When did the information revolution begin?

Answer 1

If you want the true start to the information age you have to go back to 1456.

That is when Guttenberg created the first method of storing and sharing knowledge in a consistent, available, and readable format.

Prior to 1456, when Gutenberg successfully used his new printing press, knowledge was only available to the wealthy and powerful who could afford books that were written by hand and could only be duplicated with great pains by monks.

Those in power kept them closely guarded. Information was not available to the masses. Mass production of books lowered the cost and raised availability. This spread of knowledge, led the world out of the dark ages, gave wings to the Renaissance and birth to the industrial revolution.

If you want a truly technical answer: 1947 was when the transistor was invented, making modern day computing more possible.

Or 1961 when the Silicon chip was invented enabled smaller faster computers.

Or 1980 when IBM developed the personal computer. Before that computers were only used by government and corporations.

I like Gutenberg's invention though - that's when information began to spread and it advanced the world.

Answer 2

2008

Answer 3

1950