Tech Is Transforming Industry in These Important Ways
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The face of Industry is currently being transformed by new tech. In fact, there are many applications that anyone working within Industry needs to stay aware of if they are to retain their competitive advantage. Luckily, you can read all about these transformative technologies in the post below.
Alternative energy sources
One of the most obvious places to start a post on how tech is transforming Industry is around the issue of energy. Of course, as we are all only too aware, there is only a limited supply of fossil fuels left. This being something that has the potential to disrupt many fields of Industry as we know them.
With that in mind, and with the addition of social pressure to use energy sources that are clean and renewable, many industries are already initiating a change in the energy they use.
In fact, a great example of this is the air industry what with jet fuel being one of the least environmentally friendly and limited sources of power there is. Of course, that has lead to tech-focused solutions such as the creation of more eco-friendly fuels, and even the electric-powered jet engine.
Although, neither of which are currently in widespread use right now. Additionally, both of which have significant issues and problems that are yet to be worked out before they can provide a viable replacement for the current system we are using.
However, this change from fossil fuels to electrical power or cleaner fuels is one that we are on the cusp of in nearly every field there is. This being just one way that tech will transform Industry in the coming months and years.
Robots
Many people can get a little nervous when robots are mentioned. I’m sure it has to do with all those nasty sci-fi movies where they go and break Asimov’s Laws. Although maybe it’s the crazy videos on social media that feature advanced models moving and behaving in a decidedly human way?
However, no matter how we feel about our metal friends, the truth of the matter is that they are coming into Industry. With little we can do to stop this. In fact, in some areas of production, robots are already being used on a daily basis.
Of course, this is a trend that we can expect to see expanded over the coming year. With robotic process automation (RPA) being used for a myriad of heavy jobs, detailed challenges, and repetitive tasks alike across fields such as manufacturing, medicine, and even food production.
Obviously, this does beg the question: ‘What will happen to those that rely on such jobs? In fact, this is the issue that often underlies a lot of the mistrust of RPA. The reason being that it is an excellent way to replace human employees with workers that need no breaks, and won’t complain when things are busy.
In fact, this change may well drive additional transformations in society outside of Industry, including what some are referring to as a ‘universal wage.’ That is a set amount that is awarded to citizens each month, whether they work or not. The idea is that even if a lot of jobs are wiped out by such technological advances, people will still have money on which to survive. Although, only time will tell to what extent robots will permeate our lives, and how well a universal wage system will work in practice.
More robust, extreme, and advanced equipment and tools
Technology also changing the face of Industry is via continued advancements of the equipment available. This being something that helps to create more productive and robust tools that can be used in far more extreme conditions than before.
The benefit of this being that resources can be gathered from traditionally unreachable places. In fact, just by using relative simple resources such as Seamless Stainless Steel Tube, it is possible to reduce corrosion of piping used at depth. A place where harsh environments and pressure would have previously made work untenable.
Of course, there are additional benefits when using particularly advanced tools, apart from the ones mentioned above. One is that they can be used to conduct complex processes that allow products like carbon fiber to be created more cost-effectively. Therefore allowing them to be used on a much broader basis, rather than being reserved for items that are just top of the line.
Additionally, better tools usually translate to improved productivity, as well. With less catastrophic breakdowns, which means higher safety for employees and better timescales for production. Of course, add this to the other tech productivity trend of proactive and automatic maintenance. A technique that keeps everything running, even before it has broken down, and you can see the benefits that those in Industry are primed to reap.
IoT
The internet of things is also set to revolutionize Industry mainly via a swap from manufacturing regular items to ones that are regarded as smart. That is, they can be controlled remotely, automated, and monitored by the users. Thus providing better convenience and reduce energy consumption.
Of course, this means that additional technologies are likely to become commonplace within the manufacturing industry, as well. Some of which include voice recognition modules and touch screens. Both of these providing the most desirable and practical ways in which the customer can interact with their smart device.
Additionally, this will mean that within manufacturing, there will be a greater need for workers with a higher level of technological know-how. Both in terms of programming said machines and being able to construct them as well. Something that will definitely transform Industry as we know it.
Facial Recognition
Facial recognition has certainly had plenty of air time of late. Especially with the protests in Hong Kong, and the Chinese government’s use of the tech to suppress them. Of course, that does create a somewhat negative 1984 view of this tech, but you will be pleased to know that there are some positive applications for Industry as well.
In particular, the increased level of security that facial recognition provides will be of use to many different fields. Especially the ones where customer data and personal information need to be kept as private and securely as possible. In fact, with facial recognition tech, the speed at which the right person can safely access this type of info is likely to increase. This being something that can help to improve the service businesses offer to the customer as well.
VR & AR
Finally, another technological development that is set to transform the face of Industry is AR and VR. In fact, there are so many applications for this tech that it would be impossible to detail them all.
With that in mind, we will briefly look at some of the most common. One of which will be to replace or augment meetings where attendees can hold face to face conversations in real-time. Where they can actually see the other person and read their body and facial language. This being something that has the potential to make electronic communication much more accurate and effective as time goes on. After all, we humans live an embodied existence. Therefore its is only by accounting for this in the virtual world through tech such as VR that we can access the full possibilities that communicating online holds.
Additionally, the applications of VR and AR in terms of training employees is massive. The reason being that they can get real-life, tactile experience of doing the tasks they need to in real life, without any of the risks.
Of course, applying this to the example of an electronics manufacturer where employees deal with delicate and precise systems, it can save a great deal of money. Although, for those operating in the medical sphere, it provides them with the opportunity to become competent in procedures and operations that might otherwise contain significant risk for the payment. A valuable benefit of tech in Industry indeed! The most valuable, in fact, that of human life.