Information Age

Third Industrial Revolution
1947–present
A laptop connected to the Internet displaying information from Wikipedia; long-distance communication between computer systems is a hallmark of the Information Age
Location	Worldwide
Key events	Invention of the transistor Computer miniaturization Invention of the Internet
Chronology Second Industrial Revolution Fourth Industrial Revolution

The Information Age^[a] is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by a rapid shift from traditional industries, as established during the Industrial Revolution, to an economy centered on information technology.^[2] The onset of the Information Age has been linked to the development of the transistor in 1947.^[2] This technological advance has had a significant impact on the way information is processed and transmitted.

According to the United Nations Public Administration Network, the Information Age was formed by capitalizing on computer miniaturization advances,^[3] which led to modernized information systems and internet communications as the driving force of social evolution.^[4]

There is ongoing debate concerning whether the Third Industrial Revolution has already ended, and if the Fourth Industrial Revolution has already begun due to the recent breakthroughs in areas such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology.^[5] This next transition has been theorized to harken the advent of the Imagination Age, the Internet of things (IoT), and rapid advancements in machine learning.

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