Electricity + Control September 2016

CONTROL SYSTEMS, AUTOMATION + SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

OPINION

Mobility, Big Data and The Cloud: Opportunities or Commodities?

Luigi De Bernardini, Autoware (certified member of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA))

How do manufacturers view these three predominant technology trends … and how do you view them?

T here is no conference, magazine or airport terminal where people are not talking about Mobility, Big Data and Cloud Computing. Those three terms, according to who is talking, identify technological trends with which all of us will deal, both at home and at work. But are they equally important in all fields? Specifically, in the industrial and manufacturing fields, is it necessary to face them immediately, or are they just something to keep an eye on because they could be an opportunity for improvement in the future? To get a better handle on these questions, I discussed these trends with some Autoware clients who typically seize opportunities offered by technology and innovation. The results presented an uneven picture.

However, it was clear that Mobility, Big Data and Cloud Computing cannot be considered in the same way. They have different implications and repercussions that I will try to highlight briefly. Mobility is almost difficult to call an innovative trend because, in some ways, it can be considered a commodity. Everyone is now in the habit of ac- cessing information anywhere at anytime. It is therefore natural for us to expect that same level of connectivity when it comes to accessing the information necessary for our work life.  Regarding the management and processing of large amounts of data, the scenery is more diverse. For some companies this is absolutely a present day opportunity and need. For others Big Data is seen as an op-

Electricity+Control September ‘16

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