STS MODULE 2
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Toffler’s Waves of Technology
1. Agricultural Technology (1st IR)
2. Industrial Technology (2nd IR)
3. Information/Digital Age (3rd IR)
1st Industrial Revolution Highlights
● End of hunter-gatherers’s
system.
● Tools use were the inclined
plane, the lever, and the
wheel & axle.
● Information – verbal
narratives
2nd Industrial Revolution
● Era of Steam Engine
● Work involved investments (capital)
in expensive equipment
● People (labor) to work the machines
● Location (factories) where all parts
could come together
3rd Industrial Revolution
● Digital info and Processes
● Hyeper – Organization
● Mass Customization
The fourth industrial revolution (now)
● involves computer generated
product design and three
dimensional (3D) printing, which can
create solid objects by building up
successive layers of materials.
Example of Local
Industrial Technology
• Jeepney
• Tricycle
The 4IR
Fusion of advanced technologies
in artificial intelligence (AI),
robotics, the internet of things
(IoT), genetic engineering,
quantum computing and other
technologies (Mc Ginnis, 2020).
Artificial Intelligence (AI)- is the ability of a
computer or a robot controlled by a
computer to do tasks that are usually done
by humans because they require human
intelligence and discernment
Robotics- is the intersection of science,
engineering and technology that produces
machines, called robots, that substitute for
(or replicate) human actions. (R2-D2,
Optimus Prime, AJ3, Wall-e)
Internet of Things (IoT)- describes the
network of physical objects—“things”—that
are embedded with sensors, software, and
other technologies for the purpose of
connecting and exchanging data with other
devices and systems over the internet.
Genetic engineering- is the process of
using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology
to alter the genetic makeup of an organism
Quantum Computing
- is an area of computing focused on
developing computer technology based on
the principles of quantum theory.
-is made up of qubits.
Cybersecurity- is the practice of
protecting critical systems and
sensitive information from digital
attacks.
Some Impacts of the 4IR
Transportation and Energy
➢ Travel in driverless cars
➢ Homes & offices will be powered by a
smart grid
➢ use sensors to analyze the environment
➢ factories 4.0 will be embedded in smart
cities and powered by wind, sun and
geothermal energy.
Healthcare and Medicine
• Drones check infrastructure for damage
and deliver WIFI access to disaster zones.
• Sensors will detect changing health
Conditions.
● Technology is transforming the
practice of medicine.
● Telemedicine: the use of
communication technology to
connect doctors and patients at a
distance.
● Robots and artificial intelligence also
extend the healing power of medical
professionals.
ARTIFICIAL ORGANS
-In 1980’s, a team led by the American
scientists Robert Jarvik designed an
artificial heart, known as the Jarvik – 7,
was successfully implanted into a human
patient.
-Since then, many artificial organs have
been successfully implanted, like, bladder,
liver and pancreas.
SCI-FI INSPIRED DISCOVERIES
● DxTER: diagnostic technology-
draws inspiration from a device
called tricorder used in tv series
“start trek”
● It makes us of an iPad to guide a
patient through a series of tests that
can diagnose up to 34 common
medical conditions.
A NEW SOURCE OF FOOD
• Cellular Agriculture
• Synthetic food
Cellular Agriculture
• Cell ag is the use of the cells to grow
farm product substitute.
• In 2013, first cultured hamburger was
presented by scientists from the
University of Maastricht, Netherlands,
took cells from a cow and produced
muscle fibers in the laboratory.
Environment and Sustainability
• Advances in cyber-physical
systems will enable capability,
adaptability, scalability,
resiliency, safety, security and
usability that will far exceed
the simple embedded systems
of today.
Challenges of 4IR
• Greater inequality (“low-skill/low-pay” and
“high-skill/high-pay”)
• Displacement of workers
• privacy
Opportunities
• potential to raise global income
levels
• Improve the quality of life
• Access to digital world
NANOTECHNOLOGY
What is NANOTECHNOLOGY?
● A scale of technology, not a type
● Deals with materials and their
manipulation at a very small scale
Nano is a prefix used in metric scale to
represent one billionth
One nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a
meter
Comes from a greek word “dwarf”
Applies science and materials at the
nanoscale
● Is the understanding and control of
matter and dimensions of between
approximately one to one hundred
nanometers where unique
phenomena enable novel
applications
● Is a term referring to a wide range of
technologies that measure,
manipulate and incorporate
materials and/or features with at
least one dimension between
approximately one to 100 nanometer
Nanotech shared two basic tenets
● Size- the ability of some basic
chemical and physical properties to
change because of the size and/or
structure.
● Unique properties- particles that
are synthesized at the nanoscale
change their properties.
CURRENT APPLICATIONS
OF NANOTECH
-Self cleaning and air purifying coatings
-Reducing pollution
-Self healing coatings
-Stronger & more flexible sporting
equipment
-Static and wrinkle-free fabrics
-Antibacterial application
-Water filtration
PROPOSED APPLICATIONS
OF NANOTECH
-Smart food packaging
-Electrically conducting thin films
-Solar paint
-Doctor on a chip
-Fuel cells
-Light emitting diodes
-Lighter, stronger composite materials
-Smart dust
The Roots of Nanotech
Richard Feynman (1959): legendary
caltech physicist; conceptualizing shrinking
technology from its current scale to scale
1/16th its size, repeatedly, until achieving
technology at the scale of matter
Eric Drexler (1986): pioneered in molecular
engineering; envisioned to design and
manipulate matter at the nanoscale
Nanomaterials
● Nanotubes (Carbon, titanium, silica,
& copper)
● Carbon
○ Buckminsterfullerenes
(buckyballs or fullerenes)
Environmental Aspect of Nanotech
● Treating drinking water
● Eliminating toxic chemicals
● Increasing water & energy efficiency
● Harnessing cleaner energy
technology
Nanotechnology Risks Now
-Can contaminate the water that is home to
many plants and animals.
5 ages of civilization presented by Knowledge workers are the link to a
Steven Covey in his book 8th Habit company's other investments. They provide
focus, creativity, and leverage in using those
There are similarities between four industrial
investments to achieve the organization’s
revolutions and the five ages of civilization:
objectives more efficiently.
the hunter and gather age, the agricultural
age, the industrial age, the information
The main assets and primary drivers of the
worker age, and the emerging age of
industrial age were machines and capital.
wisdom.
People were necessary but replaceable.
The management style of the industrial age
First, the productivity of each subsequent
simply does not work in the new economy.
age goes up fifty times over the preceding
Management focused on motivating
age. Consider for example, the increase in
employees to perform the physical labor
productivity of the industrial age over the
needed to produce the products and
agricultural age.
services.
Second, each subsequent age destroys
In the fourth industrial age, the challenge
many of the jobs of the preceding age. The
now is how companies can motivate their
information age is replacing the jobs created
knowledge workers to release their human
by the industrial age. Much of the losses in
potential.
our industrial-age jobs have less to do with
government policy and free trade
agreements than they do with the dramatic
shift in our economy to the knowledge Geographic Information System
worker
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
Third, in the first three ages of civilization,
manual workers produced most goods and Leveraging GIS and spatial analysis for
services with their bodies, but in the last two informed decision-making in COVID-19
ages, knowledge workers produced most pandemic.pdf (addu.edu.ph)
goods and services with their minds.
Different Geographic Information System the DNA molecule, deleting,
(GIS) techniques are widely used across altering, or replacing
scientific disciplines, including public genes.
health, since the mid-1960s. - The “edited” DNA can be injected
into living cells, altering the
In a study in 2014, it was found that one characteristics of a living thing.
fourth of the studies out of the reviewed 829
articles used GIS in some way, especially Uses of CRISPR
for infectious disease mapping [2]. - CRISPR technology can be applied
Recently, GIS has played a critical role in in medicine, agriculture, and energy
understanding the spatial clustering and production.
transmission trend of the ongoing - Some applications of CRISPR
COVID-19 [3]. However, it can be argued technology are already underway,
that the applications of GIS technologies but others have yet to be developed.
could have provided more insights for ➢ Application in Medicine
research and practice in the context of CRISPR has potential uses
COVID-19. in medicine:
• Reprogram human
One of the most reliable documentation and immune cells to attack
near-real-time GISbased tracking of cancer cells
COVID-19 cases was created and • Maybe used in gene
maintained by the Johns Hopkins therapy – the
University transfer of new genes into a
patient’s
cells to replace defective or
1. CRISPR missing
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced genes.
Short Palindromic Repeats. • Gene therapy could lead to
- The name refers to DNA sequences cure genetic
found in natural CRISPR systems. diseases as cystic fibrosis,
- One common CRISPR system uses hemophilia,
an enzyme called Cas9. muscular dystrophy, and
sickle-cell
What is an enzyme? Anemia.
- An enzyme is a protein that speeds
up or makes possible a chemical ➢ Application in Agriculture
reaction in living things. “Crisper” Cabbage.
- CRISPR enzymes (Cas9) act like Agricultural
scissors, making cuts at precise scientists are manipulating
locations in DNA molecules. plan
- These cuts trigger the cell’s natural genes with CRISPR to
machinery to repair the DNA. create crops
- CRISPR enables genetic that grow more efficiently –
engineering to make cuts in
 requires less water or resist
plant
diseases, or to grow crops
that are
more flavorful and stay fresh
longer.
➢ Application in Energy
Production
• BIOFUEL. Scientists are
using CRISPR techniques to
genetically modified yeast
cells used in the production
of ethanol, a biofuel.
• Can make biofuels more
efficient and cheaper to
Produce.
➢ Gene Drives
• Scientists are
experimenting with gene
drives that
could make a wild
mosquitoes unable to carry
the
parasite that causes malaria.
• Scientists use a microscope
and fine syringe to inject
CRISPR-altered DNA in
mosquitoes embryos.
Future of CRISPR
The possibilities of CRISPR are limitless.
Scientists believe that:
• They can cure and grow organs
for transplant
= enabling them to grow organs
suitable for transplant to humans.
• Eliminate hunger
= enabling them to grow organs
suitable for transplant to humans.
• Bring animals back from
extinction
= other extinct species could be
revived
2. STEM CELLS
- A stem cell is a cell with the ability to
produce more stem cells or other
types of cells, such as blood or
nerve cells.
- The original cells which a tiny
embryo develops into a person are
stem cells.
- Stem Cells can transform into any
other kind of cell in the body,
including skin, liver, blood, muscles,
and even nerve cells.
- Stem cells cultured in the laboratory
may be used to replace damaged
cells in the body, revolutionizing
medical treatment.
The Future of Stem Cells
- In the future, stem cells will be used
for more than just bone marrow
transplant. They may be used to
build custom-fitted tissues and
organs from scratch. People may
keep their own supply of stem cells
in biotechnology banks for
safekeeping, in case of future need.
•TISSUE ENGINEERING = using the
body’s own stem cells to restore,
replace, or improve diseased tissue.
• STEM CELL BANKING = make small
“deposits” of stem cells shortly after
birth. These cells can be copied and
then frozen in storage, until they are
needed.
• PARABIOSIS = Is a controversial
process that involves revitalizing an
aging body with transfusion of blood
from younger individuals.
3. Extending Life
= The FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. Researchers
in the field of life extension are working to
increase the human lifespan with biotech.
Some believe that living to the age of 125
years-and enjoying good health throughout
life – will soon be possible for every human
being.
• MODERN RESEARCH = ex.
Anti-aging fads come and go. Most are
untested and probably about as helpful
as snake oil. Some may even be
dangerous.
• Caloric Restriction = Scientists noted
that eating a low-calorie diet seemed to
increase the lifespan of mice and
monkeys.
• Telomeres = Are the protective
structures at the very ends of
chromosomes in most living things.
They are a bit like the plastic ends of
shoelaces that keep them from fraying.
The shortenings of telomeres may be a
major cause of certain illnesses
associated with aging.
• Cryonics revisited =
cryonics-preserving bodies by freezing
them for future revival – has been
around since the 1950’s. Freezing and
preserving bodies after death may make
it a viable method to extend human life.
•Mind Uploading = to extend life
involves uploading the mind into a
computer.
•Cyborg = is a person who has some
bodily functions performed by machines.
to design an artificial body known as an
avatar that can be controlled directly by
a human brain.
4. CLONING
- Is the creation of an organism with
genetic material to that of another
organism.
- Organisms that share an identical
genetic make-up are called clones.
Clones may look exactly alike.
- These include improvements to
livestock and new medical therapies,
including new drugs for human
diseases, treatment for genetic
disorders, and the possibility of
transplanting modified organs from
animals to human.
CLONING AND CONTROVERSY
- Scientists have found it difficult to
consistently produce healthy animal
clones. Most cloned embryos do not
survive to reach birth. Some cloned
animals that are born suffer
developmental problems and die
soon after birth. Cloning technology
raises many questions about ethical
issues and even safety. Many
countries have enacted bans that
limit cloning research.
• Nuclear transfer = process used to
create Clones. In this process,
scientists remove the nucleus
(center)of an adult body cell – which
contains all its genes – and transfer it
to an egg that has had its nucleus
removed.
• Food from clones = meat and milk
of such cloned animals as cows,
goats, and pigs was as safe as that of
nonclone animals. Consumer groups
worry that the risks of widespread
animal cloning are not fully known.
• Human Cloning = Scientists may
soon use cloning techniques to
reproduce human beings – a
frightening prospect to many people.
The first cloned primates.
In 1999, a rhesus monkey named Tetra was
cloned using a process called embryo
splitting. The cloning took place at the
Oregon National Primate Research Center.
Tetra was the first primate to be cloned.
Primates are the group of mammals that
include monkeys, apes, and human beings.
Remote sensing is the acquisition of
information from a distance. NASA
observes Earth and other planetary bodies
via remote sensors on satellites and aircraft
that detect and record reflected or emitted
energy. Remote sensors, which provide a
global perspective and a wealth of data
about Earth systems, enable data-informed
decision making based on the current and
future state of our planet.
● Orbits
● Observing with the Electromagnetic
Spectrum
● Sensors
● Resolution
● Data Processing, Interpretation, and
Analysis
● Data Pathfinders
Orbits
Satellites can be placed in several types of
orbits around Earth.
The three common classes of orbits are:
1. low-Earth orbit (approximately 160 to
2,000 km above Earth),
2. medium-Earth orbit (approximately
2,000 to 35,500 km above Earth),
and
3. high-Earth orbit (above 35,500 km
above Earth).
Geostationary orbits. orbiting at 35,786
km are at an altitude at which their orbital
speed matches the planet's rotation, (GSO).
Geostationary orbit is a satellite in GSO
directly over the equator. A geostationary
orbit enables a satellite to maintain its
position directly over the same place on
Earth’s surface
1. Low-Earth orbit is a commonly
used orbit since satellites can follow
several orbital tracks around the
planet.
2. Non-polar low-Earth orbit
satellites, on the other hand, do not
provide global coverage but instead
cover only a partial range of
latitudes.
3. Medium-Earth orbit satellite takes
approximately 12 hours to complete
an orbit. In 24-hours, the satellite
crosses over the same two spots on
the equator every day. This orbit is
consistent and highly predictable.
Electromagnetic energy, produced by the
vibration of charged particles, travels in the
form of waves through the atmosphere and
the vacuum of space.
SUN = The primary source of the energy
observed by satellites
Sensors
Sensors, or instruments, aboard satellites
and aircraft use the Sun as a source of
illumination or provide their own source of
illumination, measuring energy that is
reflected back.
 ➢ Passive sensors include different
types of radiometers (instruments
that quantitatively measure the
intensity of electromagnetic radiation
in select bands) and spectrometers
(devices that are designed to detect,
measure, and analyze the spectral
content of reflected electromagnetic
radiation).
➢ Active sensors include different
types of radio detection and ranging
(radar) sensors, altimeters, and
scatterometers. The majority of
active sensors operate in the
microwave band of the
electromagnetic spectrum, which
gives them the ability to penetrate
the atmosphere under most
conditions.
➢ The Remote Sensors Earthdata
page provides a list of NASA’s Earth
science passive and active sensors
while the Backgrounder provides
specific information on this type of
active sensor.
Spatial resolution is defined by the size of
each pixel within a digital image and the
area on Earth’s surface represented by that
pixel.
Spectral resolution is the ability of a
sensor to discern finer wavelengths, that is,
having more and narrower bands. Many
sensors are considered to be multispectral,
meaning they have 3-10 bands. Some
sensors have hundreds to even thousands
of bands and are considered to be
hyperspectral.
Temporal resolution is the time it takes for
a satellite to complete an orbit and revisit
the same observation area. This resolution
depends on the orbit, the sensor’s
characteristics, and the swath width.
Because geostationary satellites match the
rate at which Earth is rotating, the temporal
resolution is much finer.

Resolution
Resolution plays a role in how data from a
sensor can be used. Resolution can vary
depending on the satellite’s orbit and sensor
design. There are four types of resolution to
consider for any dataset—radiometric,
spatial, spectral, and temporal.

Radiometric resolution is the amount of

information in each pixel, that is, the number
of bits representing the energy recorded.
Each bit records an exponent of power 2.
For example, an 8 bit resolution is 28, which
indicates that the sensor has 256 potential
digital values (0-255) to store information.