I recently had the opportunity to see an excellent conference by Genís Roca, entitled "The Digital Society" reflecting on the importance of the digital revolution and its impact on all aspects of our reality that I would like to share with you. After showing the depth of the change, he outlines some of the features that will presumably be observed as a result of the transformative process that we are experiencing.
Starting from the concept of relevant technology (that which supposes a disruptive alteration of the pre-existing social and productive models and which leads to a new order, improving people's living conditions), he affirms that digitization is. Genís points out that with digitization we are facing a HISTORICAL change, with a capital H of which there have only been half a dozen throughout human history (archaeologist's word).
An illustrative example of the magnitude of these milestones is the introduction of lithic technology. That is to say, in the carving of the stone by the prehistoric people that allowed them to make arrows and go from hunting animals hand to hand to doing it at a distance. Alterations of similar proportions place them in the sedentary lifestyle associated with the appearance of agriculture and the development of storage techniques; later the invention of the steam engine or electricity as the foundation of the industrial revolution with the usual exodus from the rural world to the factories, as an exponent of new production models in the heat of the disruptive progress that arises only from time to time in history.
Well, for the first time in history, digitization combines, not only the creation of new business models (which in itself constitutes a great transformation), but also the change in knowledge transmission technology that is also undergoing profound alterations. This duality places it as "one of the greatest transformations in the history of humanity." We are therefore facing a phenomenon of enormous importance that has only just begun.
What does recent history tell us?
A review of History shows the last changes that have occurred only in the last three or four generations (which is a short period of time from an archaeological perspective):
• In 1912, our grandparents did not have a radio, nor were there airplanes, nor cars,… nor were the streets paved; of course, access to content was only possible in the public sphere.
• A generation later (1930), that of our parents, could for the first time enjoy content in their own home. The arrival of TV to homes and its gradual generalization allowed such a circumstance. In this way, the enjoyment of cultural and leisure content passes from the public to the private sphere.
• Our generation (1960/70) is characterized by the fact that anyone can not only consume but also generate content such as photos, video,…
• The generation of our children (1990) sees it as normal not only to generate but also to publish content through the internet and to do it in real time.
How does digitization affect us?
In short, nothing is the same in the digital age. The new reality requires a profound redesign of processes. However, the process is not instantaneous, but requires two phases. The digitization of books or the new formats of music serve as an illustration of them.
• The first phase generally arises at the proposal of the industry (the digitization of texts does not arise from a popular request, but rather is based on economic reasons of the industry, such as the radical reduction of costs (editing, storage, distribution,…).
• The second phase, however, arises from the transformation of the business model: why do I want the disc if I have other alternatives (download it from the network)? It is illegal…! Well, we will do it discreetly; but the process is inevitable and unstoppable.
We are facing the transformation from product to service. From now on the business will be to provide a service and not so much to sell a product. Spotify for music, Filming for movies and Kindle for reading are illustrations of new services that have emerged in the heat of digital transformation.
How do we prepare for this new reality?
From the perspective of personal skills, the need arises to apprehend new digital skills that enable us to use knowledge resources of a networked world.
The fact that we have better technology at home than at work leads us to think that we are digital savvy. Which is far from true. If we are to research a topic, analyze trends, handle huge amounts of information and draw conclusions from it, we will have to learn about how to work and collaborate in a network. We will have to develop new skills, aptitudes and new knowledge. In short, learn to unlearn and then learn new skills.
These needs are directly linked to the reflections on the precise transformation of the educational system, in accordance with the needs associated with the new paradigm. In this sense, see “Education and Innovation: a dangerous dichotomy” and “Education and innovation: factors of change”.
How do we help the process move forward?
If we act as professional service providers, increase consideration and respect for clients, allowing them, for example, to use their sources of access to information and knowledge. The example of the patient who does not trust the doctor for not being up to date technology and proposes a diagnosis of his ailments and, where appropriate, a possible treatment. This annoys the doctor, annoyed because the patient makes use of access to information through the network, feeling “bridged”.
Hence, the Internet is not only Marketing, but also redesign of processes that affect human resources,… Do you investigate the same as before? Have you developed other ways to sell customer service? How do you analyze the competition? How does digital skills affect me? And my Identity? Does it affect my sense of belonging?
The digital society inaugurates a historical moment that modifies the ways of learning, producing and understanding it, it has only just begun.
What future do you see right now?
The phases followed by the network and the digital society so far can be three:
• Internet of Companies (1995;…). The Internet begins with the world of companies who become actors in the network and adapt it to their own business strategies.
• Internet of People (2004;…). The incorporation of Internet 2.0, the generalization of blogs… extends the role of people.
• Internet of Things (millions of everyday objects and devices connected to the network) by 2020. It is the near future that awaits us, and in it the Internet will directly generate services.
Sometimes we lose perspective on the speed and importance of the changes that occur around us, getting used to the advantages associated with them in a natural way and soon we consider them as normal aspects and fully integrated in our lives, as if they had always been that way.
However, it is necessary to incorporate some historical perspective to realize the accumulation of alterations that we are experiencing in a relatively short time to try to acquire the magnitude of the transformation processes that we have had to live. As the adage used to say, long live times of change! and by faith these are !!!
