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In this Issue
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From One Techie to Another:
Is Singularity in Our Future?
Featured Article:
The White Water Butterfly Effect (Confessions of a Looney Tuner)
Featured Training Courses
Free Machine Vision Seminars
Featured Application Tool
iKnow® Machine Safety Online Learning Tool
Featured Products:
DIN Rail Mount Relays
E-direct Online Shop
5-port Ethernet Switch (OEM Board-level)
Universal Network Controller
- New Products & Documentation
- Updated Software Tools & Firmware
- New Product Catalog & Help Database
Is Singularity in Our Future?
"Singularity" is defined by the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Inc. (who knew this society existed) as an event where humanity will become capable of surpassing the upper limit on intelligence that has held since the rise of the human species. We will become capable of technologically creating smarter-than-human intelligence, perhaps through enhancement of the human brain, direct links between computers and the brain, or Artificial Intelligence.
One of my colleagues and friends recently referred me to the book, The Singularity is Near, written by Ray Kurzweil. The inventor and futurist is one of the best-known advocates for the role of machines in the future of humanity. His latest book (recently released) envisions an event - the "singularity" - in which technological change becomes so rapid and so profound that our bodies and brains will merge with our machines. He portrays what life will be like after this event - a human-machine civilization where our intelligence becomes non-biological and trillions of times more powerful. After reading the first chapter on Amazon.com, you can bet I bought it and will read it.
As engineers and technical professionals, we (at least I) can't help but imagine what Singularity would (will?) be like. Just look at the technological developments over the past few years, i.e. nanotechnology, wireless sensors and Internet everywhere. Just compare how we functioned ten years ago with how we function today. We communicate differently. We work differently. We are much more efficient. Our society (worldwide) has technologically come very far in a very short period of time.
I agree that this can be a pretty unsettling concept, but can anyone truly say that Singularity will never happen? Some of us may be religious and believe an end is coming. Some of us may not be religious, but also believe an end is coming...but it won't be an act of God, it will be an act of technology. Could Singularity be the means to the end of human life as we know it.
It's worth thinking about, isn't it?
Whether you believe or not, you may enjoy a song, I am the very model of a Singularitarian, written and performed by Charlie Kam with original music from "The Pirates of Penzance", by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Enjoy the rest of this eNews!
The White Water Butterfly Effect (Confessions of a Looney Tuner)
I still remember my very first paper machine control audit, seventeen years ago. The mill in question was in a typical remote location, and produced linerboard. We collected basis weight data, while the scanner was in fixed point in the center of the sheet (to the uninitiated, basis weight is the total weight of the paper, fiber and moisture). Collecting data in this manner shows the true Machine Direction (MD) variability. We quickly discovered that there was a pronounced 90-second cycle in the basis weight. It was clear that this cycle was one of the main culprits behind the machine’s poor runnability record.
More 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.
- Endress+Hauser Introduces Eco-Graph T, New Multi-channel Display 1/31/06
- Contemporary Controls Introduces New Features to Safeguard Against Risks to Control Networks 1/31/06
- Sierra Monitor Introduces 5100-02-IT Combustible Gas Sensor Module 1/31/06
- Danaher Motion to Exhibit Precision Motion Control Solutions at MD&M West in Anaheim, CA 1/31/06
- Adept Receives Order for 1,000th MotionBlox-10™ 1/31/06
- Wieland Introduces New Safety Relays 1/31/06
- New Weidmuller Terminal Block Provides Two Connection Technologies in One Compact Dual Level Design 1/31/06
- New Fuse Terminal from Weidmuller Offers Protection in a Small Package 1/31/06
- Wieland Expands Its Fasis Spring Clamp Terminal Blocks 1/31/06
- Sena Technologies Parani100 Gateway Connects Bluetooth Devices to Ethernet 1/31/06
- Green Hills Software Announces DSO Solution for Xilinx Virtex-4 Platform FPGAs 1/31/06
- iKnow® Machine Safety Online Learning Tool Available on Banner Website 1/30/06
- ASI Power Modules Design Improvement Leads to Lower Costs 1/30/06
- Absolute Process Instruments Introduces New Multifunction Power Meters 1/30/06
- Alpha Gear Drive Introduces Range of Hypoid Gearheads 1/30/06
- Mustang Provides E!CEMS Software for Real-time Environmental Data Management 1/30/06
- Moxa to Release Windows CE Versions of UC-7400 Ready-to-run Embedded Computers 1/27/06
- B&R's Automation Studio™ offers XML-based Data Mangement 1/27/06
- B&R's X20 System Slice I/O Wins US Editors’ Choice Award for Best Technology in 2005 1/26/06
- National Instruments LabVIEW 8 Wins Control Engineering Editors' Choice Award 1/25/06
- Wonderware Completes SAP Interoperability Certification for ISA-95 Solution 1/25/06
- Emerson Enhances Rosemount Analytical MultivariableTransmitter with Fieldbus Capability 1/25/06
- FANUC Robotics to Demonstrate High-Speed, Vision-Guided Robot for Part Handling at 2006 Automation Technology Expo 1/25/06
- HEIDENHAIN Introduces New ND 780 DRO for Single or Multi-axis Machine Tools up to Three Axes 1/25/06
- National Instruments Celebrates 30th Company Anniversary and 20 Years of NI LabVIEW Innovation 1/31/06
- EE Times Names National Instruments a Company of the Year 2006 ACE Awards Finalist 1/31/06
- Emerson's New SIS Courses Expand Free Online Training at PlantWeb University 1/31/06
- Schneider Electric Sells Its Num Numerical Command Subsidiary to Verdoso 1/31/06
- Contemporary Controls’ Suzhou Facility Announces RoHS Compliant Manufacturing 1/30/06
- OMRON Announces Consolidated Financial Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2006 1/30/06
- Cognex to Host Free Machine Vision Seminars in North America 1/26/06
- Emerson SIS (Safety Instrumented Systems) Engineers are First to be Certifiied by TUV to IEC 61511 1/26/06
- eLutions, Inc. to Acquire Assets of Wizcon Systems 1/26/06
- Schneider Electric Amends Its Offer for SCADA and MES Specialist Citect 1/25/06
- National Instruments Reports Record Revenue and Net Income 1/25/06
- Innova Holdings Signs Letter of Agreement to Acquire CoroWare, Mobile Service Robotics Integrator 1/25/06
- Virtual Instrumentation Delivers 10X Increase in Efficiency Over Traditional Methods for Power Monitoring 1/31/06
- Boise Cascade Selects Invensys for Critical Generator Control System Upgrade 1/31/06
- Honeywell Awarded Contract With OMNOVA Solutions Inc. to Upgrade Chemical and Polymer Process Control Systems 1/31/06
- Yokogawa Receives Long-term Maintenance Contract for Large-scale Petrochemical Complex in China 1/26/06
Free Machine Vision Seminars
Cognex Corporation is offering a new series of free machine vision seminars exclusively for manufacturing professionals. The popular Understanding and Applying Machine Vision Sensors half-day events show how vision sensors can perform automated inspection tasks in the automotive, pharmaceutical, food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, medical, and electronics industries.
In addition to walking away with an understanding of the fundamentals of implementing a successful vision solution, participants will learn how easy applications are to set up on our award-winning vision sensors, ID readers, and presence sensors. Attendees are encouraged to bring a product sample, and discuss their application with a Cognex engineer.
The seminars run from February through June and are held in major cities throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Click here for more information.iKnow® Machine Safety Online Learning Tool
Banner Engineering’s iKnow® Machine Safety online tutorial allows learners to understand the mechanics and applications behind machine safety systems through short, interactive lessons they can do at their own pace. iKnow Machine Safety features simple navigation, interactions, expanded glossary and new downloadable resources for on-the-job reference.
- Learn the basics of personnel and machine safety in the industrial workplace.
- Understand the differences between US and EU safety standards.
- Download a primer of the Risk Assessment Process.
- Explore important concepts in a tangible, interactive learning environment.
- Meet Banner Safety Experts and get valuable insights on products and technology.
- Take away printable performance aids to help you on the job.
WAGO's DIN Rail Mount Relays save cost and panel space.More Information on DIN Rail Mount Relays
Contact WAGO for a Free Sample, Literature, or Application Assistance
E-direct is the On-line Instrument Shop for process control instrumentation from Endress+Hauser.More Information on E-direct Online Shop
Contact Endress+Hauser for Product CD or Application Assistance
Fully managed 5-port Ethernet Switch, Board Level Design for embedded OEM applications from SIXNET.More Information on 5-port Ethernet Switch
Contact SIXNET for Product CD or Application Assistance
Advantech Automation's UNO-2170 is a Universal Network Controller starting at $890.More Information on Universal Network Controller
Contact Advantech for Product Guide/CD 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 1/30/2006
- Production Supervisor: Farmington Hills, MI - Aggressive Systems Inc 1/30/2006
- Account Executive/Sales Engineer/Business Development Manager: Winston Salem, NC - Avid Solutions Inc. 1/30/2006
- Marketing Director: Orange County, CA - Confidential 1/30/2006
- Theatrical Automation: Las Vegas, NV - Cirque du Soleil 1/30/2006
- Industrial Controls Specialist: Cumming, GA - AutomationDirect 1/28/2006
- Industrial Automation Sales Specialist: Houston & Dallas, TX - Siemens Energy & Automation 1/27/2006
- Engineer Manager: Sepulveda, CA - Moore Industries 1/26/2006
- Controls Engineer: Fairmont, MN - automationtechies 1/31/2006
- Controls Engineer: Seattle, WA - automationtechies 1/31/2006
- Instrumentation Technician: Duluth Area, GA - automationtechies 1/31/2006
- Sr. Engineer Automation: Houston, TX - automationtechies 1/27/2006
- Application Engineer: Los Angeles, CA - automationtechies 1/26/2006
- Senior Engineer: Los Angeles, CA - automationtechies 1/26/2006
- Project Engineer: Akron, OH - automationtechies 1/25/2006
- Automation Technician / Field Service: North Minneapolis Area, MN - automationtechies 1/24/2006
To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
Sometimes it’s very hard to get a good functional requirements definition.
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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