Technological Revolution: The Age of Acceleration
This display features books, diagrams, and other materials relating to 20th-century advancements in digital technology.
When:
7 May - 20 October 2025
Where:
Art & Design Paddington Library
Technological Revolution: The Age of Acceleration considers a period of rapid and transformative technological advancements in the 20th century that reshaped society, the economy, and culture. Following the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, the Technological Revolution marked a profound shift from analogue mechanical and electronic technology to digital technology. This new era saw the rise of computers, the internet, mobile devices, and software, leading to unprecedented levels of automation, information access, and global connectivity. It led to changes in how people communicate, accelerating the pace of innovation to transform societal structures in ways not seen since the dawn of the industrial age. This display draws on books from the UNSW Library collection and photographs from UNSW Archives to survey 20th-century advancements in technology.
Technological Revolution: The Age of Acceleration is part of a suite of displays considering radical technological shifts from the 18th century to present. See also, Industrial Revolution: Foundations of Modern Manufacturing (Main Library, level 3) and Materials Revolution (Main Library, level 5).
Accessibility: UNSW Art & Design Paddington Library is wheelchair accessible and the exhibition includes large-text artwork labels.
Image gallery