Uptake Of New Technologies Research Articles

Using the World Wide Web to revolutionise technology transfer and training in the water and wastewater industries

Industry professionals of the near future will be supported by an IT infrastructure that enables them to complete a task by drawing on resources and people with expertise anywhere in the world, and access to knowledge through specific training programs that address the task requirements. The increasing uptake of new technologies enables information to reach a diverse population and to provide flexible learning environments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This paper examines one of the key areas where the World Wide Web will impact on the water and wastewater industries, namely technology transfer and training. The authors will present their experiences of developing online training courses for wastewater industry professionals over the last two years. The perspective is that of two people working at the "coalface".

The knowledge society: the challenge of transition

Considers the rapid transition that is taking place from an industrial to a knowledge society and analyzes the components that are likely to comprise such a knowledge society. Explores the nature of that transition and how people will cope with this period of profound change. Points to the lead taken in mobile technologies and interactive TV in Europe compared to personal computer (PC) dominance in the USA; the affect on uptake of new technologies by income, race, gender and age; the emergence of the 24-hour society; the shift from large factories to small, medium and micro enterprises; and the blurring of the boundaries between different sectors of the economy and different institutions. Points to the fact that many of the countries that are making the fastest strides into the knowledge economy are small (Finland, Singapore, Sweden and Iceland). The major investments in ICTs in schools, libraries, colleges and universities is expected to be one of the most profound changes in the long run and the globalization of education will make learning the largest industry of the twenty-first century. Proposes a set of new values for this knowledge society comprising: economic competitiveness with social inclusion; lifelong learning for all; risk: management over minimization; ‘smallish’ is beautiful; social innovation over technological invention; participation over representation; interdependence over independence; value-added with values.

World Information Flows and the Impact of New Technology

Communications is the fastest growing industry in the world due to a transformation of world information flows caused by the convergence of telecommunications, information technology, and mass media institutions. The emerging conglomerates are leading the world toward the information age. The new technology at their disposal is creating ever increasing world information flows, which are changing political, economic, and cultural landscapes and are redefining work, education, and development. The speed and uptake of new technology could not have been predicted, and its far-reaching political, economic, and social implications have only recently begun to emerge. This article argues that an international communications policy is necessary to ensure that the world does not divide into the information rich and the information poor.

Robots and mining: the implications for Australian industry in the 1980's

SummaryAfter elucidating the terms ‘mining’ and ‘robot’, a historical background to the problem of mining is described, with emphasis on the use of technology. Various reasons for the increasing utilisation of technology are discussed, as regards the mechanisation of existing operations and those unachievable without new technology. It is asserted that the mining industry has a number of particular features that make increasing mechanisation especially attractive. The point is made that the ultimate stage of the historical tendency towards the use of new technology is fully automatic mining, a goal that may not be realised, however, in the next decade.The above historical discussion is followed by a critical appraisal of the conservative nature of the Australian industry and the study of the various factors that contribute to the slow uptake of new technology in mining.Attention is then concentrated on the general problem of robots and mining. It is shown that worldwide there were no applications of robots to mining up to the end of 1981. A wide study has been carried out to identify some uses of robots in mining, but without success.The next topic to be discussed is the widespread confusion about robots and teleoperators. The fundamental difference between the two is underlined, and particular attention is paid to Thring's teleoperator mining concept (telechiric mining). It is emphasized that telechiric mining will have no significant impact upon Australian mining in this decade.These pessimistic asssessments are followed by claims that in some areas robotic concepts, though not robots themselves, could have a considerable effect on mining automation in the 1980's, both in Australia and elsewhere. The following projects are enumerated as possible candidates for applying robotic concepts: Surface mining; Mine development; Underground coal transport; Coal winning; Coal preparation. In order to make progress, it is recommended that a robotics expert ought to be included in the interdisciplinary teams studying the problem of mining automation.The last part of this paper is devoted to Australia's need for robotic mining. A list of systems involving robotic concepts is presented that may be realised in the current decade. It is maintained that Australia ought to develop a few of such systems for the domestic and international markets, and that the short-term needs of the Australian mining industry are fundamentally different from those of other Australian industries as regards robots. Hence, decisions regarding robots for mining should be made independently from those appertaining to automation problems of other industries.