Automation Impact Humans

Automation refers to the use of instrumentation that have controllable devices such as computers to control machinery and processes of the industrial by replacing human operators. It refers to process or function which is self-driven and eliminates the need for human intervention. From 21st Century, automation has seeped into every aspect of our daily living. Automation does not aid but replaces human operators.

Example for automation is Automated Teller Machine (ATM) which allows users to check out their  account balances, withdraw cash, or make any such banking transactions at any time of day or night and even in the middle of no where. 

The impact of automation on individuals and societies has been thoughtful. If you think on some level, many unpleasant, dangerous or time-consuming tasks are now being performed by machines. Example is transformation of the communications industry which has made life better for the average person. In past days calls had to go through human operators, but today millions of calls are now handled by automatic switching machines.

One of the effects of automation is displacement of jobs. Long-run of automation on human resources are arguable. In this area, most of them are controversial and some of them are inconclusive. Workers are indeed lost their jobs through automation but compensated for these jobs once the demand for the products in rise due to the growing population.

Substitution of human labor and skill with computing machinery pitches economic stability, educational policies, government rules and regulations, and cultural environment. Thus change is unavoidable.

Last but not the least, automation has its advantages and disadvantages on humans. When one machine can do the work of ten workers, most or all of those people will be out of job.

Types of Automation

Automation refers to technology that uses computers and robots to automatically control and operate machines or systems to perform work normally or to help improve productivity and create easier ways to do business. Different types of automation are used for different types of industries. Examples for automation include automated meters and pumps, control systems, robots etc.

Three types of automation in production are used:

• Fixed automation: Also known as “hard automation”, refers to an automated production facility in which a custom-engineered apply operations that are fixed and repetitive for producing similar type of products. In fact the commands are programmed in the machines in the form of cameras, gears, wiring and other hardware that is not changed easily over one product style to another. At first, using high investment and production rates it is featured. Characteristics of fixed automation include: High priced custom engineered equipment that cannot flexible to accommodate product changes. This feature backed to use this type of automation.

• Programmable automation: This type of automation is used when production levels are very low with variety of products to be made and produced in batches. Reprogramming is needed for production equipment for each batch start to adapt the new product style.

• Flexible automation: It is an extension of programmable automation because the main disadvantage with flexible automation is the amount of time taking to reprogram it and the equipment need to be changed for every batch of new product. It is designed to manufacture a variety of products or parts. There is no need to group identical products into batches instead a mixture of different products can be produced one after another. It is most suitable for the mid-volume production range.

Without various types of industrial automation, every aspect of it would have to be done manually.

Know Some of the Drawbacks of Automation Systems

Automation is seen around us all. Many tasks are being automated to make the them easy and efficient. Automation has a wide usage in many aspects. Automated teller machines are designed to make the bank related tasks easier, without having to visit to banks for obtaining cash and making transactions. We can instantly get the tasks done with the help of automated teller machines. It is also useful for medical purposes to carry out laboratory analysis of human genes, cells, tissues etc. with a much higher speed and accuracy.

It plays an important role in our daily life and global economy.

It also has some disadvantages apart from advantages.

Automation systems require a large amount of investment which may cost millions of dollars for installing and designing.

Higher level of maintenance is needed for an automated equipment and is less flexible when compared to products that are manually developed.

An automation system has lower level of intelligence and there is a chance of creating an error.

If the supplier does not deliver the goods at a given time and when the stock of the material that is required to automate the work is finished, the result is to turn off the plant.

There are still a few desired tasks that cannot be automated using the the current technology. It is a limitation of automation systems.

Residential and Commercial Lighting and Climate Control with Automation

Home owners and small business proprietors have many ways to reduce their home or office maintenance costs with the use of home or industrial automation. Home or commercial automation can have some features in common such as safety system, audio and video integration, lighting and weather handling, etc. A lot of firm excel in lot of things that support to manage the automation system very effectively in homes and commercial organizations.

There are more benefits to homes and commercial buildings from automation systems. Effectiveness is an important element that is taken into consideration to install and manage the automation in homes and industrial. These new automation systems are also easily made available in the market now. We can acquire the direct components from the organization itself.

With the changes in technology, we can now control the office or home automation with the use of mobile also. But, when installing automation systems, one should consider the most important one that is how basic it is for everyone and how easy it is to manage. The very important component in installing the automation is 'skilled service system'. It can control the automation system very effectively.

Advantages of Barcode Fonts

Barcode printers like Zebra printers and SATO printers print barcode labels in specific fonts. Barcode fonts are nothing but the bars and spaces which make up barcode symbology. They are added to the computer and can be used based on the need of application.

A barcode font can be made by combination of numbers in Word, and start and stop characters. This simple application can be used in symbols such as Code 39 where the symbol can be mapped directly to the encoded character. However, in UPC codes, the number to be encoded has to be converted into a usable form with a given font. Certain software tools having certain fonts are required for this purpose. A checksum or a check digit has to be calculated in addition. Barcode fonts can provide many benefits. Some of them are listed here.

Advantages of Barcode Fonts:

• Barcode fonts are able to work with any virtual application which works with the text including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, image editing, desktop publishing, and other programming environments.
• Images and bitmaps are pixel based. However, barcode fonts are not pixel based and hence scaling of them is very easy.
• Based on the type of barcode, it is enough to enter the number and change the font easily.
• Various platforms like Linux, Mac, and Windows can be uhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsed for barcode fonts.
• The cost of barcode fonts is very less and specific barcode software is available for the fonts. A UPC code font requires the UPC code which costs between 30 USD and 50 USD.

However, some symbologies need conversion before formatting which is a bit risky. Some fonts are not much flexible and hence they are provided with different sizes and ratios. Many printers like Zebra printer make use of specific software for creating required barcode fonts.

Using Barcode Scanner in Right Way

Barcode scanner is the device used to scan the barcodes. In small stores pricing information is entered manually, but in large scale businesses barcode scanner is used to make the work easier.

Barcode scanner has the ability to read the information which is presented in the barcode. This barcode is made up of a set of lines, which consists of information about an object. Barcode scanner must be connected to the computer system to retrieve or store the information about such objects. A beam of ultra violet light is transmitted by the barcode scanner when power is passed on. A light searches for the presence of the barcode continuously.

There are many types of the barcode scanners, available in market. Handheld scanners are one type. They are connected to the computer system via a USB or bluetooth. They are ideal to use in inventory warehouses. Another type of scanner is the stationary scanner that can be used in major supermarkets. The user must bring the product to the scanner to scan or read the barcode in case of the stationary scanner. You can see all these types of scanner in brand of the Symbol Barcode scanners.

Once you set up a barcode scanner, then it is easy to use. First make sure, that reader light is active, this is a sign to know, whether it is working or not. Later place this reader light at the center of the barcode and wait for few seconds to pickup the data from barcode. In order to read, you need to move the scanner light up and down the barcode. In order to get an idea, you can scan a few preliminary codes, if you set up the barcode scan for the first time.

In this way the barcode scanner can be used. It is very easy to use the barcode scanner, you need not have any technical knowledge in order to use it.

Using Barcode Scanner in Right Way

Barcode scanner is the device used to scan the barcodes. In small stores pricing information is entered manually, but in large scale businesses barcode scanner is used to make the work easier.

Barcode scanner has the ability to read the information which is presented in the barcode. This barcode is made up of a set of lines, which consists of information about an object. Barcode scanner must be connected to the computer system to retrieve or store the information about such objects. A beam of ultra violet light is transmitted by the barcode scanner when power is passed on. A light searches for the presence of the barcode continuously.

There are many types of the barcode scanners, available in market. Handheld scanners are one type. They are connected to the computer system via a USB or bluetooth. They are ideal to use in inventory warehouses. Another type of scanner is the stationary scanner that can be used in major supermarkets. The user must bring the product to the scanner to scan or read the barcode in case of the stationary scanner. You can see all these types of scanner in brand of the Symbol Barcode scanner.

Once you set up a barcode scanner, then it is easy to use. First make sure, that reader light is active, this is a sign to know, whether it is working or not. Later place this reader light at the center of the barcode and wait for few seconds to pickup the data from barcode. In order to read, you need to move the scanner light up and down the barcode. In order to get an idea, you can scan a few preliminary codes, if you set up the barcode scan for the first time.

In this way the barcode scanner can be used. It is very easy to use the barcode scanner, you need not have any technical knowledge in order to use it.

Benefits of the Data Matrix Barcodes

You can find different types or versions of barcodes. Two dimensional barcodes is one of them. Data matrix is one type of the two-dimensional barcode, which is most commonly used. Most of the manufacturers and producers use the data matrix barcodes, because they are most popular forms of the barcodes. There are some advantages of the data matrix barcodes, such as:

• Data matrix barcodes suits low contrast printing, directly on the parts without the help of the labels.
• Information can be encoded digitally by the data matrix codes, in opposition to the analog encoding of data in conventional barcodes.
• Built in error correction techniques can be offered by the data matrix codes because they have a high information density. The complete recovery of the encoded message is allowed by this feature in the data matrix symbol, even though the mark is missing or even if nearly 20 percent of the symbol of this barcode is damaged.
• These barcodes are suitable for small items, where there is a space constraint.
• While comparing to the 1D barcodes, the higher information density is offered by the data matrix codes. They can store highest amount of information in a small area, in fact this data matrix barcode can be the highest among all the 2D codes.
• If you want to use these data matrix barcodes, you have to consider one thing, that is these barcodes can not be read by the linear barcode scanner. You need a camera based or laser based scanners to read them. Symbol barcode scanner is the best example for laser based and camera based scanners.

These are the benefits of the data matrix barcodes. They are becoming more popular, because of their advantages.

Barcode Technology In Blood Banks

Now a days, barcode technology is used in many fields and many tasks. This technology can help to improve the efficiency of the work. Barcode technology is also used in blood banks in order to improve the blood products administration process of the blood banks.

Generally, errors may occur in blood transfusion in blood banks. Safety of the patient is associated with blood transfusion process which needs attention. To avoid these errors, aspects such as sample collection, sample arrival in the blood bank, blood product dispense from blood bank, administration are captured by barcode technology. The scanned wristband ID barcode of patient is automatically compared to scanned identification barcode on requisition sample at every step. Here, either conformation or an error message to user are presented by the system. Barcode technology helps to verify and scrutinize the blood donation and transfusion information in the complete procedure.

In order to make blood bank information system automated, barcode technology is an important accessory. Blood bank materials are barcoded and then the concerned practical procedures like laboratory testing and component creation can be done.

Most of the materials which are used in blood banks are labeled and verified with their unique barcodes by using barcode scanners or barcode readers and barcode printers. For this, it is better to use a right barcode scanner from a reputed company like Symbol scanners.

The main aim is increasing the patient safety and reduce errors in blood transfusion process by using barcode technology. These can be done, when right barcode scanner like Symbol barcode scanner and right printer are used.

In this way, barcode technology is used in blood banks as in order to improve the working efficiency of the blood banks and increase the patient safety.

Usefulness of Barcode Scanners

Barcode, combination of bars and spaces of changing width. It is a different way for encoding numbers by using such bars and spaces. Barcode has product number, cashier scans this number at check out and it is transmitted to computer. This is a 12 digit number. Barcodes cannot be read by computers. To make use of the data of bar codes, first information should be captured and that is decoded into data format. This barcode scanner device captures the information of barcode and it can be sent to the decoder, this device is called as barcode scanner.

There are different types of scanners available. People use commercial barcode scanners for selling goods in small quantities to consumers. Two types of commercial scanners are there. First one is commercial laser symbol barcode scanners. Laser is used by it and these scanners are used to detect and read barcode. Second one is commercial 2D symbol barcode scanners. It has 1D and 2D functionality in one scanner and it is faster than laser symbol barcode scanners.

People use industrial scanners in warehouse or storage houses. Stock lists are made by these stores, and this scanner will help in this process. There are hand free scanners, one can use them without using hands. It will read the code by sliding a product on laser light.

You can use barcode scanners, but you should know which is suitable for you depending on your requirements.

Lab Automation Trends

Lab Automation plays a vital role in the transformation. Manufacturers have responded to the needs for greater productivity by using high powered analyzers which are more powerful softwares that are used for managing the automation systems. To meet increasing needs of labs with the present testing technologies, the analyzer size has been grown. With response to the growing needs and even in the reduction of the labour, manufacturers have developed systems with great analytical power which are used for testing. With the increment in analytical thinking the systems are becoming more complex, in order to reduce them. Small embedded systems are used to reduce the complexity. Most of the analyzers contain sensors and software that manage the processes like sample processing etc. Lab automation often uses multiple screens and workstations to access test the instrument data. Different trends of lab automation are:

Smaller, more – flexible Instruments: In spite of the limitations of today’s automation systems, labs are continuing their advancements for new solutions. Manufacturers responded by developing larger systems with higher costs, and limited flexibility. This has become an ineffective approach and manufacturers are building their systems by finding out the limits. In the next generation the analyzers reduce the size by adopting emerging trends in micro technology. Working with small and flexible instruments will reduce the amount of blood or the samples taken from the patient for the test. They designed them as cost effective and they even offer great flexibility. The smaller lab automation systems will be flexible and reaches the targeted solutions by reducing the labour. These are also low cost automated devices.

Powerful, Easy-to-use software: According to the laboratory information system, the centralized control function will go through all lab processes. Many labs are taking orders via internet. The next step is to manage the lab operations remotely, and check out lab processes and test status off-site. The next generation lab processes provide easy, powerful softwares for real time access.

Real-Time Service Maximizes Uptime: Manufacturers build automation systems with highly intelligent analyzers and equip them with sensors,which monitor every step of the testing process. Manufacturers are accessing the analyzers with the intelligence systems by using the automation systems. Internet based real time service is done faster and it even gives the best performance results. In future, the technology advances for managing test inventory, lab work flow, and other aspects to improve quality and efficiency.