01 - The HABITAT REVOLUTION
Matej Sanitrár - 2025-02-10
Let’s set aside the hunters and gatherers, or even the first settled tribes, as markers of emerging human civilization. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus solely on revolutions. We’ll briefly name them, rank them, and reflect on where we’re headed—and what role an individual can play in this vast, complex picture. We apologize for the somewhat whimsical metaphor, but we want to emphasize that no single person can change the entire world. However, each of us can meaningfully contribute to the mosaic of human progress.
With that in mind, consider this sequence:
1. The Agrarian Revolution
Beginning around 10,000 years before Christ and lasting until the 18th century, this revolution marked humanity’s shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities. It laid the foundation for civilization as we know it.
2. The Industrial Revolution
Emerging in the 18th century, this revolution transformed societies through mechanization, urbanization, and mass production. While its peak influence may have waned after about 200 years, its legacy continues as technological advancements accelerate at an unprecedented pace.
3. The Information Revolution (.01) – The Age of Connection
Starting in the 1960s with the invention of the transistor and integrated circuits, this revolution enabled the miniaturization of computers and their widespread adoption. The internet, developed in the 1970s and popularized in the 1990s, became the backbone of global connectivity.
4. The Information Revolution (.02) – The Age of Artificial Intelligence
A significant milestone was the victory of IBM’s Deep Blue over chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in 1997. Today, AI is accessible to nearly everyone, often at little to no cost. Intelligent tools and applications are proliferating at an astonishing rate, reshaping industries and daily life.
Notice the accelerating pace: millennia to centuries, then decades, and now, years—even months.
We believe the confluence of the Information Revolution 2.0 and the emerging "climate revolution" is driving a profound behavioral revolution.
This revolution is already visible: technology's impact on human cognitive abilities, shifts in emotional intelligence, individuals are both - the consumers and mass communicators. Authoritarian leaders and extremist movements are gaining traction in many countries, fueled by the very technologies that promise progress.
Behavioral Revolution will manifest in diverse ways—how we learn, shop, work, express ourselves, and ultimately, live. Within this, the "habitat revolution" is of particular interest to FiiDU.org.
Why focus on habitat?
Environmental Impact: The construction industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Resource Consumption: Homes and their operations—electricity, water, waste management—place an enormous burden on the planet.
Diverse Perspectives: While some embrace environmental responsibility, others deny the role of human activity in climate change.
Government Priorities: Governments often focus on large-scale projects like wind farms or nuclear plants, neglecting smaller, community-driven solutions.
Personal Responsibility: Real change begins with individuals. We must demonstrate that living sustainably can be better, cheaper, healthier, and more harmonious.