Tag: automation

AUTOMATION-A BOON OR BANE

AUTOMATION

       Automation is defined as the technique that makes a product or process by automatically using technology. It reduces the human input in the process. Automation has brought wide changes in the world. Starting from morning to evening, our works are automated in one way or another. For example, purified water by purifiers, food cooked in Microwave oven, washing clothes in the washing machine, automated vacuum cleaner, robots for work field, etc. We can say that most things are automated in the work field. Automation has been used in several fields including manufacturing, transport, defense, operations, and Information Technology. Automation plays a major role in IT optimization and digital transformation. Consequently, the automated systems have become more sophisticated. In the 21st century, we are mostly dependent on automation. Although it has several advantages, eventually it possesses some disadvantages. So, let’s discuss whether automation is a bane or boon?

AUTOMATION- BOON

        From the simplest to complex things, Automation has integrated with every part of our lives. With the help of automation, every work has been easily completed and it saves a lot of time.

Automation in the home: Using the combination of hardware and software components, home appliances are made. Starting from the purifier, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave oven, vacuum cleaner, etc…. most of the home appliances are automated which saves more time and energy.

Network Automation: By using software, the configuration, management, and operations of computer networks are automated. Network automation has become significant to manage the complexities of modern dynamic networks. It helps to reduce human errors in network management and operations.

Automation in the office: More organizations are using automation in the workplace to improve productivity and lower costs. The office automation system consists of both hardware and software solutions to transfer the data between systems without human interventions. Office automation brings broad changes of benefits to include improved accuracy, cost and time reduction,  storing and managing the data in an efficient manner, facility management, and several administrative works.

Security automation: The use of technologies to integrate security processes, applications, and infrastructure with reduced human assistance is known as security automation. Fast threat detection can reduce the impact of data loss.

Help to Disables: With the advancement in technology, automation helped disabled people to overcome their disabilities and by providing proper care independence, they can work like normal people.

AUTOMATION – BANE

Increases unemployment rates: Low-skill workers can be replaced. But nowadays, even the highly skilled workers are replaced by automated machines. Recent advancements in robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) reduced human works in the working environment.

Health issues: Most of the children in this 21st century are addicted to the video game. They prefer online and computer games rather than outdoor games. It makes people lazy and weak. This may be the cause for many health issues like eye problems, back pain, etc.

Machines are sensitive: Automation to some extent can be good but when more control is given to them, it may lead to some disasters Machines can never act like humans and they will be programmed without knowing the sensitivity of the issue.

Hackers:  Technology can be hacked by hackers. Sometimes, it may lead to wide disaster to a country by other countries. Our private details can be stolen by some hackers and they may demand several things to compromise them.

Loss of human interaction: Dealing with computers and machines can reduce the interactions between people.

        Overall, Automation is very essential for the growth and development of a country. Automation ensures the utilization of resources in various fields include healthcare, sports, energy, and technology. Without automation, we will spend more time finishing the task and thus delivery will be done very late. The economic imbalance will be increased. In short term, automation will cause unemployment and may bring some disadvantages. But in the long term effect, Automation will be needed for the better development of the nation.

Effect of Automation on Jobs

During a period when India is concerned with the lack of satisfactory work, it is only natural that expectations would be raised on technologies that appear to accomplish a task of humans. This is analogous to our previous suspicions of computers taking over workers upon widespread adoption.

Today in every sphere we regard computers and laptops as indispensable goods. In fact, they performed miracles — from helping to control missiles to tracing water under dry soil.

Intro to AI for Policymakers: Understanding the shift – Brookfield ...

Because of machines, the latest collection of buzz terms that have entered our lexicon include industrial automation, artificial intelligence (AI), robotisation, virtual help and block chain technology. The Google Assistant can now actually remember your schedules reasonably, search nearest coffee shops and plan for your health check-up with a single command. The Aristotle, Mattel’s configurable computer, can read the children’s bedtime books, and teach the babies foreign vocabulary. A security robot, the Steve, can walk around a spot and detect possible fires. The nanny-robots will track a chicken’s wellbeing. The list continues to widen by the day. By 2025, robotics is forecasted to be a sector of $67 billion. The assertions about the impact of the aforementioned technologies are rather much further-fetched, coming back to the question of jobs.

Let’s look at the employment share of different sectors in India, for starters. According to the report of the Reserve Bank of India, of a total of 48 crore jobs in 2015-16, 42 per cent were in agriculture, 14 per cent were in construction, 12 per cent were in retail, bars and restaurants, another 12 per cent were in manufacturing, 11 per cent were in government, social and personal services and the rest were in other sectors. In agriculture, 27 per cent were farmers, and 15 per cent were farm labourers.

But much of the new jobs that were developed in the past were confined to very few industries. Roughly 1.5 crore new employees joined the workforce around the country between 2010-11 and 2015-16, totalling approximately 70 lakh new jobs per year. Business services absorbed most of these entrants (23 per cent) , followed by engineering (17 per cent), education (12 per cent), commerce (11 per cent) and transportation and storage (11 per cent). It is interesting to notice that about 2, 7 crore employees left agriculture, including growers, throughout these five years. About equivalent in number, about 2.5 crore new jobs have been reported in the construction industry, reflecting the fact that many of the farm workers have now become construction workers.

Instead, moving towards these innovations will open up opportunities for new employment, especially in information and communication technology and data sciences. To unlock talent, we need institutional capacity building to prepare the youth workers for those sectors. There is a huge demand for the building of skills, not only in these emerging technologies but also in existing industries. Only 10 per cent have earned some sort of training today, also in the manufacturing sector. It’s only five per cent in agriculture, construction and commerce, and it’s six per cent in finance. Overall, in India, no more than six per cent of the workers are given training. While there are definite margins for skilled staff, the ongoing effort to deliver skills development could generate substantial employment itself.

Finally, when there is sufficient institutional capacity to train the workforce for future jobs and give skills to the existing force, the threat to job loss could be a lesser threat. Yet job formation for the underemployed could also be a difficult thing to contend with. Bumpy roads to go.