Monthly Archives: July 2017

BBC News

The automation-resistant skills we should nurture BBC News In China, manufacturing businesses that fled wealthy countries to find low-wage workers are now replacing those humans with machines. And on farms around the world, automated systems are beginning to take on backbreaking tasks like weeding lettuce.

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The automation-resistant skills we should nurture - BBC News

A slip in certificate handling is one of three bugs in Cisco's Autonomic Networking software.

As its name implies, Autonomic Networking is about reducing the load on network administrators by offering self-management for suitable switches and routers under suitable versions of the IOS operating system.

And then, as they say, the murders began: Autonomous Networking uses infrastructure certificates to verify nodes in the system, and that's where the problem has emerged.

It starts with this advisory: a mistake in infrastructure certificate revocation.

In Cisco IOS XE, the bug could let an unauthenticated, remote autonomic node back into a network after its certificate has been revoked.

That's because the software doesn't transfer certificate revocation lists across Autonomic Control Plane Channels (ACP). An attacker with access to the remote node, even if its certificate has been revoked, can re-insert the revoked node into the autonomic domain.

The bug affects Release 16.x of Cisco IOS XE Software and are configured to use Autonomic Networking.

The only option for affected admins is to manually check that the bad node's certificate has been deleted properly, and then update the Autonomic Networking whitelist file.

The other Autonomic Networking bugs in the collection are an information disclosure vulnerability, and a denial-of-service vulnerability.

In the first, the information disclosure is only available to an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to view control plane packets in clear text. So far, there's no fix available.

In the second, attackers can crash adjacent IOS and IOS XE Autonomic Networking nodes. Cisco doesn't yet know what causes the bug, but if an attacker captured packets (exploiting the information disclosure bug, for example), they can replay them to reset the ACP channel of the system. Again, users will have to keep an eye out for when a fix lands.

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Cisco bugs leave network automation vulnerable to attack - The Register

27 July 2017

Advanced technologies bring many potential advantages to manufacturers looking to improve their production processes. CTC provides the flexibility to develop bespoke systems by offering a choice of platform, programming, networks and architectures. Its Incentive Software, for instance, runs on standard PC hardware. This can be married with CTCs Series 5300 programmable automation controllers, with integrated motion, data handling and a powerful high-level language.

Designed to run on standard PC platforms, the main components in the Incentive family include:

IncentivePLC a multitasking control runtime system executing the powerful QuickBuilder automation language. IncentiveECAT a high-performance EtherCAT master controller for direct control of EtherCAT devices from standard PC hardware. IncentiveAPI a DLL (dynamic-link library) offering a high-level control API (application programming interface) for code written in C#, C++ or VB.Net.

Incentive provides users a complete solution for high-performance PC-based control of automated industrial processes, whether for standalone equipment, motion control, or plantwide control architectures, explains Gerard Bush of INMOCO.

Incentive has a real-time operating system (RTOS) that enables simultaneous operation of Windows 10 (or Windows 7) and one or more independent real-time processes. The system combines the responsiveness required of high-speed motion applications and the flexibility of a fully-featured operating system able to run vision systems, HMIs, data tracking and processing applications, and other high-level programs.

Incentive also provides data aggregation, enabling efficient interfacing with database applications. It has provision for network security and other functions necessary when transferring sensitive data.

IncentivePLC has the functionality of a programmable logic controller, so can replace hardware PLCs and create a truly open architecture.

IncentiveAPI provides an extensive API to interface your C#, C++ or VB.Net code to IncentivePLC and/or IncentiveECAT processes running either locally or remotely. In addition to supporting custom applications, this makes it easier to integrate vision systems, HMIs and other third-party subsystems into a systems control architecture.

IncentiveECAT is a powerful software-based EtherCAT master controller that works in conjunction with IncentivePLC, IncentiveAPI or indeed both simultaneously.

During initialisation, IncentiveECAT can scan the network to identify all the field devices in the system and automatically configure them for use.

The Incentive family of industrial control software joins CTCs hardware offerings, featuring the Series 5300 programmable automation controllers, panel-mountable hardware solutions for both standalone and distributed control applications. With a wide range of high-density digital, analogue and motion control modules available, and extensive data communications and networking capabilities, these systems can serve as the principal control system on even the most complex equipment designs, or as intelligent remotes.

There is a growing list of vendors devices which are compatible with the Incentive series, explains Gerard, making it possible to select the most appropriate equipment for any given duty.

More here:

Automation software components for powerful and comprehensive control - Design Products & Applications (press release) (registration)

There are nearly 16 million people working in retail in the U.S., and its estimated that almost half could lose their jobs to robots over the next 10 years. Specifically, a new study shows that 7.5 million retail jobs are expected to become automated, and cashiers are the most likely to be affected.

However, technology is not sophisticated enough to take over positions that require high levels of customer interaction.

FierceRetail spoke with Allison Wallrapp, an attorney with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, to gain more insight into the realities of automation for retail workers.

FierceRetail (FR): Will technology ultimately hurt the retail job force?

Allison Wallrapp (AW): Ultimately, technology and automation will reduce the number of employees necessary in the retail industry. We are already seeing robots and other technological advances reduce the need for certain positions. Given these advancements, coupled with pressures on the industry, we expect to see the retail job force decline in the coming years.

FR: Does automation also have the potential to create some jobs?

AW: We may see the creation of new analyst positions to determine whether jobs can be automated and if doing so is feasible, efficientand financially worthwhile. These positions may also include studying how consumers react to the technological changes and what exactly they are seeking from their in-store experiences.

FR: Which jobs will be most affected by automation?

AW: We are already seeing declines in the need for positions such as cashiers, stock clerks and store accountants. For example, Walmart has rolled out Cash360 machines across nearly all of its stores. These machines count eight bills per second and 3,000 coins a minute, and then digitally deposit money at the bank. The Cash360 machines are taking over the work of Walmarts store accountants, who were responsible for counting cash and tracking the accuracy of a stores books. While some of these former store accountants have been shifted into other jobs at Walmart, more than 500 people who held these positions have left the company.

FR: Which jobs will be secure?

AW: Jobs that will be most secure will be those that involve a high level of customer interaction. The current technology is not sophisticated enough to take over these positions, so individuals whose positions are customer-facing and more service-focused will be better able to weather these changes in the industry.

FR: So what are some of the possible legal ramifications that go along with automation?

AW: There is the possibility of new regulations being implemented regarding the use of automation in the retail sector. Additionally, as the use of automation percolates down to smalleremployers, a reduction in their workforcecould mean that the remaining employees are no longer covered by Title VII (which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin and religion) or the Family and Medical Leave Act (which entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons).

FR: How important is customer interaction in 2017 and how important will it be in the future?

AW: With so much shopping shifting online and so many other changes happening in the industry, the way retailers interact with customers has evolved markedly in the past few years. Digital interactions, including engaging with customers on social media and via mobile applications, are allowing retailers to continue conversations with customers long after they have left the store or start ones if a customer has never stepped foot in one of their brick-and-mortar locations. However, as far as in-store interaction, savvy retailers know that customers will be seeking out that which they cannot get onlineone-on-one service from well-trained human associates and immediate access to goods.

FR: What should retailers keep in mind as they prepare their workforce and technology for the future of retail?

AW: Retailers should keep in mind that technology can eliminate or reduce the need for employees to perform mundane tasks, which can allow associates to create a more personalized shopping experience for consumers. They should look to see how technology is able to facilitate or enhance a human connection in their physical stores and provide training to their associates in order to maximize this. Additionally, retailers should remember to keep the concept of digital parity, which is the consumers desire for an in-store shopping experience that is as convenient and seamless as what they can find online, at the forefront of their minds when providing training and creating incentives for their employees.

Read more from the original source:

Retail jobs in the face of automation - Fierce (registration)