“The next information revolution is forcing us to redefine what business enterprise actually is—the creation of value and wealth.”—Peter Drucker

Three decades ago, we wrote our reports using a manual typewriter and loads of correction fluid, and bond paper in case we made typing errors. We made computations using calculators. For complicated formulas, we wrote down results on a yellow pad from initial computations to be used for succeeding computations.

Telephones were colored black with a rotating dialer. There would be cross lines; we regularly fought with our party line because we were waiting for an important call. The library used a card catalog. We browsed through the index cards and wrote down the numbers of the books before deciding to look for the books on the shelves.

Then personal computers started to arrive in educational institutions and organizations. The machines excited the users even if they had only 64kB RAM, a 360kB capacity floppy drive to store programs and data. We had in our diskette box numerous programs such as Wordstar and Multiplan which automated the preparation of reports and computation of more complicated formulas without the use of calculators. Our printers were dot matrix which used ribbons that were cheap but noisy in their operations. This marked the beginning of the PC revolution.

IBM, the biggest information-technology company then, launched its line of personal computers. The IBM PC XT and subsequent models’ sales growth surpassed Apple computer models, which eventually lead to the global domination by IBM of personal computers. But IBM’s failure in the PC revolution it started and dominated was that it focused only on being excellent and on its past success in the use of bigger mainframes and minicomputers and providing services for operating these machines.

A number of software vendors, the makers of DOS-based packaged software, became overnight millionaires during this revolution. Until Microsoft Windows launched its Version 3 in 1990, these companies were complacent in releasing new versions to make the use of their software easier for the users. In a short span of time, Microsoft dominated the office-automation software and made DOS software obsolete and these millionaires bankrupt.

Imagine, new communication devices called pagers were once considered status symbols. These were carried and shown off by professionals and students in the manner that owners of expensive mobile phones do today.  Nobody thought these devices would become obsolete so soon because of mobile-phone devices. Akin to household and office phones, these little machines not only allowed voice calls but text-messaging services as well. This was the birth of the mobile- communication revolution.

Imagine sending out electronic mail to anybody located anywhere in the world. Despite the slowness of Internet during its debut, users waited patiently to download their favorite Hollywood actresses on their computers. This was the first time we were getting direct access to news and information on any topic we desired. The Internet revolution was born.

Who would have thought of packing more than 200 MP3 songs in a single CD that normally contained only 18 standard songs without lowering its audio quality? With increased broadband connection, users can now watch and download movies. Sending instant messages to other online and offline users became a part of normal day-to-day routine. International and local publications became online and available to whoever was interested. Playing multiplayer games simultaneously with other patrons locally and internationally gained acceptance. Even users became updated with video scandals as soon as the news leaked out. Before the day ended, the gossipers would be watching the downloaded video with friends on their mobile phones.

Developments in Web 2.0 technologies and eLearning 2.0 technologies allow ordinary users to have a part in supplying microcontent to web sites they visit. Online newspapers provide a comment portion for users. Blogs and wikis, written by ordinary users and not professional writers, are gaining momentum in providing insights on various topics of interest.

YouTube, a video-sharing web site, has become a medium for advertising for many companies where they showcase their products in video format. Multiply, a photo-sharing social-networking site, has become a virtual storefront where products are showcased. Enterprising individuals are creating Facebook groups to entice users with similar interest to patronize their product or service.  In these web sites, users are provided an opportunity to inquire into and comment on the subject of the photo or video.

Innovative ways of using these technologies have made dramatic changes not only in ourselves but also in our society. In 2001 text messaging was credited for People Power 2, which provided a change in leadership for the Filipino people. The victory of President Obama was greatly attributed to the use of social-networking technology such as Facebook and Twitter. Two Filipino singers gained international stardom due to a video posted by fans on YouTube. Users of Facebook were busy posting updates and requests for donations during and after the great flooding disaster in Metro Manila recently.

A revolution can be defined as a “drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving.” These technologies—PC, mobile, and Internet—may be qualified to have spurred a revolution because they changed the way we think, behave and act as individuals, as part of a group or community.

It is not enough that business organizations continue to celebrate their past success and hope that customers will continue doing business with them. Enterprising competitors, new and old alike, will find means of using technology to provide a much-better product with more value and better service at the same price.

I imagine a new revolution in the next two or three years. Netbooks for everybody, complete with a simple operating system that will just connect to the Internet through the browser. All office automation applications are online. Data can be stored also online. This would result in massive reduction in software costs for the enterprise. This phenomenon, if it comes about, will lead to a subsequent reduction of sales in our favorite operating system and office automation software.

In the same manner, all mobile phones would eventually have Internet access. Having such, free calls can be made using Skype. Free text messaging can be made through Chikka. While this would benefit the consumer greatly, it would serve as a challenge to think of new business models for the telecommunication companies.

Of course, these are just predictions. But if we consider the rapid pace of developments in technology, we can say with some degree of certainty that it’s only a matter of time now before they arrive. And if we are lucky enough, we’d still be here to witness their birth—right before our eyes.

Benedict L. Avila is a professor of the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle University teaching information management and conducting IT workshops.