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Here is this week's issue of the Automation.com e-Newsletter...
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In this Issue
Sponsored by SIXNET
From One Techie to Another:
The Future of the Internet
Featured Article:
Keeping the Peace (and Quiet)...with Alarm Management
Featured Training Course
Fieldbus Training For Instrumentation Sales Professionals & Service Personnel
Featured Application Tool
Engineer's Guide to Hazardous Locations & Intrinsic Safety
Featured Products:
LabVIEW Graphical Development Env.
Smart 24 VDC Power Supplies
AC Servo Systems
RFID System
- Board level design for embedded OEM applications
- Fully managed with advanced features
- 5 Ethernet and one MII port
- Low power consumption - less than 2 Watts
- Ultra-reliable and rugged
- Software tools are easily "OEMable"
The Future of the Internet
A few weeks ago I wrote an article, Human Networks May be Closer than You Think, that talked about humans being networked. Human networks may or may not ever become a reality, but Jim Pinto's article from his December 6th Newsletter addresses the more "immediate" Future of the Internet. I wanted to share this article with you because the Internet will ultimately bring even more automation to our every day lives. Here's Jim's article...
A recent Wired magazine article on the Internet's "10 years that changed the world" summarized our amazing progress. Ten years ago, Netscape and others introduced "browser"; Yahoo! was just a peculiar name; Amazon.com was mainly about books; and the two founders of Google (billionaires today) were Stanford students.
Since then, the Internet has revolutionized everyday life for millions of people around the world. The next obvious question is: What will the Internet be like in the future?
Between 1968 and 1982, Vinton Cerf played a key role, starting at UCLA and then with DARPA (US Defense Dept. Advanced Research Project) as the leader of the ARPANET team, the precursor to today's Internet. Now consulting with Google, he thinks that 90% of all Internet applications have yet to be invented. He says that users will begin using their mobile devices to control and manage other Internet-enabled appliances (kitchen appliances, entertainment gadgets). The cell phone will become the equivalent of a remote control device that works anywhere in the world.
A study by Pew Internet and American Life Project came up with concerns, coupled with excitement. Top on the list of worries is a cyber attack. Most analysts agree that terrorists or computer criminals are simply waiting for the right opportunity to strike. For example, a cyber attack could shut down the power grid in a large metropolitan area and keep it down. This is quite likely to happen within the next decade.
But there are positive projections too. There'll be self-healing, self-repairing and self-configuring computer systems. And everything, including coffee pots, home lighting, alarm systems, autos and heart pacemakers, will have a secure IP [Internet protocol] address and be able to be controlled by the owner. RFID tags will couple with Internet delivery to do all kinds of automatic shopping and delivery.
There'll be more changes and advancements in the news and publishing industry. Blogs (online journals) and podcasts (audio webcasts) are just the beginning. The home computer will become a 'digital hub', the centerpiece of a living room with content streaming from the Internet.
The boundary between work and leisure will diminish. Today's example is the PDA e-mail/phone/Web device. This changes habits, and (on the downside) becomes addictive.
Surveillance will be everywhere - governments watching everyone. In a post-9/11 world, some think this is a necessary tool, while others worry about the erosion of privacy. Get used to it.
Some think that online voting will be secure and widespread within a decade or so. But, though the possibility of secure voting remains enticing, most analysts agree that that there are too many problems and vulnerabilities for it to happen too quickly.
Interestingly, machines will overtake humans to become the biggest users of the Internet. There will be electronic sensors, smart homes, and tags that track users' movements and habits, and machines communicating with each other. Currently there are about 875 million Internet users worldwide, a number that may double. But, by comparison, there will be tens of billions of machines online in the decades ahead.
Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" is on the horizon....
Enjoy the rest of this eNews!
Keeping the Peace (and Quiet)
Executing an alarm management strategy is no small task. However, one of the hardest parts is sustaining the work done. As plants change and expand, personnel turn over, and operations continue to remove obstacles in the way of production, nuisance alarms seem to creep back. In order to continue your alarm management strategy and keep the peace, the challenges you will face range from getting various plant personnel involved to integrating the relevant systems.
Read full article by Roy Tanner (ABB), Jeff Gould (Matrikon), Rob Turner (ABB Engineering Services), and Tony Atkinson (ABB Engineering Services).
More articles and white papersMore application stories
This industry-specific web site allows you to search the latest NEW automation, control and instrumentation products by product category, supplier, release date and keyword.
Each product description allows you to contact suppliers directly for more information or a quote.
Hear all about it...industry news is published on our site daily. Here are the latest news headlines for your review...use the following links to read the full article. Check out our Daily News Headlines page frequently to stay up-to-date on the industry events.
- Wonderware Releases New Industrial Application Server to Increase Productivity and Lower Lifecycle Costs 12/6/05
- Woodhead Releases New Direct-Link™ DeviceNet to Serial or Ethernet Gateway 12/6/05
- The AW Company Releases the JVK Series of Positive Displacement Flow Meters 12/6/05
- ACCES I/O Introduces the Model USB-IIRO-16 Embedded Digital I/O Board 12/6/05
- AXIOMTEK’s New Fanless Embedded Computer Supports 1.4GHz CPU, Multiple I/O, and PCI-X Expansion 12/6/05
- ABB Earns Important Distributed Generation Certification for Growing Fuel Cell Business 12/6/05
- ASI Introduces SIA Series of Inductive Ring Sensors 12/5/05
- Optimation to Pre-install InduSoft on Advanced Formula iPC Industrial Computers 12/5/05
- Dataforth Adds Strain Gage Modules to 8B Family of Isolated Analog Signal Conditioners 12/5/05
- Honeywell Introduces ASDXL Amplified and ASDXL-Do Low Pressure Sensors 12/5/05
- Command Tooling Announces New CD-ROM Product Catalog With Simple Navigation 12/5/05
- Foxboro Redesigns Multivariable Transmitter for Optimum Natural Gas Flow Rate Measurement 12/2/05
- IXXAT Introduces ETHERNET Powerlink Interfaces for PCI and cPCI Systems 12/2/05
- IXXAT Introduces CAN@net II – Multi-Functional CAN/Ethernet Gateway 12/2/05
- IXXAT Introduces CANcheck - Installation Tester for CAN Networks 12/2/05
- Red Lion Controls Introduces New CUB5 Digital Panel Meters 12/1/05
- Hirschmann Offers Tailor-made Switches at a Mouse Click 12/1/05
- Hirschmann Introduces Fast Ethernet-Switch OCTOPUS 8M 12/1/05
- Hirschmann Introduces Workgroup-Switch SmartLION 12/1/05
- Hirschmann Announces Reliable Connection of Terminating Equipment on the Machine Level via Fibre Optic Cables 12/1/05
- Online Development’s xCoupler Wows Attendees at Allen-Bradley Automation Fair 2005 12/1/05
- Adept, Parker Hannifin Deliver Competitive Edge Needed to Keep Manufacturing Close to Home 11/30/05
- Advantech Launches New 6 Inch Flat Panel Monitor 11/30/05
- GE Fanuc Introduces New PACSystems™ RX3i ENIU For Remote I/O and Local Expansion 11/30/05
- Contemporary Controls Introduces Industrial Ethernet Switch Family Starting at $99 11/30/05
- Advantech Launches First USB-Based Multifunctional I/O 11/30/05
- Advantech Launches PCI-1622CU, 8-port RS-422/485 Universal PCI Communication Card 11/30/05
- Spectrum Controls Announces WebPort™ Family of Industrial Ethernet Products 11/30/05
- Spectrum Controls Announces Release of New 4-Channel Analog+HART I/O Modules for CompactLogix 11/30/05
- Invensys Introduces New Standard for Custody Transfer Systems for LNG Carriers 11/30/05
- RKC Instrument Announces THV Thyristor with LED Display Now Available in a Wider Range of Amperages 11/30/05
- ISA Appoints Patrick Gouhin as Executive Director 12/6/05
- Opto 22 Launches New Website 12/5/05
- IXXAT Announces CAN, CANopen, DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP and ETHERNET Powerlink Seminars in 2006 12/2/05
- Eutecus, Inc. Receives Multiple Government Grants for Infrared Image Processing 12/1/05
- World’s Largest Multi-Vendor BACnet/IP System Runs on Contemporary Controls 12/1/05
- Tire Makers Provided Solution for Optimizing Tire Performance 12/1/05
- FKI Logistex Wins $40M Contract For Shanghai Pudong International Airport 12/1/05
- Invensys Introduces New Standard for Custody Transfer Systems for LNG Carriers 11/30/05
- Newcon Data Wins a Breakthrough Order in Canada to Replace CN’s Former Graphic Systems 11/30/05
Fieldbus Training for Instrumentation Sales Professionals & Service Personnel
The Fieldbus Center at Lee College, a National Science Foundation (NSF) recognized and funded institution, has introduced a one-day, certified training course intended for controls and instrumentation sales professionals and service personnel needing a general understanding of FOUNDATION fieldbus technology.
The first training course of its kind, "Fieldbus for Sales Professionals" is designed for inside and outside sales representatives, as well as service personnel employed by plant automation equipment suppliers. The class does not require any previous experience with digital control systems.
Engineer's Guide to Hazardous Locations & Intrinsic Safety
The Pepperl+Fuchs Engineer's Guide is a comprehensive, easy-to-read hazardous location overview. It contains a comprehensive review of hazardous locations, ATEX and intrinsic safety, as well as a short overview of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and Safety Integrity Levels (SIL). It also details typical hazardous location applications and how they can be solved using intrinsic safety barriers. In addition the Engineer's Guide contains over 300 product data sheets that can be used in a wide array of process applications including intrinsic safety, lightning/surge protection, power supplies, signal conditioning and HART interfacing.
NI LabVIEW Graphical Development Environment delivers flexibility and ease of use in demanding automation, control & measurement applications.More Information on LabVIEW Graphical Development Environment
Contact NI for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
Save panel space with Siemens new SITOP Smart 24 VDC Power Supplies.More Information on SITOP Power Supplies
Contact Siemens for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
AC Servo Systems - precise control of position, velocity and torque at an incredible price!More Information on AC Servo Systems
Contact AutomationDirect for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
ifm efector’s RFID System provides reliable tracking and control throughout the manufacturing processMore Information on RFID System
Contact ifm efector for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
Product & Supplier Search
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:
- GC Application Eng. III: Houston, TX - Yokogawa Corporation of America 12/2/2005
- Sales Engineer : Eastern Florida, FL - Confidential 11/30/2005
- Automation Engineer: Dayton (Area), OH - automationtechies 12/6/2005
- Maintenance Supervisor: Tallahassee, FL - automationtechies 12/5/2005
- Emerson Ovation/Power Contract : Cedar Rapids, IA - automationtechies 12/1/2005
- Engineering Resource Manager: St. Paul, MN - automationtechies 11/30/2005
- Process Engineer: Austin, TX - automationtechies 11/30/2005
- System Engineer: Chandler, AZ - automationtechies 11/29/2005
To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
I hope you enjoyed this e-news update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Rick Zabel
Vice President
Automation.com
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