After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

• Explain what “flatness” means with respect to the relationship between the world’s countries and peoples.
• Define “digitization” and the concepts of the “digital age” and the “digital revolution.”
• Identify the key technological changes that have taken place in the modern era and explain their significance.
• Define the “industrial revolution” and explain the main changes that took place during its course.
• Identify the different eras of computing and their major features.
• Explain the political, economic, and social implications of new technologies.