Growth in computing and telecommunications

Two of the most rapid changes in contemporary societies – the growth of personal computers and the growth of mobile phones – are documented in Tables 12.1 and 12.2.

Personal computers transformed the way people work, increasing productivity and convenience by a huge amount. They have become so much a part of everyday lives that it is almost impossible to imagine life without them. So it may be surprising to recall just how recent their invention and spread have been. They began in a small way in the early 1980s, but take-up was relatively slow. By 1988, the first year for which we have systematic data, they had established a firm foothold in offices and among some professionals. But as Table 12.1 shows, in the next 13 years their penetration rate in the selected countries increased almost sevenfold. In 1988 there was one PC for every 15 people; by 2001 there was one for every 2.5 people. That figure is depressed by two countries, Italy and Belgium, which lag a long way behind the others. In six countries, including Australia, there is one PC for every two people.

When looking at the growth recorded in Table 12.1, it should be remembered that the capacity of a personal computer in 1988 was only a fraction of what it was by 2001. It is a remarkable story of decreasing price and increasing power.