Do Not Be Afraid

By Katherine Bonfante, Managing Editor, Digital Media

Admit it. Technology gets smarter by the day and many of us are afraid of it. No, I'm not referring to us being afraid technology might take over our jobs.  I'm referring to our fear when it comes to adapting to new technology. If extraordinary engineers and automation designers are creating software and devices that can start our cars by placing a phone call, record or favorite TV show by going online,  or turning on and off our lights or water sprinkler system from miles away, why are there so many of us resistant to adapt to technology? Change is good.

If you don't believe me, read Artificial Intelligence in Process Automation by Béla Lipták. In this article Lipták takes a looks at how automated processes are controlled and how artificial intelligent devices affect the processes. He reports on AI changes, new concepts and innovative methods. If you want to know more about how smart controller intelligence has changed over the past years, log on to www.controlglobal.com/articles/2006/221.html and read the full article.

Lipták continues his coverage on the different uses of artificial intelligence within the automation industry in his two-part story The Next Generation of Smarter Valves. Here, he takes a look at the improvements and changes expected when it comes to the design of self-diagnosis and smart control valves. He concludes that the overall advantage the industry receives from introducing AI to the plant environment outweighs the costly investments of time and money. Read part one of this article at www.controlglobal.com/articles/2005/377.html and part two at www.controlglobal.com/articles/2005/428.html.

Dana Blankenhorn, one of CONTROL's contributing editors, also talked about artificial intelligence and its uses within the industry. He focused on how AI allows process automation plants to become more efficient while cutting down costs and production time.

In Call It What You Will, Blankenhorn writes about St. Mary’s Paper Plant located in Ontario, Canada. The plant and its personnel faced problems when balancing the amount of work, time and operator intervention it takes to produce a high-quality supercalendered paper. However, after introducing artificial intelligence to the plant processes and real-time monitoring, the end product was just what they expect. The paper plant also established a complete network of sensors, actuators, software and hardware that managed the production with minimal operator intervention. This made their processes more efficiently and less costly.

Learn more about St. Mary’s Paper Plant and its use of artificial intelligence by reading this article at www.controlglobal.com/articles/2004/329.html.

I don't know about you, but I think AI makes everything easier and more efficiently. I'm not afraid of adapting to new technology. Whenever I hear there is something new out there, that can make my life easier, I need to get it. I want to get it. Trust me, adapting new technology is a good thing. I just placed my name on the waiting list for the self driving RV. This allows me to get ready for work and eat my breakfast while on my way to work. Wait I just received an e-mail with a petition to develop teleportation, let me sign up for that too.