--- title: "Knowledge and characteristics of information age" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:knowledge-info-age-characteristics" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/knowledge-info-age-characteristics site: BCT Engineering --- # Knowledge and characteristics of information age Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 1: Technology - Asked in: 2075 Asoj, 8 marks - Video: [INFORMATION AGE | INFORMATIVE VIDEO | #STS12 | MICHIERO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o0YuINB_uY) — Michiero - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/knowledge-info-age-characteristics - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-1 ## Question Why knowledge is important in the information age. Also write down characteristics of the information age. ## Short answer Knowledge is the main resource of production, wealth and power in the information age. It drives employability, innovation, better decisions and global opportunities. Characteristics include information as the key resource, digital technologies, knowledge workers, service-based economy, globalisation, networked organisations, flexible work, rapid change and lifelong learning. ## Answer #### Why knowledge is important in the information age In the information age, knowledge and information are the main resources of production, power and wealth, just as land was in the agricultural age and machines in the industrial age. 1. **Source of wealth:** knowledge creates software, patents, designs and services that earn far more than raw materials. Knowledge-based firms are the world's richest. 2. **Employability:** jobs need education and ICT skills; knowledge workers (engineers, analysts, doctors, designers) earn high incomes, while unskilled jobs are automated. 3. **Innovation and competitiveness:** new products and services come from research; firms and nations that do not keep learning fall behind (e.g. Kodak, Nokia). 4. **Better decision making:** accurate data on markets, weather, health and finance lets people, companies and governments decide wisely. 5. **Power:** control of information gives political, economic and military advantage. 6. **Rapid change:** technology changes quickly, so continuous (lifelong) learning is required to stay relevant. 7. **Empowerment:** knowledge of rights, health and markets empowers citizens, women and farmers. 8. **Global opportunities:** with knowledge and internet, a person in Nepal can work for clients worldwide through IT outsourcing and freelancing. #### Characteristics of the information age - **Information as the main resource** and economic product. - **Digital technologies:** computers, internet, mobile phones, cloud, AI and big data. - **Knowledge workers** form a large part of the workforce. - **Service-based economy:** IT, banking, education, health and media dominate over manufacturing. - **Globalisation:** instant worldwide communication, global markets and e-commerce. - **Networked and flat organisations:** less hierarchy, teamwork and remote collaboration. - **Flexible work:** work from home, freelancing and gig work. - **Customisation:** products and services tailored to individuals using data. - **Rapid change and short product life cycles.** - **Lifelong learning and online education.** - **New social issues:** digital divide, cyber crime, privacy loss, information overload, misinformation. - **Less dependence on physical location:** a company can operate anywhere. | Age | Main resource | |---|---| | Agricultural | Land and labour | | Industrial | Capital and machines | | Information | Knowledge and information | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Knowledge in the information age is to wealth as ___ was in the agricultural age. A. Land B. Machines C. Coal D. Steam Answer: A. Land was the main resource in the agricultural age, machines in industrial, knowledge in information. (Key point: Knowledge as resource) 2. Why is lifelong learning required in the information age? A. Technology changes quickly B. Schools are closed C. Jobs never change D. Knowledge is stable Answer: A. Rapid change means skills must be continuously updated. (Key point: Lifelong learning) 3. Which jobs are being automated according to the answer? A. Engineers and doctors B. Unskilled jobs C. Analysts D. Designers Answer: B. Knowledge workers earn well while unskilled jobs are automated. (Key point: Employability) 4. Organisations in the information age are typically: A. Tall and hierarchical B. Networked and flat with remote collaboration C. Tied to a factory location D. Family-run only Answer: B. They are flat and networked, with less hierarchy and dependence on location. (Key point: Organisation features) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Information age characteristics and unmasking social problems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainfo-age-unmask-problems) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Characteristics of agriculture, industrial and information age](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aagriculture-industrial-info-age) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Industrial vs information age; information as wealth](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aindustrial-vs-info-age-wealth) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Information age and digital technology against COVID-19](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainfo-age-covid-digital) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Compare industrial age and information age](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acompare-industrial-info-age) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Short note: Information age](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainformation-age-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Data mining and business knowledge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Adata-mining-business-knowledge) — Information System, chapter 4 - [Knowledge management vs expert systems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Akm-vs-expert-systems) — Information System, chapter 4 - [Knowledge management and KM triangle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Aknowledge-management-hierarchy) — Information System, chapter 4