Today, we’ll explore two closely related but distinct concepts: Industry 4.0 and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).

These terms are often used interchangeably but have specific differences, as highlighted in the diagram. Let’s dive in step by step.

1. Revolution vs Evolution

The first thing we need to clarify is the difference between revolution and evolution:

• Revolution refers to sudden and drastic change. Think of it as a leap forward that quickly transforms industries and societies.
• Evolution, on the other hand, is slow and gradual progress. Changes happen incrementally over time.

Key question: Are we adopting Industry 4.0 technologies suddenly (revolution) or gradually (evolution)? This can vary depending on the industry and region.

2. What is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 focuses on manufacturing and improving industrial processes through advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and robotics. It is the fourth stage in the progression of industrial advancements:

Industry 1.0 (1784):

• Introduction of mechanisation and steam power.
• Example: Steam engines powering factories.

Industry 2.0 (1870):

• Electrical power enabled mass production.
• Example: Assembly lines in factories.

Industry 3.0 (1969):

• Use of computers, electronics, and automation.
• Example: Robots performing repetitive tasks on manufacturing floors.

Industry 4.0 (Today):

• Cyber-physical systems integrating IoT, AI, VR, and robotics.
• Example: Smart factories where machines communicate and operate autonomously.

3. What is Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0)?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution goes beyond manufacturing. It’s about integrating these technologies across all industries and even societies. While Industry 4.0 focuses on production, IR 4.0 impacts healthcare, education, agriculture, and more.

A key question: Are we adopting these 4.0 technologies evenly across all sectors, or is there a focus on specific areas like manufacturing?

4. The Connection Between Industry 4.0 and IR 4.0

Think of Industry 4.0 as a subset of the broader IR 4.0. Industry 4.0 is about the transformation of manufacturing, whereas IR 4.0 encompasses societal changes.

Here’s an example:

• Industry 4.0: A factory using IoT sensors to monitor equipment health and reduce downtime.
• IR 4.0: IoT sensors used in agriculture to monitor soil moisture for precision farming.

5. Societal Progression Through Industrial Revolutions

The diagram also highlights how societies have evolved alongside industrial advancements:

1. Society 1.0: Hunting society — Humans relied on nature and survival skills.
2. Society 2.0: Agriculture society- farming practices transformed societies.
3. Society 3.0: Industrial society — industries became the backbone of economies.
4. Society 4.0: Information society – driven by computers and the internet.
5. Society 5.0 (Japan’s Vision):

• A super-smart society where technology integrates seamlessly to improve quality of life.
• Focus on AI, robotics, and IoT to solve societal challenges.

6. Why is This Important?

Understanding these concepts helps us prepare for the future:

• For businesses: Knowing the difference between Industry 4.0 and IR 4.0 helps align strategies.
• For individuals: Skills like AI, IoT, and data analytics are becoming essential.
• For society: IR 4.0 encourages us to consider how technology can address global challenges like sustainability and healthcare.

Final Thoughts: Industry 4.0 is revolutionising manufacturing, while IR 4.0 is shaping the future of entire societies.

As we move forward, we aim to embrace these technologies for efficiency and to build a more intelligent, inclusive world.

[You can download the IoT Notes here]

Today, we’ll explore the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and its significance. This diagram breaks it down into easy-to-understand sections, so let’s walk through it step by step.

1. The Differences Between Revolution and Evolution

Let’s first clarify why it’s called a revolution and not an evolution.

Revolution:

• Sudden and drastic changes that transform industries and societies.
• Think of it as a dramatic leap forward in technology and processes.

Evolution:

• Gradual and slow progress over time.

IR 4.0 is a revolution because it represents rapid and significant advancements in how we live and work.

2. The Bigger Picture: Industry 4.0 vs IR 4.0

It’s important to understand that Industry 4.0 is just a subset of IR 4.0.

• Industry 4.0 focuses on manufacturing and improving industrial processes using automation, IoT, and robotics.
• IR 4.0, however, encompasses much more:
• It impacts various sectors, such as education, healthcare, shopping, and agriculture.
• It’s a broad transformation, not limited to factories or industries.

3. The Lifestyle Through Industrial Revolutions

Let’s now look at how each industrial revolution shaped our lifestyle:

IR 1.0 — The Age of Manual Tools:

• People relied on physical and manual tools for work.
• Example: Ploughing fields with hand tools.

IR 2.0 — The Power of Electricity:

• Electricity revolutionised industries, enabling mass production.
• Example: Electric machines replaced manual labour.

IR 3.0 — The Digital Era:

• The rise of electronics and the internet connected the world.
• Example: Computers, email, and early e-commerce.

IR 4.0 — The Intelligence Revolution:

• We’re now using intelligence through AI, robotics, and advanced technologies.
• Example: Autonomous robots, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR).

4. Example: How Shopping Evolved

Let’s take shopping as an example of how each industrial revolution changed this activity:

• IR 1.0: People used cash for transactions.
• IR 2.0: The cash register was introduced, improving the checkout process.
• IR 3.0: Credit cards and online shopping emerged with the internet.
• IR 4.0: We see robotics and AR/VR enhancing the shopping experience, like virtual try-ons or automated warehouses.

Why is IR 4.0 Important?

IR 4.0 is transforming every aspect of our lives, from how we work and learn to how we interact with technology. It’s about leveraging intelligence to solve problems, improve efficiency, and create new possibilities.

[Note: You can download the full eBook — IoT Notes by Mazlan Abbas]

Today, we’ll examine how the Internet of Things (IoT) played a critical role in combating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The diagram clearly shows the impacts, technologies, and solutions IoT provided during this global crisis.

1. The Serious Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 affected every corner of our lives, especially in two major areas:

Economy

• Social distancing disrupted manual jobs and heavily impacted daily income earners (“kais pagi makan pagi” — hand-to-mouth living).
• Businesses relying on outside dependency suffered due to travel and supply chain restrictions.
• Cost-cutting became essential across all sectors.
• The lack of a cohesive ecosystem made economic recovery slower.

Health

• Health became a top priority.
• Awareness and consciousness about hygiene, social distancing, and health monitoring increased.
• Technology began to take centre stage in health-related solutions.

2. IoT Technologies Used

IoT, combined with IR 4.0 technologies (Industry 4.0), came into action to address these challenges. Let’s explore the tools and methods:

Robots

• Used for tasks like disinfection and delivery, especially in hospitals and public spaces, reducing human contact.

IoT

• Enabled real-time data collection and monitoring for health checks and remote patient management applications.

Drones

• Delivered essential items to maintain social distancing were used to monitor lockdown areas.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Enhanced contact tracing, temperature scanning, and predictive analytics to track the virus’s spread.

3. Practical Applications of IoT

IoT was at the heart of the pandemic response, enabling innovative applications:

Contact Tracing

• Mobile apps and wearable devices tracked individuals’ interactions, helping to identify and isolate potential cases.

Health Monitoring

• Remote patient monitoring systems allowed hospitals to track patients’ vital signs without physical visits.
• Temperature scanning systems were widely deployed in public places.

Environmental Monitoring

• IoT sensors monitor air quality and other environmental factors to maintain healthy surroundings.

Remote Operations

• IoT enabled it to manage utilities like remote meter reading and asset tracking.

Delivery Drones

• Delivered medicines, food, and other essentials, reducing human-to-human interaction.

4. The Role of Digitalisation

With physical interactions limited, digitalisation became a key enabler:

Online Presence

• Businesses and retail shifted online to continue operations.
• Education moved to online platforms, and virtual meetings became the norm.

Robots and Automation

• Robots handled repetitive tasks, like disinfection, to maintain hygiene standards.

Conclusion

IoT proved to be a game-changer during COVID-19. It connected people, devices, and systems, enabling effective solutions for healthcare, economic recovery, and safety.

The pandemic highlighted the importance of leveraging IoT for crisis management and showed us how technology can adapt to save lives and sustain economies.

[Full IoT Notes can be downloaded HERE]