Bracing for the fourth generation-a future shock

By Eric Sindabi

In his books renowned American futurologist Alvin Toffler predicts revolution in the world society through the advancement in technology. The author who has been classified among the most successful futurologists in the world has put forward that high technological advancements in future will bring about diverse socio-economic changes in the human society. He perceives that these changes will grow from one generation to another and pose big gaps in human civilization.



Toffler says for example that future generations will view the modern technology and human society as back grounds, primitive, irrational and totally non-standard. In his books like; future shock and the third wave, the writer admires technology as the greatest force towards advancement in human society.



A leading Chinese news publication the people daily in 2006 named Alvin Toffler the leading world futurist. According to the media group, the American born writer is touted among the great people in the world who have had a big impact on China . Future shock (1970), third wave (1980), and revolutionary wealth (2001) recorded the largest sells in china as compared to other parts of the world. Other works by the author include revolutionary wealth, power shift, war & ant-war and creating a new civilization.

These books have had vast sources including; video clips, newspaper reviews and radio and television interviews, apart from actual book distributors who have received massive consumptions in gigantic regions of the China .



According to a source on the internet, China has since pursued policies reflecting the author’s emphasis on the growing importance of digital technology and the knowledge –based economy of the future. The American futurologist is held in such esteem in China that communists consider him among 50 foreigners who have had a great impact on China.” says the source. These include famous people like; Karl Max, Richard Nixon, Mariah Carley, Mike Jordan among others, who have most significantly influenced China’s modern development through their works that centre around revolution in social and economic developments.



On the other hand, critics believe that Alvin Toffler’s books have drawn mass attention and readership and criticism across the world apart from China as much as influencing the strategic creativity in readers, leaders, technologists and social thinkers all over the world. The books which base on information and technology revolutions, social transformations and speed of change, are among the world’s best sellers.



In third wave, for example the author hints that the percentage of populations in growing economies and the number of people using information technology are increasing rapidly.

In an interview with the people daily Toffler reflected that for in China for example, three divergent groups of the complex society exist. These include; the first wave-the rural people involved in agricultural activities basically, the second wave that include people working in factories and organizations in urban centers and the third wave, that include people involved in the use of information technology.

In revolutionary wealth, the author talks about the transformation of agriculture by embracing technology. For example the use of cell phones to boost agricultural produce business. The book also emphasized on the production of Genetically Modified Foods which contain vitamins.



In future shock, the author for example predicts on biological revolution in human beings including inter race fusions and the cloning technology in animals and humans. Indeed the modern trend in this field has been attributed to technological advancement. Recently for example British Scientists announced that they had discovered the manufacture of artificial sperms which can allow women to produce babies without men.

According to the writer, the centre of future shock was that change in socio-economic endeavors of the world would greatly be accelerated and which is eminently evident today.



In what the author depicts as the fourth wave, future generations would remember the modern trends in the world as primitive, stupid and ignorant. This is the true essence of the future shock” He says.

Power shift deals with conflicts, wealth, and knowledge and the role they play in world society today. The book extradites old and modern patterns of power in public offices, the media, religion, business, national and international politics and economies.

Use of internet technology negligible in Africa

An opinion by Eric Sindabi

The internet was invented in USA to speed up Information sharing by the military and other stake holders during world war. Today however internet technology is a world wide link of millions of computer networks to share information. The internet has speed up globalization in what is referred to as “global village” or “information superhighway”. It is also what information scientists refer to as “information explosion”

Critics have described internet technology as “the biggest technological generation gap in history” This means that the speed of retrieving and the scope of information needed by a user is a great milestone in technological advancement. There are no, at all, political or any other kinds of boundaries on the exchange of information. Indeed communicating and sourcing information resources through the internet can be one of the most convenient, easier, advanced and economical way of embracing development.

Nevertheless the use of internet technology in Africa has ever since been a paradox. This accounts to the many reasons why the continent is still lagging behind in many development and social sectors. Globalization is like a whip-which strikes unexpectedly and Africa seems to have been whipped. Lack of appropriate governments’ policies guiding technological developments rapes the continent and denies Africans a chance to play on the same levels in globalization. In fact statistics indicate that Africa is rated the lowest in the use of internet technology with a mere 1% as compared to 78% USA, 11% Europe and 9%Asia.

It is profound to note that education and ignorance, accessibility, social and political factors contribute a great deal, why the use of internet technology is negligible in the continent. African governments should for example create independent and competent technological sectors to guide and implement all matters of technology.

Introducing information technology courses at all levels of education can also be a great leap in embracing the use of technology in the continent. Governments should also impact on the training of more information technology experts as well as providing tangible incentives for the growth of information technology. Parliaments should also revise existing laws on technology and communications developments. For example all sectors of the economy should embrace the use of information technology starting from; agriculture, transport, and commerce. All government sectors and functions should also embrace technology in management and implementation of policies.

This will ensure that better services are supplied to citizens hence improving their lives. Social scientists hint that the hallmark of great civilizations has been their systems of communications. We ought not to be left behind. We must wake up!