Information Age

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/information-age

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the period of emergence?Late 20th century, marked by the widespread adoption of digital technologies
2. What is the foundational technologies?Microprocessor, personal computer, internet protocols (TCP/IP), World Wide Web
3. When did the Information Age start?It began in the 1970s, when new computer technology started to grow quickly.
4. How did computers become so small and cheap?The invention of the microprocessor made computers smaller and cheaper, so many people could use them.

Information Age: A historical period characterized by the shift from industrial production to the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information.
Digital Divide: The gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels regarding their opportunities to access information and communication technologies.
Network Effect: A phenomenon where a service or product becomes more valuable as more people use it, crucial for the growth of the internet and social media.