Technology over the past decade has become more easily controllable and automatic, responding to the touch of a finger or the sound of a voice.

This extends from our smartphones and tablets to our cars and homes. Some technology for control and automation is relatively simple to install and use; some of it is so complex it requires the expertise of a professional electronics integrator.

Homeowners on the Upper Cape who are looking for an integrated system to control lighting, thermostat, entertainment, security and other technologies have many options, whether they are building a new house or renovating an existing one.

Two Upper Cape-based home automation integrators areNew England Home Automation in Falmouth andTechnical Operations And Development, or TOAD, in Bourne.

New England Home Automation, formed in Hyannis in 2016, will open a showroom with its partner, Vineyard Home, at 587 Main Street in Falmouth next month.

Vineyard Home on Main Street in Falmouth

"We're planning to open our showroom February 1," said Jacob D. Avakian, a Bourne resident and owner of Vineyard Home since 2018. "We focus ongas fireplaces, audio and video, custom closets, outdoor living and home automation."

His partners are Addison Alder and Thomas Crabtree, both Barnstable residents, of New England Home Automation.

"Home automation is definitely the way things are going and the customer have gotten accustomed to smart technology and are coming to these in their homes," Mr. Avakian said, noting that builders, architects and homeowners sometimes shy away from "smart home tech" because they do not understand it.

"A smart home is really just a connected home, and though it sounds complicated to them, we can provide the knowledge and education," he said.

Jacob Avakian, owner of Vineyard Home (left) is opening a Falmouth showroom with Addison Alder and Thomas Crabtree of New England Home Automation.

A customer testimonial on the company's website says, "They installed a complete audio/video system, security, including cameras, alarm and remote, keyless door access, lighting control, HVAC monitoring and swimming pool electronics and provide monthly equipment monitoring."

A decade ago, there was great demand for a universal remote to control multiple devices in one device, Mr. Crabtree said.

"It's the same with home automation. You can take a few devices and integrate them together, like individual musical instruments, to create a symphony orchestra," he said.

"Rather than having multiple apps on your phone, you have a single interface to learn, and that's where the convenience comes in," Mr. Alder added.

The company has recently worked on new and existing construction projects with Longfellow Design Build and Pinsonneault Builders in Falmouth, along with builders and architects throughout the Cape, Mr. Crabtree said.

Developer Mark Bogosian, owner of Longfellow Design Build, said his company "is seeing an absolute increase in demand for home automation, everything from a smart thermostat to a total integrated home system. Vineyard Home and New England Home Automation have taken care of everything we need, and the partnership has been fantastic. They can coordinate directly with our clients."

"In the Cape Cod market, we have clients, builders mostly, who are approaching us, and for some reason we find that builders are somewhat afraid of technology," Mr. Crabtree said. "What we like to do is be that bridge to bring the mysterious world of technology to their clients, the homeowners. There's an information gap."

Providing dependable customer service is a huge priority for the company, Mr. Alder said.

"A lot of big Boston companies have satellite offices on the Cape. They'll come in and sell the system, but if something needs to get fixed, you might need to make an appointment weeks out, but that's not what these clients deserve or need. We're that local, full-service company that can meet their expectation quickly," he said.

The company primarily works with the Control4 home automation platform and also uses individual products such as the Google Nest hub, Mr. Crabtree said.

Control4 "has the best third-party integration" and is modular and expandable in design, Mr. Alder said.

"A basic system is between $1,000 and $2,000 and can expand to hundreds of thousands of dollars," he said.

In addition to whole-house systems, the company installs one-room systems, such as dedicated home theaters and media rooms with projectors and surround sound.

When working on new construction or major renovation projects, the partners recommend "future-proofing" a home by installing structured wiring before the interior walls are completed, Mr. Crabtree said.

"Everyone seems to think that WiFi or wireless is the way everything's moving, but a hard line is always better for reliability," he said. "Even in today's world, we still want to run a wire to everything. When you're building a new home or renovating, a prewire is relatively inexpensive, and it gives you options, even for resale. It gets much more expensive later on, when you're ripping out walls."

Builders sometimes overlook prewiring because they do not understand the benefits, Mr. Alder said.

"You might not want to install something now, but in the future, when you do want those components, the wire is there, and that is a cost saver in the future," he said.

Homeowners often ask the partners why they should install a certain technology when it will likely become obsolete in a matter of years, and this is where future-proofing makes the most difference, Mr. Avakian said.

"A lot of the cabling we use is a universal cable. In 10 years, most likely that cable can still be used for whatever they're trying to accomplish. You might ask, 'Why would I put a touchscreen on my wall if in five years there's going to be a new touchscreen?' But it's the same wire that runs to the touchscreen," he said.

New England Home Automation is a Barnstable-based company that is partnering with Vineyard Home in Falmouth.

Mr. Adler added that, while the end-user experience is often WiFi-based, "what gives you that connectivity is that solid wire."

Along with its residential work, New England Home Automation also does commercial work for businesses and corporations.

"We're working with a relatively large Falmouth company, and we have done the structured wiring in their corporate office. We're now in the design phase of a restaurant and store they're opening off-Cape," Mr. Avakian said.

The company mainly uses social media to market its services. Once the showroom is open, it will offer consultations and education sessions for homeowners, builders, architects and real estate agents, Mr. Avakian said.

At TOAD, which is headquartered in Buzzards Bay, Mark Hooper, a Bourne resident and former US Navy SEAL, formed his company in 2000 and now has clients across the Cape and Islands as well as along the Route 3 and Route 128 corridors. His business is 80 percent residential and 20 percent commercial, he said.

"We began only with audiovisual technology, but as home control and automation technology evolved, I came to offer a full suite of services," he said. "This trade mirrors a little bit of the complexities of being a SEAL. There are a lot of elements to master, and you have to be a hybrid electrician and switch specialist."

Recent Upper Cape projects have involved working with Jill Neubauer Architects, Hutker Architects and C.H. Newton Builders in Falmouth, as well as Archia Homes in Duxbury.

"Not everybody gets a full-scale smart home. Some only do an aspect of it," Mr. Hooper said. "The demand is growing because a lot of companiesApple, for instanceare advancing, teaching people how to use their devices, with the idea of how to streamline that process."

In the past TOAD installed systems from Crestron, RTI and Control4, but its go-to system is now from Savant, based in Hyannis.

"Savant is the first Apple-based system, and it is simple to program," Mr. Hooper said. "Being part of that hometown team helps with clients, and having Savant here on the Cape has been a great resource."

To future-proof a home, Mr. Hooper recommends installing a system of interlocking copper tubes as an in-wall infrastructure for structured wiring, with access points to allow for upgrades and expansion.

"If you do nothing else, let us put in the tubes. It allows customers to take advantage of new technologies and will save them hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years," he said, noting that TOAD installs state-of-the-art Cat8 wiring and fiber optic cable in certain projects.

Read more:

Home Automation Is Taking Control On The Upper Cape - CapeNews.net

By Brian X. ChenThe 2010s made one thing clear: Tech is everywhere in life.

Tech is in our homes with thermostats that heat up our residences before we walk through the door. Its in our cars with safety features that warn us about vehicles in adjacent lanes. Its on our television sets, where many of us are streaming shows and movies through apps. We even wear it on ourselves in the form of wristwatches that monitor our health.

In 2020 and the coming decade, these trends are likely to gather momentum. They will also be on display next week at CES, an enormous consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas that typically serves as a window into the years hottest tech developments.

At the show, next-generation cellular technology known as 5G, which delivers data at mind-boggling speeds, is expected to take center stage as one of the most important topics. We are also likely to see the evolution of smart homes, with internet-connected appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and vacuum cleaners working more seamlessly together and with less human interaction required.

The biggest thing is connected everything, said Carolina Milanesi, a technology analyst for the research firm Creative Strategies. Anything in the home well have more cameras, more mics, more sensors.

If some of this sounds the same as last year, it is but thats because new technologies often take time to mature.

Heres what to watch in tech this year.

The Smarter Home: True AutomationIn the past few years, Amazon, Apple and Google have battled to become the center of our homes.

Their virtual assistants Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri respond to voice commands to play music from speakers, control light bulbs and activate robot vacuums. Smart home products work well, but they are complicated to set up, so most people use virtual assistants just for basic tasks like setting a kitchen timer and checking the weather.

Then in December, Amazon, Apple and Google came to what appeared to be a truce: They announced that they were working together on a standard to help make smart home products compatible with one another.

In other words, when you buy an internet-connected light bulb down the line that works with Alexa, it should also work with Siri and Google Assistant. This should help reduce confusion when shopping for home products and improve the ease with which connected gadgets work with one another.

Milanesi said that eliminating complexity was a necessary step for the tech giants to achieve their ultimate goal: seamless home automation without the need for people to tell the assistants what to do.In December 2019, Amazon, Apple and Google came to what appeared to be a truce: They announced that they were working together on a standard to help make smart home products compatible with one another. You want the devices to talk to each other instead of me being the translator between these device interactions, she said. If I open my door, then the door can say to the lights that the door is open and therefore the lights need to turn on.

If and when that happens, your home will truly and finally be smart.

The Slow, Steady Rise of 5GIn 2019, the wireless industry began shifting to 5G, a technology that can deliver data at such incredibly fast speeds that people will be able to download entire movies in a few seconds.

Yet the rollout of 5G was anticlimactic and uneven. Across the United States, carriers deployed 5G in just a few dozen cities. And only a handful of new smartphones last year worked with the new cellular technology.5G will also go to work behind the scenes, in ways that will emerge over time. In 2020, 5G will gain some momentum. Verizon said it expected half the nation to have access to 5G this year. AT&T, which offers two types of 5G 5G Evolution, which is incrementally faster than 4G, and 5G Plus, which is the ultrafast version said it expected 5G Plus to reach parts of 30 cities by early 2020.

Another sign that 5G is really taking hold? A broader set of devices will support the new wireless standard.

Samsung, for one, has begun including 5G support on some of its newer Galaxy devices. Apple, which declined to comment, is also expected to release its first 5G-compatible iPhones this year.

And 5G will be going to work behind the scenes, in ways that will emerge over time. One important benefit of the technology is its ability to greatly reduce latency, or the time it takes for devices to communicate with one another. That will be important for the compatibility of next-generation devices like robots, self-driving cars and drones.

For example, if your car has 5G and another car has 5G, the two cars can talk to each other, signaling to each other when they are braking and changing lanes. The elimination of the communications delay is crucial for cars to become autonomous.

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For a long while, Apple has dominated wearables. In 2015, it released Apple Watch, a smartwatch with a focus on health monitoring. In 2016, the company introduced AirPods, wireless earbuds that can be controlled with Siri.

Since then, many others have jumped in, including Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei. Google recently acquired Fitbit, the fitness gadget maker, for $2.1 billion, in the hope of playing catch-up with Apple.

Computer chips are making their way into other electronic products like earphones, which means that companies are likely to introduce innovations in wearable accessories, said Frank Gillett, a technology analyst for Forrester. Two possibilities: earphones that monitor your health by pulling pulses from your ears, or earbuds that double as inexpensive hearing aids.

That whole area of improving our hearing and hearing the way other people hear us is really interesting, he said.

The Streaming RevolutionWe have rushed headlong into the streaming era, and that will only continue.

In 2019, Netflix was the most-watched video service in the United States, with people spending an average of 23 minutes a day streaming its content, according to eMarketer, the research firm. In all, digital video made up about a quarter of the daily time spent on digital devices last year, which included time spent on apps and web browsers.

Netflixs share of the overall time we spend watching video on devices will probably decline in 2020, according to eMarketer, because of the arrival of competing streaming services like Disney Plus, HBO Max and Apple TV Plus.

Even though Americans are spending more time watching Netflix, peoples attention will become more divided as new streamers emerge, Ross Benes, an analyst at eMarketer, said in a blog post.

So if you dont like 'The Mandalorian', 'The Morning Show' or 'Watchmen', you wont change the channel. You will just switch to a different app.

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True automation, a bigger streaming revolution: Tech that will take over our lives this year - Economic Times

New Jersey, United States, The report is a brilliant presentation of critical dynamics, regional growth, competition, and other important aspects of the Robotic Process Automation Market. The factual, unbiased, and thorough assessment of the global Robotic Process Automation market presented in the report assures players of access to much-needed information and data to plan effective growth strategies. The report has made a brilliant attempt to provide a comprehensive research study on industry value chain, major companies, deployment models, and key opportunities, drivers, and restraints of the global Robotic Process Automation market. It shows how the global Robotic Process Automation market will advance or lack growth during each year of the forecast period. Readers are offered with detailed and near-accurate predictions of CAGR and market size of the global Robotic Process Automation market and its important segments.

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Table of Content

1 Introduction of Robotic Process Automation Market

1.1 Overview of the Market 1.2 Scope of Report 1.3 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology of Verified Market Research

3.1 Data Mining 3.2 Validation 3.3 Primary Interviews 3.4 List of Data Sources

4 Robotic Process Automation Market Outlook

4.1 Overview 4.2 Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Drivers 4.2.2 Restraints 4.2.3 Opportunities 4.3 Porters Five Force Model 4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5 Robotic Process Automation Market, By Deployment Model

5.1 Overview

6 Robotic Process Automation Market, By Solution

6.1 Overview

7 Robotic Process Automation Market, By Vertical

7.1 Overview

8 Robotic Process Automation Market, By Geography

8.1 Overview 8.2 North America 8.2.1 U.S. 8.2.2 Canada 8.2.3 Mexico 8.3 Europe 8.3.1 Germany 8.3.2 U.K. 8.3.3 France 8.3.4 Rest of Europe 8.4 Asia Pacific 8.4.1 China 8.4.2 Japan 8.4.3 India 8.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific 8.5 Rest of the World 8.5.1 Latin America 8.5.2 Middle East

9 Robotic Process Automation Market Competitive Landscape

9.1 Overview 9.2 Company Market Ranking 9.3 Key Development Strategies

10 Company Profiles

10.1.1 Overview 10.1.2 Financial Performance 10.1.3 Product Outlook 10.1.4 Key Developments

11 Appendix

11.1 Related Research

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Robotic Process Automation Market Size, Outlook on Key Growth Trends, Factors and Forecast to 2026 - ReportsPioneer

The year 2019 witnessed a lot of dramatic events in India IT industry, be it hostile takeover at Mindtree, change of guard at Wipro, and whistle-blower allegations against Infosys top leadership. Despite all the chaos, it has been expected that automation and AI will continue to harness multi-million prospects for the industry.

Also, as quoted inBusiness Standard, in a departure from the past, industry body Nasscom discontinued providing its annual growth forecast for the industry which was considered as an important tool to measure the sentiment of the sector. Nasscom analyzed, for 2019 it was cautiously optimistic and cited rising global economic uncertainties arising out of trade wars and protectionism.

As we can observe the impact of new-age technologies across the nation, the industry is focussing on robotics,artificial intelligence(AI) and machine learning to help customers stay ahead in the game and also remain competitive themselves.

Nasscom Senior VP and Chief Strategy Officer Sangeeta Gupta said, the advent of new technology paradigms like robotics, AI, blockchain and IoT is changing howcompaniesand individuals consume technology and for the Indian businesses to remain successful, an update to the technology of tomorrow, today will be needed.

With the rise ofautomationandartificial intelligenceis becoming an integral part of business, the concerns around layoffs also continued to emerge through 2019.

Moreover, at the end of October 2019, Cognizant said it planned to cut off around 7,000 jobs as part of cost-reduction efforts. Adding up to that Indian MNC Infosys also reported to be mulling firing thousands but the company clarified that there were no planned layoffs.

Despite all the slow and steadiness, industry experts predicted that industry continues to be a healthy net hirer.

WNS Group CEO and Nasscom Chairman Keshav Murugesh said, the IT industry continues to hire in large numbers. The sector, in fact, expected net hires to total about 1.2 lakh last year and ended up hiring 1.7 lakh. This year, in the first quarter itself, 85,000 net new hirings have taken place.

He further stated that considering that the industry has witnessed a positive hiring trend, from Nasscoms point of view, we are cautiously optimistic in terms of the overall year and aim to see this trend continue in the coming year.

As cited in Business Standard, the US continues to be an important market for the Indian IT services players, accounting for over 60 percent of the export revenues. WhileIndian companieshave ramped up local hiring in these markets, there continue to be challenges on the regulatory front in terms of visa-related issues.

Furthermore, Sangeeta Gupta said, Nasscom strongly supports eliminating the per-country caps on Green Cards as was the original intent of S. 386, the Fairness For High-Skilled Immigrants legislation. However, Nasscom is opposed to both the process being followed and discriminatory provisions of the bill that deal with the unrelated matter of H-1B visas.

Today, the new money and core of IT services are inclusive of innovation at scale rather than scaling IT services. Some experts believe that in order to accelerate technological growth, India needs to attract more foreign investment, offer tailored upskilling programs, retain home-grown talent, as well as create a favorable regulatory environment. Moreover, the IT industry in India will have to maintain a fine balance between driving innovative solutions and overcoming the challenges that these solutions may introduce.

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Smriti is a Content Analyst at Analytics Insight. She writes Tech/Business articles for Analytics Insight. Her creative work can be confirmed @analyticsinsight.net. She adores crushing over books, crafts, creative works and people, movies and music from eternity!!

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Despite Chaotic Year, Automation, AI Offer Benefits to Indian IT Industry - Analytics Insight

AI isnt stealing jobs. It could be the key to retraining workers for the jobs of the future.

While reskilling of America may be one of the top challenges for employers over the coming decade, employers that use technology and AI to nurture their staffs career development will be the big winners in keeping top talent, says Anne Fulton, CEO of of Fuel50, a career pathing solution that provides AI tools to bolster employee retention.

Artificial intelligence and automation is estimated to replace 75 million jobs by 2022, according to the World Economic Forum. Companies have started adopting AI in ways that best support their workforce, without losing valuable employees.

We need to think very carefully about how to leverage AI and automation and implementation so that people's contributions are protected, Fulton says. I'm a proponent of protecting those jobs but lets power that person up with as much AI and intelligence so they can do their job better.

Fuel50 utilizes artificial intelligence through algorithms to match employees with internal opportunities with their current employers. The program also provides learning tools and professional development training.

With a roster of 70 companies worldwide and more than one million employees engaged in the program, Fulton says Fuel50 bridges the gap between AI and human touch to help employees seek out opportunities within their own organizations instead of looking for other employment elsewhere.

Read more: How AI can assist overworked human resources

AI has come into many jobs, but I think there is an awareness that it can be done better and there are risks associated with removing those learning moments and problem solving skills, Fulton says. Organizations have been struggling to fill those positions and HR needs to think very, very carefully around how they can future-proof their business and have the skills for the future.

Employees are eager to gain valuable skills and education needed to advance in their careers. According to a 2019 survey by Careerbuilder, just 32% of employees are satisfied with opportunities for career advancement within their own company and 58% say their employer does not offer enough opportunities to advance their skills with education and training. However 73% of employees said they would participate if opportunities were made available.

To attract and retain talent, hiring managers will need to meet workers' career expectations and provide the perks, work-life balance and career advancement opportunities they demand," says Irina Novoselsky, CEO of CareerBuilder.

Companies are quickly recognizing the need to invest not just in technology, but in their workforce too. In July, Amazon announced it would be spending $700 million to train more than 100,000 workers for higher-skilled positions by 2025.

We think its important to invest in our employees, and to help them gain new skills and create more professional options for themselves, Beth Galetti, senior vice president of HR at Amazon, said in a statement.

Read more: The real reason employees leave their employer

Fulton believes this investment will pay off Fuel50 provides educational and skills-based training through their online module and helps identify opportunities within an organization where those skills are most valued. Fulton says the program helps employees stay engaged and excited about their future path.

We start with the employee first. Most HR technology is top-down, compliance driven. We're all about you and your future, Fulton says. Part of that future includes your resilience. We want you to be agile, engaged, motivated and at your best at work.

Currently, Fuel50 has been implemented at DHL, eBay and Pepsi, among other companies.

By focusing on improving the employee experience, companies are able to balance the fast pace of automation and technology with a more engaged and well-skilled workforce aligned with a companys vision for the future, Fulton says.

We're a retention solution, helping employees see where the future lies within that organization, Fulton says. My dream is we utilize AI so that humans are able to do their jobs better and in a more powerful way and people can create futures for themselves.

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How AI may be the key to future-proofing jobs at risk of being automated - Employee Benefit News

Two predominant aspects of Industry 4.0 are connectivity and analytics. In the digital transformation of industry, connectivity is commonly viewed as the means to an analytical end that better informs the way industrial business is conducted.

While most everyone is generally clear on what analytic technologies for industry are designed to do, i.e., transform the data generated by our factories systems and devices for direct application to improve operations and decision making, thats where the clarity ends. Beyond this point, the definition of analytics can vary widelyespecially from technology supplier to technology supplier.

Michael Risse of Seeq, a company that provides industrial analytics software, says the term analytics can mean anything from data visualization, machine learning, and business intelligence to dashboards and key performance indicators. No matter how analytics is defined, Risse, argues, the overriding issue is the pressure to gain insight from data.

Against this backdrop, Risse says industrys long-preferred tool for analyticsspreadsheetsare not up to the task of performing advanced analytics on ever-larger datasets being created by Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 projects. Insights that take too long to discover, as tends to be the case with spreadsheets, languish because they cannot easily be published and shared with others. Though theyve been the backbone of the past 30 years of analytics efforts in manufacturing, spreadsheets will simply not suffice for the next 30 years. There is too much data, too few engineering professionals, and too many demands for insight from improvements in analytics for spreadsheets to be the primary solution.

From this viewpoint, Risse sees three trends industrial companies should be aware of as they look to move beyond spreadsheets as their primary source of data analyses.

The first of these trends is the recognition of employee empowerment through self-service analytics. Risse says the reason spreadsheets have enjoyed their run of success as the primary tool for analytics is that they are accessible to the employees who know the questions to ask. So, if you lack plant-floor expertise, you likely dont know what questions to ask.

Engineers are the most important group of analytics users, says Risse. They have the required experience, expertise, and history with the plant and processes. Self-service analytics let engineers work at an application level with productivity, empowerment, interaction, and ease-of-use benefits. In the future, however, the universe of analytics users will expand beyond engineers to operators, executives, and accountantsall of whom will also benefit.

The second trend Risse notes is the emergence of advanced analytics. This new class of analytics speaks to the inclusion of cognitive computing technologies into the visualization and calculation offerings that have been used for years to accelerate insights for end users, he says. The introduction of machine learning and other analytic techniques accelerate an engineer's efforts when seeking correlations, clustering, or any other needle-in-the- haystack analysis of process data. With these features built on multi-dimensional models and enabled by assembling data from different sources, engineers gain an order-of-magnitude improvement in analytic capabilities, akin to moving from pen and paper to the spreadsheet 30 years ago.

The movement of analytics to the cloud is the third trend Risse highlights. Analytics workloads are particularly suited for this migration, because most use cases require the scalability, agility, time to market, and reduced costs provided by the cloud, he says.

Though this trend of moving analytics to the cloud is still in its infancy, Risse notes that some industries are ahead of the curve in this respect. He points out that Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have specifically focused on the oil and gas sector as a starting point for their efforts in targeting industrial use of the cloud for analytics purposes.

To provide some real-world context to support his view of these developing trends, Risse offered an example of a chemical company that chose a browser-based advanced analytics application running in the cloud to connect to its on-premise data via a secure HTTPS connection and a remote connection agent. The solution was deployed and accessible in a matter of hours, and the data stayed where it was, enabling insight in days rather than months, he says. Another option is to make the cloud the destination for datasets collected from remote or IIoT end points. This is a more natural and easier option than trying to reroute data from carriers and wireless systems back into IT systems and then to the cloud. In this case, end users can then access the data by either running analytics on the cloud or by running the analytics solution on premise with a remote connection to the cloud-based data.

Another option for industrial companies is to use cloud-based analytics software to access multiple sites. This kind of application facilitates cross-plant comparisons for yield and quality analyses. It also can be used as a simple remote connection for occasional queries and comparisons may suffice, depending on the frequency and requirements of the end user, Risse adds.

In any of these scenarios, Risse points out that the monitoring data may be complemented or contextualized by connecting the analytics solutions to other data sources-historians or manufacturing execution systems to get a complete view of all data.

Read more about Risse's insights related to the big changes he sees coming to industry from software applications.

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The End of the Road for Spreadsheets? - Automation World

Foundational automation is rules based

Fueled by bots, basic automation removes the need to manually perform repetitive and rules-based tasks involving structured data. IBM uses business process management (BPM) libraries and workflow software with select robotic process automation (RPA) capabilities for faster implementation to help you realize benefits more quickly.

Serving as the core of any automation program, basic automation can eliminate errors, reduce biases and perform transactional work in a fraction of the time.

According to a recent IBM study, 91 percent of organizations use at least some basic automation. TakeIBMs 5-minute assessmentto see if youre one of them.

Advanced automation combines technologies

IBM artificial intelligence (AI) technologies enhance automation solutions in ways that few competitors can match. Robotics, coupled with machine learning, natural language processing and analytics, extends the reach and range of automation. This approach can derive insights and recommendations designed to improve outcomes and create higher levels of productivity across your workforce.

Advanced automation brings together man and machine to integrate multiple systems and work together to execute functions across an enterprise. Supporting more complex processes that rely on unstructured data, it helps with knowledge management and decision support for work requiring greater levels of expertise.

Curious about more advanced processes? Check out our infographic (PDF, 624KB) to learn more.

Intelligent automation drives autonomous decision making (and more)

The IBM automation technology ecosystem helps reimagine process designs and create new ways of working. Intelligent automation drives autonomous decision making, continuous process improvements and learned orchestration to help transform your business and adapt to the changing marketplace.

More companies are using automation to take front-office and back-office operations to the next level. While automating simple, repetitive processes through RPA is becoming more common, many organizations are still challenged with where to start and how to meet their full potential. IBM Automation Services can help.

The IBM approach to transformation reflects a broad spectrum of business needs, from basic task automation through RPA to intelligent automation with advanced analytics and cognitive technologies. Digital labor strategy, change management and continuous improvement principles are the basis of how IBM drives transformation to optimize and sustain measurable business benefits for your enterprise.

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What is Automation | IBM

Definition of automation

Automation refers to the process of automatically producing goods through the use of robots, control systems and other appliances with a minimal direct human operation.

Within manufacturing industries, automation has led to increased labour productivity as fewer workers are needed to produce the same number of manufactured goods.

A perceived downside of automation is that it leads to jobs being displaced in traditional areas of work in particular, blue-collar manufacturing jobs. Less visible is how the process of automation leads to the creation of new jobs in areas such as robot manufacture, research, marketing and software development.

However, there are still concerns about the social and economic impact of the rapid job displacement associated with automation and globalisation. In fact, there is enduring concern automation is costing jobs an idea some economists argue is just an enduring faith in the Luddite fallacy.

Automation is a major influence on the economy and will continue to be over the next decade. In theory, automation can lead to significant benefits for the whole economy. Greater GDP, higher productivity and increased customisation of the consumer experience. However, there are legitimate concerns about how these gains will be distributed. It is tempting to dismiss all concerns of new technology as the old Luddite fallacy. But, there is no guarantee that displaced workers will be seamlessly integrated into a very different labour market.

But, on the other hand, it would be a mistake to be too pessimistic. Past trends in automation have served the economy well. Who would go back to a time of 1 million people working as a coal miner or 90% of the population growing their own food? Automation will lead to new opportunities, and with increased technology, we could see the potential for a revitalisation of cottage industries with self-employed workers having the ability to use their creativity to join a fast-changing economy.

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Automation benefits and costs - Economics Help

We held back on launching Automation into Early Access until the game had a solid, fleshed-out core which the main tycoon part of the game will be based on. We also wanted to make sure we can offer enough content and polish to warrant presenting and selling the game to a larger audience.

Previously we offered an early access version of the game via our website, but this sales platform and distribution channel has been outgrown by the steadily increasing interest in the game, becoming complicated to manage for a small team like ours.

Finally launching the game on Steam Early Access makes possible to speed up development with any additional income, allowing for quicker content addition (car bodies, engines, etc.) than otherwise possible. It also allows us to get additional manpower to the team to tackle the huge job of game balancing and AI programming.

Last but not least, with the major milestones of completing the car designer and engine designer under our belt, the implementation of multiplayer features means using the Steam API for network communications, saving us a lot of double work associated with developing our own networking code first.

We're not known for being good with estimates, but always deliver and are good at avoiding feature creep. Our development process focuses on milestone builds that introduce new features every ~3-4 months and are both beta-tested and reasonably polished-up. Any major problems with these milestones are addressed quickly in hotfixes before we move on to the next milestone.

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Since Mid 2015, a portion of our team has been focused on porting Automation over to Unreal Engine 4, and currently all team members are focused on that version. Using UE4 as a basis is giving us the developers the tools to develop Automation better, faster, and maintain it far into the future.

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Save 15% on Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game on Steam

With Azure Automation you can save time, reduce errors, and increase efficiency while lowering your operational costs. Automate all your frequent, time-consuming, and error-prone IT management tasks, in the cloud or on-premises, freeing up your own time to focus on work that adds business value. Automation works with all the Azure services you know and love, as well on-premises systems and those in other clouds. You can also use Automation to connect and manage any online service with an API.

Azure automation provides capabilities to do process automation, update management, desired state configuration, track changes, and collect inventory.

Process automation is priced per job execution minute while configuration management is priced per managed node.

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Process automation includes runbook jobs and watchers. Billing for jobs is based on the number of job run time minutes used in the month and for watchers is based on the number of hours used in a month. Charges for process automation are incurred whenever a job or watcher runs. You will be billed only for minutes/hours that exceed the free included units.

Configuration management includes the configuration pull service and change tracking capabilities. Billing is based on the number of nodes that are registered with the service and the log data stored in the Azure Log Analytics service.

Charges for configuration management start when a node is registered with the service and stop when the node is unregistered from the service. A node is any machine whose configuration is managed by configuration management. This could be an Azure virtual machine (VM), on-premises VM, physical host, or a VM in another public cloud. Billing for nodes is pro-rated hourly.

Update management includes visibility and deployment of updates in your environment. There are no charges for the service, you only pay for log data stored in the Azure Log Analytics service.

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Pricing - Automation | Microsoft Azure

The dictionary definesautomationas the technique of making an apparatus, a process, or a system operate automatically.

We define automation as "the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of products and services.

Using our definition, the automation profession includes everyone involved in the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of products and services; and the automation professional is any individual involved in the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of products and services.

Automation provides benefits to virtually all of industry. Here are some examples:

Automationcrosses all functions within industry from installation, integration, and maintenance to design, procurement, and management. Automation even reaches into the marketing and sales functions of these industries.

Automation involves a verybroad range of technologies including robotics and expert systems, telemetry and communications, electro-optics, Cybersecurity, process measurement and control, sensors, wireless applications, systems integration, test measurement, and many, many more.

Think about the cell phone and computer you use every day to do your job. Think about the car you drive to take to work. Think about the food you eat; water you drink; clothes you wear; and appliances you use to store, prepare, and clean them. Think about the television you watch, video games you play, or music system you listen to. Think about the buildings you visit. Think about any modern convenience or necessity. Just about anything you can think of is the result of complex processes. Without talented individuals to design, build, improve, and maintain these processes, these technological advances would never have occurred and future innovations would be impossible. Without automation professionals, our world and our future would be very different.

Automation professionals are responsible for solving complex problems in many vital aspects of industry and its processes. The work of automation professionals is critically important to the preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the public and to the sustainability and enhancement of our quality of life.

The U.S. government, among many others, recognizes the unsung value of automation professionals. Support for the importance of automation to industry comes from the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. On 30 June 2009, the committee submitted report language (including the excerpt shown below) to accompany the bill: H. R. 2847 (Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010) emphasizing the importance of automation to industry:

Supporting the Nation's manufacturers, especially small businesses, is critical to keeping America innovative in a global marketplaceMEP, NIST, and its partners are directed to consider the importance automation plays in accelerating and integrating manufacturing processes. The topic of automation cuts across all levels of industry, rather than serving as a stand-alone technology, and particularly affects the fields of control systems cyber security, industrial wireless sensors, systems interoperability, and other basic automation technologies necessary for the success of industrial enterprises. NIST is encouraged to consult and collaborate with independent experts in the field of automation to support the agency's efforts in working with industry to increase innovation, trade, security, and jobs."

Automation professionals do and will continue to play a crucial role in protecting us from cyber-attack; enhancing our quality of life; and ensuring the reliability, efficiency, safety, constant improvement, and competitiveness of our electric power systems, transportation systems, manufacturing operations, and industry as a whole. Without these individuals, we cannot advance into the future.

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What is Automation?- ISA

Speeding up and simplifying the communication between provider and payer means a lot more than just getting reimbursed. It can help healthcare organizations be more transparent about costs to patients. It can maximize the amount of time skilled workers deal with higher level problems. It can ensure not only that a provider is getting paid the full amount but that the provider even gets paid at all.

One piece of technology driving this improved process is robotic process automation, also known as machine learning. Matt Hawkins, CEO of Waystar, a healthcare revenue technology vendor, says robotic process automation has the ability to automate and mimic some of the behaviors that people are doing manually while reducing errors and speeding up the time it takes to estimate cost, validate and submit claims, and follow up on getting paid.

In a complex process that involves large amounts of data, any room for error needs to be eliminated. Even a mistyped number can lead to a denied claim, so there are benefits to automating wherever possible.

Instead of manually entering in everything from patient financial and healthcare data to managing the validation and consistency of clinical documentation, Hawkins says robotic process automation blocks a lot of places where errors occur.

In most cases, if you have manual work theres a possibility for error, he said. Robotic process automation saves [providers] a tremendous amount of time and resources they can allocate to a higher order of things like engaging with patients.

Any team knows good communication is important. It is no different for a healthcare provider: Both patient and payer deserve fast and accurate information.

Because reimbursement rates vary so much between payers, many hospitals dont even know what they will be reimbursed for a specific procedure and patient. Instead of a person laboriously researching each rate on a case-by-case basis, an automated system automatically can make the connections and provide faster, more accurate results.

Likewise, after a bill has been sent, the provider relies on an army of phone-wielding staff to follow up with a payer that might be holding up a claim in adjudication. Using robotic process automation to keep track of the status of payments and flag errors that might crop up gives a provider a better handle on their revenue cycle and deliver a better experience to patients.

That leads to a lot of downstream work to follow up, Hawkins said. Not to mention invoicing and collection of payment from patient.

Organizations see the benefits of automating revenue tasks, even incorporating it into their strategic vision. Eliminating a lot of the slow and error-prone parts of the financial cycle frees up resources and speeds the process.

Providing realistic and timely estimates, continuously validating clinical documentation and adjusting codes, and staying abreast of reimbursement status all streamline and improve the care process and patient experience.

Through automation you can eliminate the cycle and just call it revenue management, Hawkins concluded.

Benjamin Harris is a Maine-based freelance writer and former new media producer for HIMSS Media.Twitter: @BenzoHarris.Healthcare IT News is a publication of HIMSS Media.

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Using robotic process automation to manage revenue cycles - Healthcare IT News

December 26, 2019Stefan Reuther

The automation of manufacturing processes is at a turning point. Since the advent of the programmable logic controller (PLC), a number of automation islands have evolved that automate isolated steps in the manufacturing process. For example, a six-axis robot can stack and palletize products in a factory, but a manufacturer would need to invest in several different types of automation to fully automate its production line. This process-specific approach can result in some increases to operational efficiency. However, this does not provide a comprehensive, integrated view of manufacturing, and thus doesnt harness all the benefits of a complete automation system.

While it has been years since the emergence of the term Industry 4.0, we are not quite ready to leave the buzzword in its founding decade. Here are three predictions for major trends in industrial automation for 2020 manufacturers take note.

Vertical integration in Industry 4.0 looks to unite all logical layers in a business, so that information can be free flowing. Increasingly, organizations are demanding a seamless connection between IT and OT to provide an integrated and holistic view of manufacturing and business operations. This infrastructure has been deployed successfully in many facilities, but in 2020, we can truly begin to reap the rewards.

Vertical integration delivers multiple streams of data, but it does not make decisions. Successful deployment should enable organizations to respond to changing markets and spot new opportunities seamlessly. We are already collecting the data lets do something with it.

Improvements in software addresses this trend with platforms that are highly scalable, simple to use, flexible and easy to implement. Linking data from the sensor to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, intelligent software that has been specifically developed with vertical integration in mind can provide operators with a clear visualization of how to use vertical data.

Trends such as vertical integration prove that data is an invaluable asset for manufacturers. According to a 2017 IBM study, 90% of data available at the time of the study was created in the last two years. An ever-growing amount of data is being extracted from manufacturing processes, providing important information about quality, maintenance, and process optimization.

Unfortunately, many of todays solutions offer little flexibility in the collection, evaluation and analysis of these data points. If the information from production processes cannot be properly evaluated and used, manufacturers are unable to reap the benefits. In 2020, automated reporting and analytics functions must become standard. This technology is no longer a luxury, but is now essential to allow for effective interpretation, turning data into valuable information and providing important insights for process improvement.

Production today is an integration of many heterogeneous technologies developed using different standards. While most manufacturers are aware of the security needs of increasingly smart factories, the presence of multiple communication standards on the factory floor can make security a complicated task.

To ensure machines, sensors and software systems can communicate effectively in the long term, choosing one software platform that can communicate across all platforms is beneficial. Furthermore, manufacturers should not overlook the need for this software to uphold the same security standards as information technology encrypting communications, ensuring binaries are signed and developing regular updates.

It is clear that software will play a significant role in the future of production automation, and could be a main driver of Industry 4.0 for the next decade. Data collection certainly is not a new practice for manufacturers, but what they choose to do with this data is set to change.

From SMEs to large corporations, implementing cutting-edge software should be a priority, no matter the size of the business. Manufacturers should focus on selecting technology carefully, focusing on scalable platforms that are easy to understand and implement.

Looking forward to 2020, digitalization should be approached in a practical manner ultimately a steady, incremental transformation is better than a failed one.

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Guest Post: Why 2020 Will be Better Than 2019 in Automation - Robotics Business Review

The key benefit of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is that it plays well with other existing technologies

In 2020, the automation market will see a shift from point solutions to more comprehensive offerings

The RPA market will reach $2.9 Bn by 2021

RPA market is evolving at a tremendous pace and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.3% between 2019 and 2025. This growth can be majorly attributed to how RPA streamlines and enhances legacy processes and results in high returns on investment (ROI).

Some of the key RPA trends to watch out in the year ahead are:

The key benefit of RPA is that it plays well with other existing technologies. RPA has the potential to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and learn accordingly, hence it enhances processes rather than replacing them. Since its not always feasible to redesign workflows from the ground up, automating inefficient processes with RPA can greatly improve productivity.

In 2020, the automation market will see a shift from point solutions to more comprehensive offerings that will address integration challenges and enable best-in-class features that enterprises require. Digital transformation is a journey. RPA implementation shouldnt be treated as a short term project to gain cost efficiency. It must be integrated in the processes from the beginning to avail comprehensive benefits.

Organizations across the globe are realizing the benefits of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) within RPA framework to result in intelligent automation. Understanding the range of automation mechanisms, how they relate to one another and how they can be combined and coordinated is a major focus for hyper-automation. This allows software robots to mimic human behavior and handle complex use cases, which was earlier not possible without human intervention.

The emergence of autonomous things is a major landmark in technological progress. Early examples of this include autonomous drones and self-driving vehicles. In 2020, we expect a shift from stand-alone intelligent things to a swarm of collaborative intelligent things, with multiple devices working together, either independent of people or with minimum human input. In the future, autonomous things will go beyond process automation and integrate AI to deliver advanced behaviors that interact more naturally with the environment and people.

RPA taking away jobs is the most debated topic in the industry. It is anticipated that RPA will affect employment and half of the jobs will be replaced by automation. Contrary to popular beliefs, future trends suggest that there will be a collaboration between machines and humans in many areas. As a result, more jobs will be created by enhancing the nature of jobs and there will be a need for RPA and process experts to augment user interfaces and solve business problems.

As per Forrester, the RPA market will reach $2.9 Bn by 2021, which means RPA market will continue to grow at an exponential rate. There will be a sharp rise in adoption and implementation of RPA. It will be used for multiple processes in the organization across departments and it is expected to largely manage customer-focused and external processes.

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Crestview Partners considered taking JR Automation public before deciding on a sale, a person familiar with the situation said.

The New York private-equity firm even interviewed bankers for a possible IPO of JR Automation, the person said. Crestview received substantial inbound interest for the company it owned for four years, the person said.

Dual track processes, where a seller pursues an IPO and sale at the same time, have become more common. Crestview, however, had so much interest for JR Automation that it never got far with the IPO. It decided to do a sale first and if it didnt like the result, then [theyd] do the IPO, the person said.

The strategy worked. Hitachi on Friday, Dec. 27, closed its $1.425 billion buy of the Holland, Michigan company. Crestview made about 7.5 times its money with the sale, the person said. Goldman Sachs & Co and BofA Merrill Lynch advised JR on the sale.

Established in 1980, JR Automation designs and delivers automated manufacturing systems for customers in sectors including automotive, consumer products and construction. Clients seek out JR Automation when they want a product made or are having manufacturing problems, the person said. JR Automation, which employs more than 2000 people, often uses robotics in its solutions, the person said.

With JR Automations robotic system integration capabilities, combined with Hitachis digital solutions and technologies, we can provide customers with new, unparalleled value by connecting the whole process, Masakazu Aoki, executive vice president and executive officer of Hitachi, said in a statement.

C restview invested in JR Automation in March 2015, PitchBook said. Since then, the company has seen its sales more than triple to over $600 million from $170 million. JR Automation currently has 23 plants in North America, Europe, and Asia, up from five in 2015.

Crestview focuses on sectors including industrial and financial services. The PE firm used its third fund, which closed on $3.2 billion in 2015, to invest in JR Automation. Crestview is currently marketing for its fourth flagship; it has collected at least $1.88 billion for Fund IV, press reports said in August. The buyout shop could raise as much as $3.5 billion for the pool, Buyouts reported in January 2018.

A spokesperson for JR Automation could not be reached for comment.

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Crestview Weighed IPO of JR Automation Before Clinching $1.4 Billion Sale - Barron's

Andy Maack: I dont see a complete elimination of the buy-side trader

Automation as a replacement of the manual buy-side trader is currently in focus across the industry, but, ultimately, trading desks are still in need of a human being to understand and digest what is happening, saysAndy Maack, head of FX trading at Vanguard.

Automation is great until it doesnt work. This is when you need humans to really step in.I dont see a complete elimination of the buy-side trader,he says.

Maack believes combining automation with buy-side traders to make them work

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Vanguard: automation is great until it doesn't work - FX Week

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly powerful, concern continues to grow over how it will affect the jobs of millions of people. AI has the potential to disrupt countless jobs in the current economy, posing a major threat to the wellbeing of people working in a variety of different industries and professions.

While AI and automation can be a major boon for both the economy and the convenience of our daily lives, it is important to monitor how it will affect the future of jobs in America. Here are the jobs that are at risk of being automated away in the near future.

One of the highest at-risk positions for automation is repetitive task-based jobs. Warehouse and manufacturing positions fall under this, and AI has been shown to be quite effective at performing sequenced tasks with higher accuracy and efficiency than human workers.

Calling a company for support only to talk to an automated voice system can be incredibly frustrating, but unfortunately, that likely will only become more common. Thankfully, AI-driven customer service will grow to become more natural sounding and easier to understand. This, however, will impact the millions of Americans that work in customer service jobs to a greater degree.

Self-driving cars will begin to be more common on the highways of America within the next 10-15 years. Truck drivers command a decent wage, and fewer are willing to take on the long hours required to work in this profession. In response, companies are developing self-driving trucks that will be able to navigate long haul routes without the error and pressure of human drivers.

The drug discovery process is an expensive process that takes considerable time and analysis, but with AI, this process could soon be streamlined. Automation will be used to reach relevant scientific data to perform quick analysis of potential drugs, decreasing the time to market a drug discovery.

Already, you may be seeing automation kiosks at fast-food restaurants allowing you to order your meal without ever talking to a person. The next decade will see even further automation in this aspect of the fast-food industry, eliminating scores of service jobs.

No, a robot will not be your doctor anytime soon. But AI could become more utilized in areas involving the diagnosing of patients as well as performing basic surgery. Already, robots are being used by doctors and hospitals to help better serve patients.

AI is an attractive alternative for the military, as it takes our service members out of the line of fire. Examples include autonomous drones and aircraft piloted by AI systems or autonomous weapons that could be deployed on the battlefield in lieu of boots on the ground.

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What Jobs Will be Lost to Automation? - San Diego Entertainer Magazine

Asset monitoring isnt new to IoT-based energy management, the maturing products are becoming more predictive with sights set on automating operations.

IoT-based asset performance management systems allow utilities and other energy producers to keep a digital finger on the pulse of their generation and distribution operations. The challenge, however, is keeping up with a pulse that beats at lightning speed while sending a steady, voluminous stream of data back to the applications that have to turn those billions of ones and zeros into meaningful, actionable information.

Collecting and analyzing data at that scale is no small matter, but that capability is at the heart of managing the performance of energy-producing components in real rime. Operators rely on the analyzed and interpreted data to both maintain current operations with effective remedial actions and identify gear that requires maintenance. IoT environments and sensors embedded in components do the collecting and communicating of the raw data while the asset performance management systems had the required analytics based on a variety of criteria.

Health and Maintenance

The amount of data that needs to be sifted through depends primarily on the number and placement of sensors with the energy-generating devices. With data streaming from the installed sensors, most basic asset management systems can report on the health of sensored components if theyre running properly and at optimal efficiency.

Initially, these systems could correlate actual performance against anticipated operational benchmarks to gauge the general health of components, which helped the operational staff determine when maintenance was required. But for the most part, while a management system might point to a component and suggest it receive attention, specific decisions such as when to apply maintenance or what subcomponents required attention was largely a manual process.

In fact, some of the more advanced capabilities of available APM systems represent a quantum leap for some utilities and institutional generators.

For the most part asset performance management is fairly new functionality, noted Jill Feblowitz, principal of Feblowitz Energy Consulting. It was conducted mainly on spreadsheets with the exception of a few of the original customers of a company called Meridian, which was acquired by GE.

Today, with technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence available to enhance data analysis, customers expect more from an APM system.

APM Users Expectations

Utilities and even some institutional energy generators have goals that are similar to those of virtually any business endeavor. They need to operate as efficiently as possible to ensure adequate profit margins which, in turn, will enable them to best meet the needs of their customers.

So, being able to predict a potential component failure is a key capability that APM systems can offer.

If they can reduce maintenance costs and head off something ahead of time the savings could for a utility could be substantial, said Neil Strother, principal research analyst at Navigant Consulting, Inc. If [a turbine] goes out unawares it could cost them anywhere from a million or a million and half bucks over the course of a week or two to fix it, noted Strother, but if they could fix it ahead of time that might save half that or more.

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Energy Asset Performance Management to Take on Automation - IoT World Today

Controlling the lights and other gadgets in your home from your iPhone is convenient and fun, too. There are plenty of HomeKit and Alexa accessories that make home automation a snap.

Ill go over some of the best options Ive found that will get you started with as little trouble as possible.

HomeKit is built into iOS and iPadOS, and accessories are easy to set up. Best of all, you can control your home with Siri commands, even collecting them together into Scenes that you can trigger with a single command. For example, Hey Siri, good morning can turn on the lights in your kitchen and living room, and also turn up the temperature in your house.

Apples home automation system is very secure, and has a decent amount of industry adoption as youll see in a moment.

Those on a more limited budget might consider going with Amazon Alexa instead. You can still control your accessories from your iPhone, just not with Siri. And compatible accessories generally cost much less. What youre sacrificing is privacy.

A rival option Google Assistant, but its a distant third in this race,

Ive tested a range of home automation options for beginners. Here are the ones I like best.

Your home automation system needs a brain. For HomeKit, this can be an Apple TV or HomePod, but a better solution for many is an older iPhone or iPad. Whatever your choice, this will act as your hub. This needs to stay at your house or apartment.You can set up your current iPhone or iPad as the hub, but this will mean you can only control your devices when youre at home.

If you decide to choose Amazon Alexa instead of HomeKit, youll need at least one compatible smart speaker the Amazon Alexa Dot is normally $49.99 but regularly goes on sale for less. There are fancier options for more money, though.

Buy from: Amazon $34.99

And theres a necessary Amazon Alexa app, too. Use this to set up Routines that can be triggered by talking to the smart speaker.

The easiest way to get started with home automation is with a smart plug a simple accessory that plugs into an existing power outlet and makes it remote controllable. Theres no wiring, nothing complicated. Plug it in and youre ready to go.

My favorite of these is BelkinsWemo WiFi Smart Plug. Its reliable, and responds quickly to commands. Best of all its compatible with HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant, so it works whichever system you choose.

Buy from: Amazon $19.98

Another very good option is the Satechi Dual Smart Outlet, which doubles the number of plugs. Each is individually controllable. Its HomeKit-only.

Ive tested all of the products discussed here, but I also wrote and in-depth review of this one.

Buy from: Amazon Check on Amazon

As mentioned earlier, choosing Alexa brings some cheaper options. The Amazon Smart Plug is a good single-outlet option for just $24.99. Too bad it cant talk to HomeKit.

Buy from: Amazon $24.99

Or theres the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini made by TP-Link. This is a very inexpensive option for Alexa-only setups, but it could have been better TP-Link went back on a promise to add HomeKit support.

Buy from: Amazon $14.95

Smart plugs work for lamps, of course, but you can use a smart bulb in most light fixtures.

The one I prefer is the Sylvania Smart+. Its bright and easy to set up. It can even be dimmed through the iOS Home application.

Just be aware, its HomeKit only. And it uses Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi, so it needs to be somewhat near your hub.

Buy from: Amazon Check on Amazon

Everything covered up to now is plug and play. Theres no wiring required, and any or all of them could be installed in an apartment or any home.

Smart switches are more advanced but more complex option. These replace regular wall switches and make all your lights more intelligent. But they have to be wired into place.

Belkins line of home automation products includes multiple options. Its Wemo Smart Light Switch supports HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant.

Buy from: Amazon $32.99

The same goes for theWemoSmart 3-Way Light Switch, which is needed in places where two switches control the same light.

Buy from: Amazon $41.00

Theres an important caveat for both: instillation requires your home to have a neutral wire. The electrical systems in older houses dont have this, and these smart light switches wont work without it.

Im barely scraping the surface here. There are so many more options for home automation. There are door bells, thermostats, air conditioners even water sprinklers. All with HomeKit support.

To find out if this all this is something youre interested in, theres no better way to get started than a single smart plug or two. If you like being able to turn your lights on and off with a Siri command, you can go from there.

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How to get started with HomeKit home automation - Cult of Mac

The trucking industry employs a lot of Americans, and its quickly becoming more and more automated. Around 3.5 million Americans work as truck driversdriving an array of different types of vehiclesand millions more work in other jobs that are within the industry or closely connected to it. It will be a while before we have fully autonomous eighteen-wheelers transporting goods across the country, but some parts of the trucking industry are already becoming fully automated.

One behind-the-scenes part of the trucking industry is called freight brokerage. Freight brokers are essentially middlemen that connect shippers with products to move to carriers that can transport them. Many businesses around the country dont have contracts with trucking companies, so they rely on freight brokers to get their products where they need to go.

A Seattle-based trucking software company called Convoy recently announced it has completely automated its brokering of loads to carriers. That means the process of getting connected with a carrier, load pricing and everything else is all done without any human involvement.

Convoys digital freight network combines our dense network of carriers with the use of machine learning models to fully automate the process of matching and pricing a truck to a load, which can happen in minutes, not hours, the company wrote in a blog post.

The company says this faster, more efficient system will reduce costs for shippers and make sure carriers are filling all of their trucks. Convoy says this will also allow its employees to focus on other important projects.

With automation reducing manual work, Convoys operations team can focus on establishing new markets and expanding our carrier base to meet our growing demand, the blog post says.

Its unclear if jobs were lost due to this development at Convoy. What is clear is the trucking industry is increasingly becoming automated, and its going to have a major impact on the labor market.

Researchers indicate the trucking industry could lose hundreds of thousands of truck driving jobs per year once autonomous vehicles start being widely adopted by transportation companies. Millions of other jobs will be at risk within the trucking industry as other forms of work become automated. Automation will certainly create new types of work in this industry, but it doesnt seem likely the industry will gain nearly as many jobs as it loses.

See also: What will life look like when most jobs are automated?

Outside of trucking, automation is starting to threaten many other types of transportation jobs across the countrythanks to the development of the self-driving car and companies starting to adopt technologies like drones to deliver goods. We appear to be entering a time when transporting products will largely become a robots job.

Convoy may just be one part of the trucking industry but automation will find its way into every other part of the trucking industry in the future. The company might help reduce the cost of goods, since fewer workers will be required to get us the things we need, but it also means a lot of people are going to find themselves struggling to find a job as robots slowly replace human workers.

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Part of the trucking industry is already becoming fully automated - Inverse