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Digital Shock: Seven Shocks that are Shaping the Future
In a world where technology shapes every aspect of our lives, “Digital Seven Shocks That Are Shaping the Future” delves into the profound disruptions we face today—and those still to come. Digital technologies like the Internet and social media have thrust us into unforeseen and new ways of life. We are also witnessing rapid advancements in fields such as Codifying Trust, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and others.
In this digital age, technology has transformed mobility and agriculture, but it has also led to resource depletion and health issues.
How did we manage these shifts in the past, and how will we cope with even greater changes in the present and future? Will we survive in the current world of the Internet, mobile phones, eCommerce, and social media? Or, are we in for a rude shock? Will we adapt or become a lonely ‘Society of One’?
“Digital Shock,” written by prominent global thought leaders and some of the most published authors of our time, identifies seven shocks we are all experiencing in the 21st century. These include coping with digital addiction, families living like roommates, the emergence of virtual communities, the borderless world of social media, lack of governance, and the need to adaptively reuse physical assets like factories and malls.
Contrary to doomsday thinkers, we believe humanity will not only absorb each shockbut also consider it as an opportunity for more discoveries and innovations. We foresee that with our cognitive capabilities, and some proactive planning by each individual and society, we will once again embrace the future not only to survive but also to thrive.
Hence, this book is neither academic nor prescriptive, nor is it a treatise on technology. It differs in its execution and engagement of this critical subject that impacts all our lives.
In this digital age, technology has transformed mobility and agriculture, but it has also led to resource depletion and health issues.
How did we manage these shifts in the past, and how will we cope with even greater changes in the present and future? Will we survive in the current world of the Internet, mobile phones, eCommerce, and social media? Or, are we in for a rude shock? Will we adapt or become a lonely ‘Society of One’?
“Digital Shock,” written by prominent global thought leaders and some of the most published authors of our time, identifies seven shocks we are all experiencing in the 21st century. These include coping with digital addiction, families living like roommates, the emergence of virtual communities, the borderless world of social media, lack of governance, and the need to adaptively reuse physical assets like factories and malls.
Contrary to doomsday thinkers, we believe humanity will not only absorb each shockbut also consider it as an opportunity for more discoveries and innovations. We foresee that with our cognitive capabilities, and some proactive planning by each individual and society, we will once again embrace the future not only to survive but also to thrive.
Hence, this book is neither academic nor prescriptive, nor is it a treatise on technology. It differs in its execution and engagement of this critical subject that impacts all our lives.
322 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 11, 2025
This is a very interesting book, though it makes for hard reading at times as you recognise yourself.
Any good always has a downside and this is detailed in the book.
Stick with it and find enlightenment
Any good always has a downside and this is detailed in the book.
Stick with it and find enlightenment
January 24, 2025
The authors have prepared a scholarly look at innovation and what it may mean for the future of society. In the past a change was gradual, but now they happen ever more swiftly.
This book is entirely American-centred, which can be annoying for a reader from elsewhere. For instance, the authors tell us all about copyright online issues and publication on platforms, saying there is no restriction on social media. However, the EU Digital Services Act, which came into force Nov. 2022, has placed considerable restrictions on them, and defamation laws are much stronger in Europe, so people in America can sue those who defame them on a site visible in Europe.
Much space is devoted to claims of Chinese firms' theft of US IP, but they don't mention the fact that there is no law protecting copyright in the PRC, a communist state. Chinese films are regularly pirated and sold openly.
Another issue is when the authors talk about giant companies "everyone uses", naming firms that only exist in America, so clearly everyone doesn't use them. A common fallacy is thinking that everyone in the world does what the people around you do. For instance, I don't use social media but the authors think everyone does. The authors think some twitter/x users just behave badly; they don't seem to have read about the troll farm in an office outside Moscow: 'Nothing is True and Everything is Possible' by Peter Pomerant.
The issues include working and shopping from home, which accelerated during the Pandemic. Thus office space was devalued, and shopping centres and those restaurants serving office districts closed or reduced staff. These are becoming stranded assets - paying no taxes. The authors suggest offices can be repurposed for inexpensive living space, which could work well, but many people don't actually want to live in a city centre, with higher crime rates, high traffic, no garden, and the remnants of soot and lead.
Cyber crime is covered, the anonymity of internet abusers and ransomware. The authors should be asking whether Bitcoin scams preying on seniors would still be advertised on facebook, if the owners of facebook were held liable for criminal losses incurred from ads they are paid to publish. Instead they (in a chapter on marketing) praise the targeted ads and their usefulness.
Another issue that annoyed me is when the authors blame streaming services for problems, like kids becoming addicted to watching, viewers watching all the episodes at once, etc. I don't use these services, nor the piracy ones. When I was growing up we were constantly told we were watching too much television, and parents scolded us for watching Doctor Who or Star Trek the one evening of the week it was shown, instead of coming to the dinner table, when the parents would have done better to move the time of dinner by half an hour. We had nothing else to do. Our pocket money did not often stretch to going to the cinema, we had read all our books and library books many time over, completed our jigsaws, played with our toys, and we wanted to experience life beyond our narrow boundaries. And in Ireland it rains. We did get fed up with cartoons and go do other things at some point. If we'd had a series to watch on streaming, we would have watched it and then done something else. Many people were inspired to take up careers by Star Trek, which provided positive role models. Many young folks watching a streamed series will decide to work in the film industry or other depicted industries. I would be much more inclined to blame violent shows and videogames for a steady desensitisation to violence among younger people.
AI is mentioned, not so much as it could be. (Amazon asks authors to declare if their books are in any way produced with AI. To avoid high Equity voice actor fees, some authors now use an AI voice to narrate audiobooks. New jobs include creating AI book covers, for sale to authors.) But mainly AI is already taking workers out of the job market, and they say: "A Gartner report shows that 33 percent of skills needed for a job posting in 2017 are not required in 2021."
References (to research papers and magazine articles) are in the text, and notes start on P.222 of 275. Some diagrams are provided but no photos. While I didn't learn a lot, I do read this kind of content as it occurs, and many students of the internet or societal change will find the book very useful.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
This book is entirely American-centred, which can be annoying for a reader from elsewhere. For instance, the authors tell us all about copyright online issues and publication on platforms, saying there is no restriction on social media. However, the EU Digital Services Act, which came into force Nov. 2022, has placed considerable restrictions on them, and defamation laws are much stronger in Europe, so people in America can sue those who defame them on a site visible in Europe.
Much space is devoted to claims of Chinese firms' theft of US IP, but they don't mention the fact that there is no law protecting copyright in the PRC, a communist state. Chinese films are regularly pirated and sold openly.
Another issue is when the authors talk about giant companies "everyone uses", naming firms that only exist in America, so clearly everyone doesn't use them. A common fallacy is thinking that everyone in the world does what the people around you do. For instance, I don't use social media but the authors think everyone does. The authors think some twitter/x users just behave badly; they don't seem to have read about the troll farm in an office outside Moscow: 'Nothing is True and Everything is Possible' by Peter Pomerant.
The issues include working and shopping from home, which accelerated during the Pandemic. Thus office space was devalued, and shopping centres and those restaurants serving office districts closed or reduced staff. These are becoming stranded assets - paying no taxes. The authors suggest offices can be repurposed for inexpensive living space, which could work well, but many people don't actually want to live in a city centre, with higher crime rates, high traffic, no garden, and the remnants of soot and lead.
Cyber crime is covered, the anonymity of internet abusers and ransomware. The authors should be asking whether Bitcoin scams preying on seniors would still be advertised on facebook, if the owners of facebook were held liable for criminal losses incurred from ads they are paid to publish. Instead they (in a chapter on marketing) praise the targeted ads and their usefulness.
Another issue that annoyed me is when the authors blame streaming services for problems, like kids becoming addicted to watching, viewers watching all the episodes at once, etc. I don't use these services, nor the piracy ones. When I was growing up we were constantly told we were watching too much television, and parents scolded us for watching Doctor Who or Star Trek the one evening of the week it was shown, instead of coming to the dinner table, when the parents would have done better to move the time of dinner by half an hour. We had nothing else to do. Our pocket money did not often stretch to going to the cinema, we had read all our books and library books many time over, completed our jigsaws, played with our toys, and we wanted to experience life beyond our narrow boundaries. And in Ireland it rains. We did get fed up with cartoons and go do other things at some point. If we'd had a series to watch on streaming, we would have watched it and then done something else. Many people were inspired to take up careers by Star Trek, which provided positive role models. Many young folks watching a streamed series will decide to work in the film industry or other depicted industries. I would be much more inclined to blame violent shows and videogames for a steady desensitisation to violence among younger people.
AI is mentioned, not so much as it could be. (Amazon asks authors to declare if their books are in any way produced with AI. To avoid high Equity voice actor fees, some authors now use an AI voice to narrate audiobooks. New jobs include creating AI book covers, for sale to authors.) But mainly AI is already taking workers out of the job market, and they say: "A Gartner report shows that 33 percent of skills needed for a job posting in 2017 are not required in 2021."
References (to research papers and magazine articles) are in the text, and notes start on P.222 of 275. Some diagrams are provided but no photos. While I didn't learn a lot, I do read this kind of content as it occurs, and many students of the internet or societal change will find the book very useful.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
December 24, 2024
In Digital Shock: Seven Shocks that are Shaping the Future, Dr. Jagdish N. Sheth and Suresh K. Sharma examine societal disruptions caused by the digital revolution, offering insights that resonate with everyone. They identify seven interconnected "shocks" transforming communication, trust, governance, and relationships, presenting a balanced view of each shock’s risks and opportunities. From digital addiction and the rise of virtual communities to the erosion of traditional family dynamics and the codification of trust through technology, the authors provide a detailed analysis of impacts, implications, and opportunities.
The authors maintain an optimistic perspective, emphasizing that proactive planning, education, and leadership can help individuals and society not just adapt but thrive. Written in accessible language, Digital Shock bridges the gap between academic analysis and everyday understanding. Whether you are a business leader, policymaker, or simply someone navigating the digital world, the book’s well-researched content speaks directly to the challenges and possibilities we all face in this era of rapid change. It is a timely and essential guide for everyone looking to understand and succeed in the digital future.
The authors maintain an optimistic perspective, emphasizing that proactive planning, education, and leadership can help individuals and society not just adapt but thrive. Written in accessible language, Digital Shock bridges the gap between academic analysis and everyday understanding. Whether you are a business leader, policymaker, or simply someone navigating the digital world, the book’s well-researched content speaks directly to the challenges and possibilities we all face in this era of rapid change. It is a timely and essential guide for everyone looking to understand and succeed in the digital future.
November 17, 2024
When you read the book you get the feeling of how much research, work, thought is in it as claimed. Fifteen years of observation and wisdom about digitization of lives globally. There are a lot of observations, facts and interesting information to reflect on. The humans are being driven toward digital future of individualism and solo person centicity. People focus ourselves and gradually moving away from living in a society and community, starting to live in digital paradigm that can be adjusted to what they want and deliver everything they need at their fingertips. At some point this sounds scary when you start realising that the book describes actual reality and is not a fantasy book. I liked the facts and the book structure because it takes you in hands and walks through the story.
January 13, 2025
Digital Shock: Seven Shocks that are Shaping the Future (Self-Learning Management Series) describes seven ways the world has changed because of increased digital technology. I agree with many of the points made in the book. Digital technology has touched and shaped many aspects of our lives, and it is important to recognize how we are impacted. This book would have been a great addition to my Information Technology class at university.
January 19, 2025
Our world and way of life is changing rapidly due to our ever-increasing dependence on digital resources. There are many positive aspects, but we must be aware of the negatives such as addiction, isolation and cybercrime. The authors have provided exhaustive studies and statistics in a way for the average person to understand. It is a fascinating read, but also a bit scary. Thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the authors for an advance copy to read and review.
January 3, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book for free and my review is completely voluntary.
I gave it four stars since this would not be a topic I'm most interested in, hence why understanding half the information proved somewhat of an issue. But to be honest, both authors seem to know what they are talking about, and the book is pretty easy to follow. I did learn a thing or two.
I gave it four stars since this would not be a topic I'm most interested in, hence why understanding half the information proved somewhat of an issue. But to be honest, both authors seem to know what they are talking about, and the book is pretty easy to follow. I did learn a thing or two.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews