Alvin Toffler

Article Summary

John S Veitch
The Network Ambassador

Alvin Toffler (born October 3, 1928) is an American writer and futurist.
His early work focused on technology and its impact (through effects like information overload).
His later focus has been on the increasing power of 21st century military hardware, weapons and technology proliferation, and capitalism.
"Society needs people who work in hospitals. Society needs all kinds of skills that are not just cognitive; they're emotional, they're affectional."
In his book The Third Wave Toffler describes three types of societies, based on the concept of 'waves'.
First Wave: is the society that replaced the first hunter-gatherer cultures. Agricultural societies.
Second Wave: The main components of the Second Wave society are nuclear family, factory-type education system and the corporation.
Third Wave: In the post-industrial society, where mass customization offers the possibility of cheap, personalized, production catering to small niches.
Alvin Toffler explains the three waves of change leading to the information society.
We are in the middle of this change but most of us behave as though nothing is happening.
China is trying to create a harmonious society. GDP growth cannot for long continue at present rates in China.
The development Toffler believes this era's greatest turning point is the creation of wealth in outer space.
Global positioning satellites are key to synchronising precision time and data streams for everything from cellphone calls to ATM withdrawals.

If you need the original article it's here.