Dear %%if(%%firstname%% is empty,Colleague,%%firstname%%)%%:
Read the online version or scroll down for this issue of Automation.com's e-News.
Search...
  • Products
  • Suppliers
  • Integrators
  • Jobs
  • News
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • Classifieds
  • Automation.com Weekly e-Newsletter
    November 1, 2006
    Sponsored by SIXNET In this Issue

    Want More Ports? ...Get More!

    Free Product CD

    • 2 Gigabit Combo ports for copper or fiber
    • Auto-detecting RJ45 ports - 10/100/1000
    • Rapid Spanning Tree for redundant rings
    • Security with HTTPS, SSL, SSH, SNMPv3...
    • VLANs, IGMP, RMON, SNMP...
    • Fiber connections up to 70+ km

    For a FREE product CD, visit
    www.sixnetio.com.

     

    From One Techie to Another:
    Online Networking – Fad or Future?

    Product Announcements & News

    Featured Article:
    ETO Automation Transforms the Business Process

    Featured Training
    Vision Seminars, Workshops and Training Programs

    Featured Application Tool
    Machine Safety Products Catalog

    Featured Products:

  • Vision Builder for Automated Inspection
  • Programmable Logic Controllers
  • E-direct On-line Instrument Shop
  • Innovation In Automation Tour
  • New Job Opportunities

    New Auctions & Classifieds

    Dilbert Pick of the Week

    Sponsored by ASI From One Techie to Another

    ASI Has The Power Supply You’re Searching For.

    More Product Information

    ASI offers one of the most reliable and complete lines of DIN rail mount power supplies in the world. These UL508 power supplies are available in 5, 12, 15, 24 and 48 VDC, with output current ratings from 0.5 to 42 amps in both auto-ranging single and three phase input versions. Each power supply is packed with features such as built-in over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature protection.

    Contact ASI directly toll free at 877-650-5160 or go to www.asi-ez.com for immediate product information.

     

    Online Networking – Fad or Future?

    First, I have to admit that I am no longer hip. Some people that know me may say I’ve never been hip, but that’s another story. I’m turning 40 next year. Two years ago, I moved from a first tier suburb (close to the city) to a third tier suburb where there are no decent restaurants, grocery stores, etc. My kids are too little for me to be in touch with the youth scene. So, I’ve come to the unappealing realization that I really don’t know what’s going on with today’s teens and 20-something youth. Does this sound familiar? I don’t think I’m alone. At least I hope I’m not.

    I have another confession to make, until MySpace.com made the national news a few months ago, I had never heard of it. Maybe my spam filter works a little too well? In July, media conglomerate News Corp revealed that they will buy MySpace.com (along with 30 other sites) from Intermix Media for a whopping $580 million in cash. In less than two years, MySpace.com has become one of the hottest sites on the Web. Currently, MySpace.com has more page views than Google and touts 22 million members, growing at a rate of 2 million members per month. Those are some pretty staggering numbers!

    After talking to a few more people about this MySpace phenomenon, I learned that apparently some teenagers and 20-somethingers rarely use e-mail. What? Are you serious? But how do they communicate with anyone? They use MySpace.com. MySpace.com has become the online portal where the younger generation network with each other. You can communicate with friends and family, find new friends, find singles in your area, look up classmates and much more. The site is designed to easily find other people with similar interests just by doing a search. Plus, you can even check out the latest movies, music, games, etc.

    So, in an effort to bring back a little “hip” to my life (before I need a hip transplant), I registered on MySpace.com as a member. But, that’s as far as I went because I just didn’t have the time to set up my own page with a profile and picture. There are also some other sites out there, like www.linkedin.com, that allow professionals to network with each other. I went as far as registering on this site also, but haven’t gone any farther yet.

    The question I have to ask is…Are professionals using some of these networking sites to meet and communicate with each other? Or are they dominated by teenagers and 20-somethingers? With the decline of trade shows, where people previously did all their networking, have older (and I used that term loosely, i.e. older than 25) professionals turned to the Internet to find new professional networking mediums and opportunities? This seems like a great segway to a survey. Please take a minute to Complete our Very Short Survey on this topic.

    As always, thanks for your feedback. Who knows, maybe I’ll actually “see” you online in the not-too-distant future.

    Enjoy the rest of this eNews!

    Rick Zabel
    Vice President, Editor-in-Chief

    RSS Feeds of News
    RSS Feeds of Automation.com News Headlines
    Add News & Product Headlines to GoogleAdd News & Product Headlines to My Yahoo!
    Find Products

     

    Sponsored by EPSON Robots

    Win a free EPSON Robot - Click here for more information!

     

     

    Featured Article

    ETO Automation Transforms the Business Process
    Engineer-to-Order (ETO) product designers face challenges to provide "mass customization" of their products better, faster, and cheaper than their competitors. An ETO automation system allows many or all portions of the ETO process to be automated, thus providing quicker turnaround, lower engineering costs, and consistent adherence to product rules and standards.

    Read full article by Thomas R. Cutler

    Read other articles by Thomas Cutler

    More articles and white papers
    More application stories

    Product Announcements & Company News

    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.

    Product Announcements:

    Literature, Training & Seminars:

    Company & Organization News:

    Application News:

    Featured Training

    Vision Seminars, Workshops and Training Programs
    Cognex offers manufacturing engineers from every industry the opportunity to become vision specialists through the Cognex University program. Participants can learn at their own pace and experience first hand how machine vision can help them stay competitive by driving down costs, increasing production and ensuring customer satisfaction. The Cognex University program provides many innovative educational options for beginners and advanced users:

    • New to machine vision technology? Seminars offered nationwide illustrate the benefits of machine vision in applications such as automotive error proofing, package inspection, and part traceability.
    • Test drive Cognex vision before buying. Bring parts to hands-on workshops at local distributors and discuss your application with a vision specialist.
    • Become an expert. Attain application know-how by attending in-depth product training at Cognex training centers in Atlanta, Georgia and Detroit, Michigan.
    View More Information or Schedule.
    Featured Application Tool

    Machine Safety Products Catalog
    Banner’s redesigned 2006-2007 Machine Safety Products catalog includes thousands of products for machine safety applications in its more than 300 full-color pages. High-quality images, detailed selection charts, dimension drawings and specifications are just a few of its features; other highlights include a What’s New section as well as an intuitive iKnow® Machine Safety learning tutorial.

    Request your Free Safety Catalog.

    Featured Products
    NI Vision Builder NI's Vision Builder for Automated Inspection configurable machine vision development environment requires no programming. Free evaluation software.
    More Information on NI's Vision Builder
    Contact National Instruments for Measurement & Automation Catalog or Application Assistance
    AutomationDirect PLCs Huge Savings on PLCs for industrial process control applications. Prices start at $99.
    More Information on AutomationDirect PLCs
    Contact AutomationDirect for Product Catalog or Application Assistance
    E-direct On-line E-direct is the On-line Instrument Shop for process control instrumentation from Endress+Hauser.
    More Information on E-direct is the On-line Instrument Shop
    Contact Endress+Hauser for Product CD or Application Assistance
    Innovation In Automation TourInnovative solutions at your door step with the WAGO Innovation In Automation Tour.
    More Information on WAGO Innovation In Automation Tour
    Contact WAGO for Product Catalog or Application Assistance

    Product & Supplier Search

    New Jobs

    Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:

    To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.

    New Auctions & Classifieds
    eBay hosts over 8000 auctions for industrial automation, control and instrumentation products. From PLCs to sensors, from motor controls to robotics...Use the links below to browse the latest new, used and surplus automation products by category:
    Dilbert Pick of the Week

    Who needs Tony Robins to motivate your staff?

     

    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, Editor-in-chief
    Automation.com

    View our Privacy Policy

    For editorial and advertising inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel or see our Media Kit.

    For automationtechies recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.