In the first program, 1936 to 1951, Alan Turing lays the groundwork for the creation of the modern computer and John Von Neumann creates the working architecture of all computers going forward. However, the technological breakthrough that changed everything was the invention of the transistor in 1947. This program also explores how the building of large mainframe computers helped develop the hydrogen bomb, how the commercial aspect of computers could be exploited, and how, from the beginning, computers opened up the possibility of artificial intelligence.

In the second program, 1952 to 1964, it becomes clear that for the commercialization and scientific research standardized programs shared by everybody were necessary for rapid development. Two of the early success stories were FORTRAN and COBOL. At the same time, the breakthrough technological innovation was the invention of the integrated circuit – the silicon chip. It was also becoming clear that in the digital realm everything was changing and growing exponentially. This became known as Moore’s law, which said that microchips’ speed as well as reduction in cost would double every year. In addition, Marvin Minsky invented the first analog artificial neural net and John McCarthy coined the term ‘artificial intelligence.’

In the third program, 1964 to 1979, exponential change becomes the driving force behind the digital economy. A giant step was taken when visionary J.C.R. Licklider brought the Internet into existence by standardizing the ability of computers to talk to each other. This monumental step forward is followed shortly after by the creation of email, making the ‘@’ symbol the best-known symbol in the world. The invention of computer games changes the world of entertainment. At the same time, Bill Gates and Paul Allen do the unthinkable when there is software introduces the personal computer to the world. With their proprietary operating system Microsoft dominates into the future computers for everyone.

In the fourth program, 1976 to 1993, Apple Computers, the second of the giant personal computer companies is founded by Steven Jobs and Steve Wozniak. A giant step in Internet protocol is taken when Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web. His invention not only allows every computer to speak to each other and become searchable but most importantly establishes decentralized control of the Internet. Everyone is free to create their own website, paving the way for the Internet boom. At the same time artificial intelligence scientists explore new ways to allow computers to learn.

In the fifth program, 1994 to 2002, the Internet explodes, creating the Dotcom boom. People and businesses from all walks of life try their hand at building Internet-based businesses. However, one of the main characteristics of the digital economy is that it becomes a winner take all phenomenon. The big winners include Yahoo, Amazon, Google and eBay. At the same time, the ‘Cloud’ is introduced. People and businesses can store and access digital information on servers operated by the same digital winners. During this time robots become part of manufacturing and the Roomba vacuum cleaner becomes the first smart robot in the home.

In the sixth program, 2003 to 2013, Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook, a revolutionary idea that provides everybody with their personal webpage, the ability to exchange information with friends and family and to form new online communities. At the same time YouTube democratizes the sharing of videos while Uber and Airbnb initiate the sharing economy by utilizing the Internet. Finally, artificial intelligence moves out of the dark ages when deep learning, based on artificial neural nets, comes of age, leading to advances in smart technology in virtually every field of science and business.

In the seventh and final program, 2014 to 2021, the full impact of the digital economy is in plain view. Smart phones give everyone a supercomputer in their hands. The world is now connected in a way it has never been before. Smart technology, based on artificial intelligence, is a must for every business to succeed. Self-driving vehicles are becoming a reality. Quantum computers are able to solve problems inaccessible to traditional computers. The block chain provides a new way of handling transactions. Just as the Internet did for connectivity the block chain and crypto currencies, are in the process of eliminating middlemen and their role as keepers of records of those transactions. Perhaps most importantly, the next phase of the digital revolution is at humanity’s fingertips with the direct joining of people and computers to produce a new form of super intelligence capable of further extending the exponential change started in the 1930s.