Information Age: Digital Technologies, Media, and Society

Vocabulary flashcards covering the characteristics, evolution, generational adaptation, risks, and ethical issues of the Information Age.

Information Age

The time when digital technology, the internet, and data became a major part of everyday life, characterized by the transition from systems that produce goods to those that create knowledge.

Industrial Age

An era lasting from the $18^{th}$ Century to the Late $20^{th}$ Century, centered on mechanization, mass production, and manual labor.

Knowledge Economies

An outcome of the Information Age shift where knowledge is the key resource and innovation and creativity drive growth.

Platform-Based Societies

Societies where digital platforms connect producers and consumers, creating value through network effects and new business models.

Mainframes

Room-sized computers from the $1940s-1960s$ that were accessible only to large institutions.

Minicomputers

Smaller and more affordable computing devices from the $1970s-1980s$ used by businesses and research labs.

Personal Computers

Computing devices for individuals that began the desktop revolution in the $1990s$.

Smartphones

Powerful, always-connected computers described as being in our pockets during the $2010s$.

Internet of Things (IoT)

The connection of everyday objects to the digital world through smart, connected devices that generate real-time data.

Datafication

The process where daily life activities that were once unmeasured are now captured, stored, and analyzed to drive decisions and innovation.

Big Data

Large-scale data characterized by High Volume, High Velocity, High Variety, and High Value.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

A component of AI that enables machines to understand and generate human language, such as chatbots and voice assistants.

Computer Vision

A field of AI allowing machines to see, identify, and classify objects in images and videos for applications like medical diagnosis and autonomous vehicles.

Baby Boomers

The generation born between $1946-1964$ who typically learn and adapt to digital tools later in life.

Generation Z

Digital natives born between $1997-2012$ characterized by hyperconnectivity and highly skilled multitasking.

Generation Alpha

The generation born between $2013-2024$ who interact with Al-integrated and immersive digital environments.

Cultural globalization

A social impact of digital media that connects the world while still potentially preserving local identity through digital localization.

Surveillance Capitalism

A risk where companies collect and profit from personal data through tracking and profiling, often without full transparency or consent.

Deepfakes

AI-created fake videos, audio, and images that look real, used to deceive or manipulate people.

Digital Divide

The gap in access to digital technology and the internet across regions and groups which limits opportunities and deepens inequality.