to the Industrial Revolution. In the 18th century, inventors like James Watt and Richard Arkwright developed mechanized textile machines that significantly increased productivity. These early machines marked the beginning of a new era in human history, where machines would gradually take over routine tasks, paving the way for the rise of the machines. The first industrial robots were introduced in the mid-20th century, designed to perform specific tasks on assembly lines. These robots were initially simple, relying on pre-programmed instructions to perform their duties. However, as technology advanced, robots became more sophisticated, capable of learning and adapting to new situations.

The advent of the digital age brought about significant advancements in computer technology, leading to the development of artificial intelligence (AI). AI systems, such as IBM's Deep Blue, were able to beat human chess champions, demonstrating their ability to think and learn. This breakthrough sparked a new wave of innovation, as researchers and engineers began to explore the potential of AI in various industries. The rise of cloud computing enabled the widespread adoption of AI, making it possible for businesses to leverage the power of machine learning without the need for extensive hardware investments. This shift marked a significant turning point in the rise of the machines, as AI began to permeate every aspect of modern life. The IoT refers to the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity, allowing them to collect and exchange data.

The IoT has enabled the creation of smart cities, where machines and devices can communicate with each other, improving efficiency and quality of life. Is life repeating itself? The period from about 1850 to 1930 saw extensive technological innovation in transport, electricity, communications and manufacturing. More specifically, this period had a similar vibe to ours. Things were moving very quickly. The impact was seen as production and efficiency increased, prices lowered, improved wages and migration from rural areas to urban ones.

Equally, there were some negative effects too, including but not limited to; cities being born and quickly becoming overcrowded (and dirty), low status of labourers, social conflicts, the end of craftsmanship and child labour. But more importantly, those who were reluctant to change ended up becoming obsolete. The machines ultimately moved us from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing one. With the rise of the machines (AI), we will transform once again. So, we should all look to adapt and use these amazing innovations in our daily lives to help us automate tasks that we don’t need to do to get our time back. Perhaps we will see a shift in our lifetime where we ultimately create a leisure economy as we all have more ‘leisure time’?

We stand on the precipice of a new industrial revolution, one driven not by steam and coal, but by algorithms and data. AI is rapidly transforming industries, from healthcare to finance and its potential to revolutionise our lives is immense. Just as the first industrial revolution led to unprecedented economic growth and societal change, AI has the potential to reshape our world in unimaginable ways. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser. Thomas Rid's "Rise of the Machines: A Cybernetic History" examines the evolution of human-technology interactions, particularly within the context of cybernetics.

The book delves into the historical narratives of technology's role in society, highlighting the tensions between utopian and dystopian perspectives since World War II. It reflects on how advanced technology is shaping contemporary culture while also providing a historical context that informs current and future societal challenges. In the early 1970s U.S. capitalism began to suffer a deepening crisis of accumulation. This crisis sprang from the very heart of the modern industrial system, arising out of fundamental contradictions in its exploitation of labor and its conditions of production. But this crisis also occurred along side a postmodern revolution in microelectronics and computer technologies, creating significant changes in the forms of accumulation and wealth creation.

The two dynamics have created a new historic juncture for rethinking established theories of political and social change. This is the agenda of my presentation. So I will speak about three cybernetic systems and about communication as a cybernetic control means of cybernetic systems. Information technology has touched almost all parts of life in the 21st century. We use technology to read the news, play music, share photos, get weather updates, book travel, and more. This chapter explores the rapid growth of information technology.

People have been interested in teaching machines to compute for centuries. In the early 1800s, Charles Babbage was fascinated by thinking machines and is credited with creating one of the first mechanical computers. Ada Lovelace became acquainted with Babbage and she had the foresight to see that computers could be used for much more than simple arithmetic. She developed sophisticated algorithms that could be carried out on these mechanical computers. Today, Ada Lovelace is credited as the first computer programmer. Over the next 200 years, thousands of technological improvements made our modern computing infrastructure possible.

The first modern computers occupied entire floors or buildings. They were expensive and difficult to use. Advances were made in operating systems, programming languages, and interfaces so that these machines could be made easier to work with. At this point in history, computer hardware was still large and expensive. Governments and companies invested heavily in research despite not knowing exactly where the inventions in hardware and communication technologies would go. As the pace of change accelerates, so the alarm levels ratchet up.'

Disruptive technologies are dictating a new future for humankind. Almost every day we hear of new advances that blur the lines between the realms of the physical, the digital and the biological. Robots are now in our operating rooms and fast-food restaurants. It’s possible, using 3D imaging and stem cell extraction, to grow human bone from a patient’s own cells. 3D printing is creating a circular economy - rather than the linear model of making things then throwing them away - by altering how we use and recycle raw materials. This tsunami of technological change is clearly challenging the ways in which we operate as a society.

Its scale and pace are profoundly changing how we live and work, and signposting fundamental shifts in all disciplines, economies and industries. In what we now call the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we will see the confluence of several technologies that are coming of age, including robotics, nanotechnology, virtual reality, 3D printing, the Internet of Things (IoT),... Although at different stages of development and adoption, as these technologies bed in, becoming more widespread and convergent, we will see a radical shift in the way that individuals, companies and societies produce, distribute,...

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Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Industrial Revolution, the period in which agrarian and handicraft economies shifted rapidly to industrial and machine-manufacturing-dominated ones, began in the United Kingdom in the 18th century and later spread throughout many other parts... This economic transformation changed not only how work was d...

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Factories and the machines that they housed began to produce items faster and cheaper than could be made by hand. As the supply of various items rose, their cost to the consumer declined (see supply and demand). Shoes, clothing, household goods, tools, and other items that enhance people’s quality of life became more common and less expensive. Foreign markets also were created for these goods, and...

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The concept of machines automating human labor dates back to the Industrial Revolution. In the 18th century, inventors like James Watt and Richard Arkwright developed mechanized textile machines that significantly increased productivity. These early machines marked the beginning of a new era in human history, where machines would gradually take over routine tasks, paving the way for the rise of th...

The Advent Of The Digital Age Brought About Significant Advancements

The advent of the digital age brought about significant advancements in computer technology, leading to the development of artificial intelligence (AI). AI systems, such as IBM's Deep Blue, were able to beat human chess champions, demonstrating their ability to think and learn. This breakthrough sparked a new wave of innovation, as researchers and engineers began to explore the potential of AI in ...

The IoT Has Enabled The Creation Of Smart Cities, Where

The IoT has enabled the creation of smart cities, where machines and devices can communicate with each other, improving efficiency and quality of life. Is life repeating itself? The period from about 1850 to 1930 saw extensive technological innovation in transport, electricity, communications and manufacturing. More specifically, this period had a similar vibe to ours. Things were moving very quic...