The role of informatization in the development of society

The text outlines how modern society’s activities are increasingly dependent on the effective use of information. The mid-20th century witnessed an “information explosion”—driven by a surge in scientific documentation, periodicals, and diverse data sources—that overwhelmed human processing capabilities.

The activities of individuals, groups, teams, and organizations are increasingly dependent on their awareness and ability to effectively use available information. Before taking any action, significant effort must be devoted to collecting, processing, comprehending, and analyzing information. Finding rational solutions in any field requires processing large volumes of information, which is often impossible without specialized technical means.

The growth of information volume became especially noticeable in the mid-20th century. An avalanche of information overwhelmed people, preventing them from fully absorbing it. Navigating the daily flood of new information became increasingly difficult. It often became more profitable to create a new material or intellectual product than to search for a previously created equivalent. The formation of large information flows is driven by:

• an extremely rapid increase in the number of documents, reports, dissertations, papers, etc., which present the results of scientific research and experimental design work;

• a constantly increasing number of periodicals on various areas of human activity;

• The emergence of a variety of data (meteorological, geophysical, medical, economic, etc.), usually recorded on magnetic tapes and therefore outside the scope of the communications system. As a result, an information crisis (explosion) occurs, which has the following manifestations [18]:

• Contradictions arise between the limited human capacity to perceive and process information and the existing powerful flows and arrays of stored information. For example, the total sum of knowledge initially changed very slowly, but by 1900 it had doubled every 50 years; by 1950, it had doubled every 10 years; by 1970, every 5 years; and since 1990, annually.

• There is a large amount of redundant information that makes it difficult for the consumer to perceive useful information;

• Certain economic, political, and other social barriers arise that hinder the dissemination of information. For example, due to confidentiality, employees of various agencies are often unable to access necessary information.

These factors have created a rather paradoxical situation: the world has accumulated enormous information potential, but people are unable to fully utilize it due to their limited capabilities. The information crisis has forced society to find a way out of this situation. The introduction of computers and modern means of processing and transmitting information into various spheres of activity has initiated a new evolutionary process, known as informatization, in the development of human society, which is currently in the stage of industrial development.

Informatization of society is an organized socio-economic and scientific-technical process of creating optimal conditions for satisfying the information needs and realizing the rights of citizens, government bodies, local government bodies, organizations, and public associations based on the formation and use of information resources.

Let’s look at this process in more detail.

The history of the development of informatization began in the USA in the 60s, then in Japan in the 70s and in Western Europe in the late 70s.

Modern material production and other areas of activity increasingly require information services and the processing of vast amounts of information. The universal technical means for processing any information is the computer, which acts as an amplifier of the intellectual capabilities of individuals and society as a whole, while computer-based communication tools serve for communication and information transfer. The emergence and development of computers is a necessary component of the informatization of society.

The informatization of society is one of the patterns of modern social progress. This term is increasingly replacing the previously widely used term “computerization of society.” While these concepts may appear similar, they are significantly different.

In the computerization of society, the main focus is on the development and implementation of the technical base of computers that ensures the prompt receipt of results from information processing and its accumulation.

In the informatization of society, the main attention is paid to a set of measures aimed at ensuring the full use of reliable, comprehensive,e and timely knowledge in all types of human activity.

Thus, “the informatization of society” is a broader concept than “the computerization of society” and is aimed at the rapid acquisition of information to meet people’s needs. The concept of “the informatization of society” emphasizes not so much the technical means as the essence and purpose of socio-technical progress. Computers are the fundamental technical component of the informatization of society.

Computerization, based on the introduction of computers and telecommunications technologies, is society’s response to the need to significantly increase labor productivity in the information sector of social production, where more than half of the working population is concentrated. For example, in the US, the information sector employs more than 60% of the working population, while in the CIS, the figure is approximately 40%.

Example. Modern analyses of technological integration highlight how information and communication technologies (ICT) continue to transform labor markets and industrial productivity. Looking at contemporary trends for 2026, the impact on key industries reflects a shift toward higher-order digital integration:

• Coal Mining: While global coal demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2026 to 2034, the industry is heavily focused on operational efficiency rather than manual labor expansion. Producers are actively investing in automation, methane management, and advanced extraction technologies to remain competitive amidst strict environmental constraints.

• Manufacturing and Machine Tools: Rather than simple job loss, the current wave of automation—driven by AI and robotics—is focused on restructuring tasks. While some estimates suggest significant exposure to automation, research indicates that only about 9% to 14% of jobs are likely to be directly replaced, while approximately 32% are expected to undergo significant transformation. The emphasis has moved toward human-machine collaboration, where workers are reskilled to handle data analysis, robotics maintenance, and system oversight.

• Pharmaceuticals: The industry is experiencing a massive surge in demand for digital proficiency, with healthcare and pharma job postings for digital health roles growing by 62% year-over-year. There is a critical, expanding need for data scientists, bioinformaticians, and AI/ML specialists to manage digital platforms and optimize complex drug discovery and manufacturing processes.

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