"Main Stages of Knowledge Technology Development"   by Gregory Gromov*
Knowledge Production
Main Landmarks of Knowledge Technology Time Vector from
Present Time
[years]		 General Description of the Techological Stage Achived Level of Knowledge Technology Prevaling Type of Production Culture Typical Production Process Speed Rate of the Production Process
Gross Output: total production growth Nomenclature: Production Diversity Growth


Cave Art


Writing

   30 -- 20
   thousands

   6 thousands		 Pre-machine Stage:

first counting tools made of bone or stone, calendar, pre-mechanical (sun, water, ... , etc.) clock, compass, paper, books.		 Manual

technology of knowledge recording		 Contemplative:

artistic in static 		Craft Industry:

small-scale or unique production

   Slow

   Slow
Publishing:
Book-printing		 500 First Information Revolution            

Telegraph

Photography

Radio

Computer
170

- " -

100

60		 Mechanized Stage:

printing press, mechanical clock, telegraph, photography, telephone, phonograph, radio, movies, tape recording, television, computer 		Mechanized

technology of knowledge circulation		 Mechanistic

formal logical		 Mechanized

mass production of standardized articles

   Quick

   Slow
Personal Computers 20 Second Information Revolution            




?



?		 Simbiotic Stage:

PC "game features", personal workstations, local area networks, systems providing direct personal access to the branch, regional and worldwide informational resources 		Mechanized

technology of knowledge circulation		 Man-computer

technology of knowledge autoformalization		 Game-like style:

artistic in dynamics

   Quick

   Quick**
? ? Third Information Revolution            
 

*/ Source: Autoformalisation -- Knowledge Acquisition of the Professional Skills" by Gregory Gromov
 Microprocessor Devices & Systems, Moscow, 1986, N 3, p.88
 

**/ Note: For the first time the computer proves capable of help Man in extending the limits of his imagination and enrich diversity of the new solutions, rather than just increasing his physical ability for multiple repetition of the previously found solutions. The so-called PC "game-component" (or "game-features") served as a "detonator" of this explosive type process. For more detail refer to the article: "Game Component of the Personal Computer" by Gregory Gromov, Microprocessor Devices and Systems, 1984, #1, p. 46-47. See also the corresponding chapter in the above-mentioned book "National Informational Resources: ..." by Gregory Gromov, Nauka, Moscow, 1984, p.124-127