The industrial revolution is a process that involves a drastic and irreversible transformation. Starting from the production system it involves the process and disrupts the whole economic system and the entire social system. In these processes there is a strong component of technological innovation and great phenomena of growth and economic development. At the present time one can classify three periods of great changes:

1) First Industrial Revolution (1780-1870). It moves from the agricultural and craft-trade system to a modern industrial system characterized by the massive use of machines (steam) driven by mechanical energy and the use of new energy sources, fossil fuels. The process refers mainly textiles and metallurgy.

2) Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1970). It develops over a century with the introduction of electricity, chemicals and crude oil. There are also fundamental discoveries in the field of electrical and electronics (semiconductors) and the widthespread use of radio, telephone, and television. The term essentially ends with the landing of the first American astronauts on the moon, and the beginning decline of communist states.

3) Third Industrial Revolution (1970-2070) is made starting from 1970, referring to the effects of the introduction of electronics, telecommunications, computer science, and robotics, the latter particularly in industry. All of us, including this writer, we are deeply immersed. This writer at the end of the second revolution was the age of 28: it can be said that the differences between then and now are really abysmal. Certain things today, already imagined for grandparents, transported in 1970 would seem to magic.

4) The fourth industrial revolution (2070 -?). This writer will not come to see it, but one can think that it will be the most important period in the whole evolution of the human species, bringing unprecedented challenges in the organization of society. Changes will occur never encountered in the past, due to the generalized replacement of human labor with that of thinking machines, equipped with almost complete autonomy. Consequently the market of goods, services, and in particular the labor market will have to be drastically changed. New scientific and technological means shall give the lead to the conquest of new spaces for the expansion of the human species out of our earth and the solar system. Provided that before the mankind doesn't destroy itself or face other crap.

Lino Bertuzzi - Rome February 2014