The Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Technological Wave of Change
Olasupo Ajayi, Antoine Bagula, Hloniphani Maluleke
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the technological wave of change called the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), which is also known as the information age or industry 4.0. It starts off with a brief history of the concept, describing the evolution through the ages, from the age of industrialization to the current technological age. The chapter then presents industry 4.0 through three lenses, which are i) the key enabling technologies that serve as its foundational pillars, such as the Internet and Cloud Computing; ii) technologies and concepts that emanate from 4IR, as well as their applications, which are discussed using use-cases; iii) the impacts of industry 4.0 on the wider society (both positive and negative). Finally, the chapter closes with a discussion on some open challenges that need to be considered in future research works to enhance the widespread adaptation and/or implementation of industry 4.0.