Technological revolution

New technologies and new or redefined industries

New or redefined infrastructures

FIRST:

From 1771. The 'Industrial Revolution'; Britain

Mechanized cotton industry

Wrought iron

Machinery

Canals and waterways

Turnpike roads

water power (highly improved water wheels)

SECOND:

From 1829 Age of Steam and Railways In Britain and spreading to Continent and USA

Steam engines and machinery (made in iron; fueled by coal)

Iron and coal mining (now playing a central role in growth)

Railway construction

Rolling stock production

Steam power for many industries (including textiles

Railways (Use of steam engine)

Universal ostal service

Telegraph (mainly nationally along railway lines)

Great ports, great depots and worldwide sailing ships

City gas

THIRD:

From 1875 'Age of Steel, Electricity and Heavy Engineering' USA and Germany overtaking Britain

Cheap steel (especially Bessemer)

Full development of steam engine for steel ships

Heavy chemistry and civil engineering

Electrical equipment industry

Copper and cables

Canned and bottled food

Paper and packaging

Worldwide shipping in rapid steel steamships (use of Suez Canal)

Worldwide railways (use of cheap steel rails and bolts in standard sizes).

Great bridges and tunnels

Worldwide Telegraph

Telephone (mainly nationally)

Electrical networks (for illumination and industrial use)

FOURTH:

From 1908 'Age of Oil, the Automobile and Mass Production In USA and spreading to Europe

Mass-produced automobiles

Cheap oil and oil fuels

Petrochemicals (synthetics)

Internal combustion engine for automobiles, transport, tractors, airplanes, war tanks and electricity

Home electrical appliances

Refrigerated and frozen foods

Networks of roads, highways, ports and airports

Networks of oil ducts

Universal electricity (industry and homes) Worldwide analog telecommunications (telephone, telex and cablegram) wire and wireless

FIFTH:

From 1971 'Age of Information and Telecommunications In USA, spreading to Europe and Asia

The information revolution:

Cheap microelectronics.

Computers, software

Telecommunications

Control instruments

Computer-aided biotechnology and new materials

World digital telecommunications (cable, fiber optics, radio and satellite)

Internet/Electronic mail and other e-services

SIXTH?:

2020 'Age of Personal Digital Fabrication' Europe, USA, Japan (spreading world wide)

Modularized, distributed, adaptive, and self replicating energy, communications, and manufacturing

Innovation and anticipatory web based technologies are used to accelerate technological development itself

Decentralised solar electricity networks

Automated physical transport links (by land, air and water)

Interlinked products of non-commercial industry become the infrastructure. Transition in political economy from 'financial capital' to 'financial commons'* to 'free use commons'