The rapid advancement of today’s industrial world can be traced back to the First Industrial Revolution in the 1760s in England, marked by James Watt’s invention of the steam engine, which transformed labor systems from agricultural to industrial. However, even with the arrival of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, where humans coexist with technology, its benefits should not be limited to only a few.
“Society must continue to develop strong digital knowledge and skills to build intelligent, creative, and adaptive communities that grow alongside sustainable development,” said UGM historian Dr. Nur Aini Setiawati, during the opening of History Week, themed “Industry in the Flow of Indonesian History,” held on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, at the Auditorium of the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM).
During the First Industrial Revolution, the world underwent a significant transformation in the economic sector, shifting from agrarian-based activities to machine-powered industrial production that processed agricultural outputs into ready-to-use products.
In the era of Dutch colonial rule, industrial machinery was introduced in sugar mills, coffee processing, and large plantations.
However, the resulting wealth was enjoyed by only a small elite rather than the local people.
The concept of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0), introduced by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, aims to integrate the virtual (cyber) and physical worlds.
In this era, humans coexist with intelligent technologies to solve social challenges in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
According to Dr. Setiawati, this new era requires individuals to enhance their digital literacy in order to adapt effectively to the complex social changes.
“The concept of Society 5.0 connects the cyber world and the physical world, enabling humans to live in harmony with technology while addressing multifaceted social challenges,” she explained.
She further noted that today’s industrial revolutions not only expand opportunities for MSME growth, digital innovation, and e-commerce but also create new jobs in technology, logistics, and digital marketing, while improving service efficiency.
“People must become technologically literate and possess strong digital competence to continue adapting in an ever-evolving digital world,” she concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: Salwa and Wikimedia Commons