Sociocultural Development and the Information Revolution | Dion Kenney | TEDxWilmingtonSalon

so the world is changing at

so the world is changing at remarkable rate of speed and this is a

remarkable rate of speed and this is a

remarkable rate of speed and this is a great thing but it is causing a great

great thing but it is causing a great

great thing but it is causing a great deal of concern for a lot of people

deal of concern for a lot of people

deal of concern for a lot of people Alvin Toffler said that humans are not

Alvin Toffler said that humans are not

Alvin Toffler said that humans are not adapted for the rate of change that

adapted for the rate of change that

adapted for the rate of change that we’re experiencing Elon Musk said robots

we’re experiencing Elon Musk said robots

we’re experiencing Elon Musk said robots are going to steal your job Stephen

are going to steal your job Stephen

are going to steal your job Stephen Hawking said artificial intelligence may

Hawking said artificial intelligence may

Hawking said artificial intelligence may be the end of humanity as we know it

be the end of humanity as we know it

be the end of humanity as we know it what we’re experiencing is called the

what we’re experiencing is called the

what we’re experiencing is called the fourth Industrial Revolution and as the

fourth Industrial Revolution and as the

fourth Industrial Revolution and as the name implies there were other

name implies there were other

name implies there were other revolutions that preceded it there was

revolutions that preceded it there was

revolutions that preceded it there was the first Industrial Revolution the

the first Industrial Revolution the

the first Industrial Revolution the agricultural revolution and perhaps the

agricultural revolution and perhaps the

agricultural revolution and perhaps the first great human revolution the bipedal

first great human revolution the bipedal

first great human revolution the bipedal revolution or a lone individual stood on

revolution or a lone individual stood on

revolution or a lone individual stood on its hind feet created competitive

its hind feet created competitive

its hind feet created competitive advantage for survival

advantage for survival

advantage for survival it could see further it could hunt

it could see further it could hunt

it could see further it could hunt better and it freed its hands to use

better and it freed its hands to use

better and it freed its hands to use tools the Agricultural Revolution

tools the Agricultural Revolution

tools the Agricultural Revolution allowed greater production of food to

allowed greater production of food to

allowed greater production of food to create sustenance for larger populations

create sustenance for larger populations

create sustenance for larger populations and had the consequence of tying us to a

and had the consequence of tying us to a

and had the consequence of tying us to a geographical location which meant that

geographical location which meant that

geographical location which meant that nomadic tribes had to now become

nomadic tribes had to now become

nomadic tribes had to now become villages as the populations got larger

villages as the populations got larger

villages as the populations got larger villages grew into towns towns became

villages grew into towns towns became

villages grew into towns towns became cities roads developed to connect the

cities roads developed to connect the

cities roads developed to connect the different cities together trade ensued

different cities together trade ensued

different cities together trade ensued which meant currency which meant

which meant currency which meant

which meant currency which meant government and all of this created

government and all of this created

government and all of this created competitive advantage for survival when

competitive advantage for survival when

competitive advantage for survival when the Industrial Revolution first came

the Industrial Revolution first came

the Industrial Revolution first came along the intent was not to mechanize

along the intent was not to mechanize

along the intent was not to mechanize the entire planet it was to make more

the entire planet it was to make more

the entire planet it was to make more efficient already existing agricultural

efficient already existing agricultural

efficient already existing agricultural processes in particular taking raw

processes in particular taking raw

processes in particular taking raw agricultural materials wool cotton flax

agricultural materials wool cotton flax

agricultural materials wool cotton flax and spinning them into thread which

and spinning them into thread which

and spinning them into thread which could be converted into cloth at a

could be converted into cloth at a

could be converted into cloth at a higher rate with fewer people than was

higher rate with fewer people than was

higher rate with fewer people than was possible by mechanical means so

possible by mechanical means so

possible by mechanical means so the natural reaction for a lot of people

the natural reaction for a lot of people

the natural reaction for a lot of people at the time was of course concern and

at the time was of course concern and

at the time was of course concern and anxiety where the machine’s going to

anxiety where the machine’s going to

anxiety where the machine’s going to [Music]

[Music]

[Music] take my jobs were we going to be able to

take my jobs were we going to be able to

take my jobs were we going to be able to keep up with the new pace of change was

keep up with the new pace of change was

keep up with the new pace of change was it going to be the end of humanity as we

it going to be the end of humanity as we

it going to be the end of humanity as we knew it so they did the only logical

knew it so they did the only logical

knew it so they did the only logical thing they destroyed the machines and

thing they destroyed the machines and

thing they destroyed the machines and they chased the inventors out of town

they chased the inventors out of town

they chased the inventors out of town just for reference this is the

just for reference this is the

just for reference this is the technology that we’re talking about so

technology that we’re talking about so

technology that we’re talking about so the good news is the Industrial

the good news is the Industrial

the good news is the Industrial Revolution continued the invention of

Revolution continued the invention of

Revolution continued the invention of the steam machine allowed for powered

the steam machine allowed for powered

the steam machine allowed for powered factories which meant factory towns

factories which meant factory towns

factories which meant factory towns which allowed for greater production

which allowed for greater production

which allowed for greater production specialized functions developed which

specialized functions developed which

specialized functions developed which led to division of labor which led to

led to division of labor which led to

led to division of labor which led to assembly lines and mass production

assembly lines and mass production

assembly lines and mass production electricity allowed for the creation of

electricity allowed for the creation of

electricity allowed for the creation of electronics which led to computers

electronics which led to computers

electronics which led to computers computer networks smart phones smart

computer networks smart phones smart

computer networks smart phones smart phone apps and the hyper connected

phone apps and the hyper connected

phone apps and the hyper connected Internet that we’re all experiencing

Internet that we’re all experiencing

Internet that we’re all experiencing right now so the natural question that a

right now so the natural question that a

right now so the natural question that a lot of people ask at this point is are

lot of people ask at this point is are

lot of people ask at this point is are these really revolutions or perhaps this

these really revolutions or perhaps this

these really revolutions or perhaps this is an evolutionary process and I’d

is an evolutionary process and I’d

is an evolutionary process and I’d actually like to suggest that perhaps

actually like to suggest that perhaps

actually like to suggest that perhaps it’s really an incubation process and

it’s really an incubation process and

it’s really an incubation process and let me tell you why I say that so if we

let me tell you why I say that so if we

let me tell you why I say that so if we look at the development of an embryonic

look at the development of an embryonic

look at the development of an embryonic organism it starts off as a single cell

organism it starts off as a single cell

organism it starts off as a single cell metaphorically standing on its two hind

metaphorically standing on its two hind

metaphorically standing on its two hind feet so it could produce create colonies

feet so it could produce create colonies

feet so it could produce create colonies create special functions skin cells bone

create special functions skin cells bone

create special functions skin cells bone cells muscle cells organs developed the

cells muscle cells organs developed the

cells muscle cells organs developed the heart the lungs liver the nervous system

heart the lungs liver the nervous system

heart the lungs liver the nervous system and the brain an interesting thing

and the brain an interesting thing

and the brain an interesting thing happens when the brain and nervous

happens when the brain and nervous

happens when the brain and nervous system starts to develop all of these

system starts to develop all of these

system starts to develop all of these specialized function that

specialized function that

specialized function that exist now start to interact and

exist now start to interact and

exist now start to interact and communicate with each other and they

communicate with each other and they

communicate with each other and they start to function as a single entity so

start to function as a single entity so

start to function as a single entity so is it possible that all the connections

is it possible that all the connections

is it possible that all the connections that we’re experiencing right now

that we’re experiencing right now

that we’re experiencing right now globally indicates that we are really

globally indicates that we are really

globally indicates that we are really like a prenatal organism still in its

like a prenatal organism still in its

like a prenatal organism still in its embryonic State this is a map of the

embryonic State this is a map of the

embryonic State this is a map of the internet and all of its connections

internet and all of its connections

internet and all of its connections circa 2003 the lines represent

circa 2003 the lines represent

circa 2003 the lines represent connections the dots of color represents

connections the dots of color represents

connections the dots of color represents specialized function and the connections

specialized function and the connections

specialized function and the connections between the two of them this is a map of

between the two of them this is a map of

between the two of them this is a map of the internet around 2015 and as you can

the internet around 2015 and as you can

the internet around 2015 and as you can see there’s a great deal more community

see there’s a great deal more community

see there’s a great deal more community connections there’s a lot more clusters

connections there’s a lot more clusters

connections there’s a lot more clusters the clusters are more robust and there’s

the clusters are more robust and there’s

the clusters are more robust and there’s a great deal more connection between

a great deal more connection between

a great deal more connection between them so in the year 2000 the human

them so in the year 2000 the human

them so in the year 2000 the human population was about 6 billion people of

population was about 6 billion people of

population was about 6 billion people of that 6 billion about a half a billion

that 6 billion about a half a billion

that 6 billion about a half a billion were connected together electronically

were connected together electronically

were connected together electronically via the Internet in 2010 the human

via the Internet in 2010 the human

via the Internet in 2010 the human population had grown to about 7 billion

population had grown to about 7 billion

population had grown to about 7 billion people but the interconnected population

people but the interconnected population

people but the interconnected population grew at a faster rate to one and a half

grew at a faster rate to one and a half

grew at a faster rate to one and a half billion people three times the number of

billion people three times the number of

billion people three times the number of just ten years before it’s estimated

just ten years before it’s estimated

just ten years before it’s estimated that by the year 2020 the human

that by the year 2020 the human

that by the year 2020 the human population will be about 8 billion

population will be about 8 billion

population will be about 8 billion people two-thirds of whom will be

people two-thirds of whom will be

people two-thirds of whom will be connected electronically to each other

this is a human brain and again the

this is a human brain and again the lines represent connections the colored

lines represent connections the colored

lines represent connections the colored areas represent clusters of specialized

areas represent clusters of specialized

areas represent clusters of specialized function and just as a point of

function and just as a point of

function and just as a point of reference there are roughly 100 billion

reference there are roughly 100 billion

reference there are roughly 100 billion neurons in a human brain and the

neurons in a human brain and the

neurons in a human brain and the important thing to keep in mind is with

important thing to keep in mind is with

important thing to keep in mind is with brains numbers matter connections matter

brains numbers matter connections matter

brains numbers matter connections matter and special functions really really

and special functions really really

and special functions really really matter so this is a human city

matter so this is a human city

matter so this is a human city and as you can see illustrated in the in

and as you can see illustrated in the in

and as you can see illustrated in the in the photograph there are numbers there

the photograph there are numbers there

the photograph there are numbers there are connections although some of those

are connections although some of those

are connections although some of those numbers are left out of the connections

numbers are left out of the connections

numbers are left out of the connections there’s specialized function and again

there’s specialized function and again

there’s specialized function and again there are some that are left out of that

there are some that are left out of that

there are some that are left out of that specialized function but cities

specialized function but cities

specialized function but cities represent a microcosm of our global

represent a microcosm of our global

represent a microcosm of our global circumstance right now so what’s

circumstance right now so what’s

circumstance right now so what’s happening is much like the transition

happening is much like the transition

happening is much like the transition from the agricultural age to the

from the agricultural age to the

from the agricultural age to the industrial age the connections that

industrial age the connections that

industrial age the connections that leveraged the new capability were four

leveraged the new capability were four

leveraged the new capability were four already exist in specialized function so

already exist in specialized function so

already exist in specialized function so in our current circumstance those would

in our current circumstance those would

in our current circumstance those would be things like journalism education

be things like journalism education

be things like journalism education retail and government right now it is

retail and government right now it is

retail and government right now it is possible for someone to get an education

possible for someone to get an education

possible for someone to get an education from any place at any time by anyone as

from any place at any time by anyone as

from any place at any time by anyone as long as they have connection to the

long as they have connection to the

long as they have connection to the electronic internet government similarly

electronic internet government similarly

electronic internet government similarly is dealing with constituencies who have

is dealing with constituencies who have

is dealing with constituencies who have access to information in real time as

access to information in real time as

access to information in real time as events happen and they’re having to deal

events happen and they’re having to deal

events happen and they’re having to deal with citizens who expect a greater role

with citizens who expect a greater role

with citizens who expect a greater role in how they’re being represented and

in how they’re being represented and

in how they’re being represented and greater transparency in how governments

greater transparency in how governments

greater transparency in how governments deal with this information as you might

deal with this information as you might

deal with this information as you might imagine not everybody is as enthusiastic

imagine not everybody is as enthusiastic

imagine not everybody is as enthusiastic about this as everyone else there are

about this as everyone else there are

about this as everyone else there are three primary challenges that will

three primary challenges that will

three primary challenges that will address how we move forward at this

address how we move forward at this

address how we move forward at this point the first is how do we ensure the

point the first is how do we ensure the

point the first is how do we ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the data

accuracy and timeliness of the data

accuracy and timeliness of the data that’s being transferred the second is

that’s being transferred the second is

that’s being transferred the second is we need to get more connections hooked

we need to get more connections hooked

we need to get more connections hooked in to this worldwide infrastructure and

in to this worldwide infrastructure and

in to this worldwide infrastructure and we have to get them to step up and

we have to get them to step up and

we have to get them to step up and function at a higher level than they’re

function at a higher level than they’re

function at a higher level than they’re currently functioning without the

currently functioning without the

currently functioning without the interconnectedness the third critical

interconnectedness the third critical

interconnectedness the third critical issue is we’re going to have to create

issue is we’re going to have to create

issue is we’re going to have to create rules and systems that will prevent

rules and systems that will prevent

rules and systems that will prevent hi social people or organizations from

hi social people or organizations from

hi social people or organizations from leveraging opportunities to the

leveraging opportunities to the

leveraging opportunities to the detriment of the Ranger of the system so

detriment of the Ranger of the system so

detriment of the Ranger of the system so the question is will we be able to keep

the question is will we be able to keep

the question is will we be able to keep pace with a change yes the technology

pace with a change yes the technology

pace with a change yes the technology will be a force multiplier which will

will be a force multiplier which will

will be a force multiplier which will allow us and our limited capacity to

allow us and our limited capacity to

allow us and our limited capacity to function at a higher rate of change will

function at a higher rate of change will

function at a higher rate of change will robots take our jobs they will they’ll

robots take our jobs they will they’ll

robots take our jobs they will they’ll take our lower-level jobs and they will

take our lower-level jobs and they will

take our lower-level jobs and they will free us up to perform at a higher level

free us up to perform at a higher level

free us up to perform at a higher level than we can currently even imagine the

than we can currently even imagine the

than we can currently even imagine the last question was this the end of

last question was this the end of

last question was this the end of humanity as we know it and the answer is

humanity as we know it and the answer is

humanity as we know it and the answer is probably but that means that a new

probably but that means that a new

probably but that means that a new humanity is likely to emerge from our

humanity is likely to emerge from our

humanity is likely to emerge from our current circumstance and the question

current circumstance and the question

current circumstance and the question then is what kind of humanity is likely

then is what kind of humanity is likely

then is what kind of humanity is likely to emerge largely the result from that

to emerge largely the result from that

to emerge largely the result from that will be how do we address the three

will be how do we address the three

will be how do we address the three primary issues we could end up with

primary issues we could end up with

primary issues we could end up with utopia or we could end up with a

utopia or we could end up with a

utopia or we could end up with a dystopia and it largely is determined by

dystopia and it largely is determined by

dystopia and it largely is determined by whether we listen to the voices of our

whether we listen to the voices of our

whether we listen to the voices of our baser human instincts or the voices of

baser human instincts or the voices of

baser human instincts or the voices of our better angels thank you

our better angels thank you

our better angels thank you [Applause]