January 2003 / No. 21

Science & Technology

Digital Revolution

Dr. Shahindokht Kharazmi A member of the scientific board for the Organization of Industrial Management

The “digital revolution” began with the digitalization of information and communication technologies (ICT) and became widespread very rapidly due to its incredible capabilities, especially its speed, quality and practicability. This dynamic momentum of digitalization quickly devoured human’s living environment and is now the most important factor in new economic theories and sustainable development. This sudden transition, with its broad and profound implications for individual and social relationships, has resulted in tears of the social fabric and the emergence of “gaps”, which while creating many opportunities, has also, brought about distinct problems.

Throughout human history science and technology have been pivotal in social change. More importantly, since the second half of the twentieth century, science and technology have been developing in parallel and sometimes complementary streams, but the must significant occurrence witnessed in the past one or two decades is the combination of scientific and technological advancements, especially in the fields of information, communications, micro-technologies and the science of substances. This phenomenon has enabled humans to intervene in waves, genes, matter and energy. This digitalization, itself a combination of countless sciences and technologies, is also the motivation and facilitator of their development, in another words, it has the extraordinary ability of being both cause and effect of scientific and technological advancement.

The “digital revolution”, with its broad and profound effects on all aspects of human life and its ability to combine the products and advancements of science and technology, has given weight to the argument that with the “digital revolution” humankind has entered a new era of civilization; an era in which many of the concepts, theories and rules dominating contemporary schools of thought, including politics, culture and economics, must be redefined.

In introducing the “digital revolution”, and its most important mechanisms of change, we get an idea of what to expect from the “digital era”. The most critical problem of the “digital era” – namely the “digital gap” – must also be attended to, in hopes of identifying the opportunities and challenges Iran’s society will confront. To facilitate a smooth transition into the “digital era” we must have clear answers to the following questions:

1. What is the “digital revolution” and what are its broad and profound effects on the human lifestyle?

2. How will the current political, cultural and economic systems be affected by this transition into the “digital era”?

3. What is the “digital gap” and what are its main identifiers?

4. Where is Iran situated in the global “digital gap”?

5. What opportunities and challenges does the “digital revolution” pose for Iran?