We are all aware of the first and second industrial revolutions as described in our Text: “Technology and American Society," and how they have influenced our lives This material has been presented in a limited amount so we may have an understanding of the major technological transformations of the last three centuries and the causes and effects of technological change. 1I will present in this paper a limited view of a subject not covered or classified, which (if not already) has affected our lives. Even though the Electronic Revolution is a broad statement in itself, and may have different meanings to many people, I will concentrate on one aspect of this Electronic Revolution; “The World Wide Web." But what is the World Wide Web? Where did it come from, and why is it so popular and so potentially important? Is it a system of both communications and publication? How does it work, what effect does it have on our lives, and what can we expect in its future? These are the questions I will attempt to answer.The Industrial Revolution dominated the economy. Half of the population contributed to the manufacturing of man-made goods. The enactment of the Patent Law of 1790, the improvements with our infrastructure, and the availability of a vast array of natural resources entered us into the modern era of the factory, and rapid technological change. The Second Industrial Revolution was of course related to the first except for it's growth, which was even faster. Major developments with the internal combustion engine, electricity, chemicals, continued improvements of transportation and the organized research lab propelled us into the Twentieth Century.The Electronic Revolution, related to both revolutions has produced technological changes even more rapidly than the first two. Major developments with metallurgy, solar and nuclear power, circuit boards, microprocessors, and the establishment of the “Information Highway” ...
