Introduction
Editor's Note
“If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it!” – Jonathan Winters
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been ruminated and debated on for months now yet there’s still the proverbial elephant that is often avoided – is Malaysia truly doing enough? How do we know where we stand in the global arena, with neighbouring countries closely scrutinising us? There is much to do before we can achieve the future that we have envisaged.
Are we truly ready for the Fourth when there are still companies, pegged “laggards” still struggling with the ways of the past? How do we move forward as a cohesive whole for the betterment of the nation? We delve into these topics and more in the Fourth Leap series. In this issue, we have recommendations from a contributor who has the nation’s development and progress at heart. Another writer explores the importance of data analytics and on a separate page, the issue of security is investigated in the age where data matters big time.
Ultimately, the adoption of new technologies is to increase productivity, efficiency and improve the lives of all. Here, we take a gander at blockchain and its applications in the social sphere and how farmers can utilise blockchain applications to tokenise their seeds for financing and liquidity.
The rallying call to welcome this tidal wave of change is not new but an echo as experts have anticipated the arrival of the 4IR. This era of change was first addressed in 2016, during the 25th World Economic Forum on ASEAN held in Kuala Lumpur. Going further back, the term “Fourth Industrial Revolution” was coined by Professor Klaus Schwab and sees the potential of emerging technologies to define a new reality, one that would be deemed “science fiction” just a decade ago.
With this wave of change, comes new responsibilities to one another and many more opportunities for self-realisation. In essence, the way we engage with the 4IR technologies would define and shape our world, whether positively or negatively. How do we maintain a canvas of control when technology seems to take flight by leaps and bounds, faster than our morality can evolve? This is the ambit we, the team behind the Fourth Leap, hope to present in a clear and coherent manner.
Stay with us as we venture into the year 2020. We will work to improve the magazine for the benefit of our readers and address issues and challenges that our nation faces without reservation. Thank you and enjoy.
