Page 20 - Environmental_Green Technologies

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The Third Industrial Revolution was characterized by a digital revolution based on computer development
and IT. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterized by the explosiveness of its development and
disruptiveness, differentiated by the tremendous impact of new systems, the speed of technological
breakthroughs and the pervasiveness of scope.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has created a world where physical and virtual systems interconnect and
cooperate in a flexible way at a global level. It is the fusion of technologies going from renewable energies
to quantum computing, building this interaction across different domains.

On the one hand, the positive effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are the increased productivity,
risk reduction at workplace, efficiency and quality in processes, decision-making process, data-based tools
and increase in competitiveness by development of customized products. On the other hand, the
drawbacks are the dizzying speed of change and the need to adapt, the high dependence on technologies
and the digital gap, among others (Salesforce, 2019).

3.2 Technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution

The technologies that characterize the 4th Industrial Revolution are the following:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI). Computers capacity to recognize complex patterns, processing information
and making recommendations.

• Blockchain in a secure, transparent and decentralized way of sharing and recording data. For instance,
the best known blockchain application is the Bitcoin currency. It is a technology used for other applications
like supply chain traceability and secure sensitive medical data.

• Virtual Reality (VR) is a digital experience that simulates the real world and the augmented reality,
merging the digital and physical spaces.

• Biotechnology exploits the biomolecular and cellular processes in order to develop new technologies
and products to produce new pharmaceuticals, industrial manufacturing processes and cleaner energy
sources.

• Robotics, which includes the design, manufacturing and production of robots for both personal and
commercial purposes. Robotics are used in fields such as manufacturing, health, safety and human
assistance. In addition, the development of cobots, robots designed to interact physically with humans in
collaborative environment, are considered as future key advance for the industry.

• 3D and 4D Printing enables the possibility to print parts for personal and manufacturing purposes. It
makes it possible to produce at lower costs, with less materials and tools needed, and faster than the
traditional processes. Moreover, it makes possible the customization of the parts.