Innovations in cybernetics and systems

Citation

Rudall, B.H. (1999), "Innovations in cybernetics and systems", Kybernetes, Vol. 28 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.1999.06728caa.007

Innovations in cybernetics and systems

Keywords Automation, Cybernetics, Research, Technological developments

Abstract Gives reports and surveys of selected current research and development in systems and cybernetics. They include: Human cells may process information, Artificial brain, Genetics smartcard, Robotic revolution, Application of AI, New devices in medicine, Innovations in cybernetics and systems.

Innovations in cybernetics and systems

1. Smart devices

It is inevitable that high-tech advances will be used in unusual and, indeed, some what unlikely applications. No one was therefore surprised to read of "smart technology" being used in golf.

A recent report from the UK describes how such a "smart device" has been used to reduce a golfer's handicap. Keith Salmon of Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, UK, has developed a device that aims to help golfers keep their heads still while swinging the club. Called the I-Lite it is a light-emitting diode which is clamped to the shaft of any driver, iron, wedge or putter and is capable of transmitting a pulsing light to the player's retina. The developer says that it works in the following way:

As the golfer swings, the light is visible as a stream of red dots in his or her retained vision ­ rather like a camera flash can leave a green glow in the eye. Its key feature is that the I-Lite only allows the golfer to see the red dots if the head is kept still.

Apparently, as many readers will know, the biggest problem is keeping your head still and this device claims to do that. I-Lite has been examined by ophthalmic experts and been declared safe to use, the developer claims. Several prototypes have been produced but the current version is believed to be the finished version. The device, incidentally, cannot be used in competitive matches but its benefit is as a training aid. Keith Salmon claims that not only has he reduced his handicap from 19/20, which he has been playing off for many years, down to 13, but he has won his first competitions. The commercial marketing of the product is now in hand.

2. Computerised baggage systems

Computerised baggage systems were one of the first potential applications for computerisation. Many airports have them together with many other sophisticated systems. Still, however, baggage gets misdirected and lost and many other computerised systems do not always perform as well as they should. Perhaps the innovated system being tested by British Airways (BA) will fare a little better and finally solve the problems of baggage that simply goes astray.

A new generation of baggage labels that are fitted with microchips are being tested by BA. The new device is being used on some 22,000 bags that are checked into flights from Manchester and Munich to Heathrow (London) airport over an eight-week test period. The trial ended in January 1999 and the results will soon be assessed.

Each baggage tag has an antenna and a pinhead-sized silicon chip embedded in the label. A specially designed electronic reader has been produced that is capable of identifying the smart label on each bag as the chip transmits its identifying information to a computer.

The bag is then sent to onward flights or the correct baggage carousel for collection. For the trials the reader is installed at Heathrow. Other airlines are interested in the system and if it is a success BA intends to install it throughout its network. Currently a laser barcode is used to identify and track luggage.

BA say this present method has served the industry well but now a greater number of bags and distances they have to be moved at large airports demand a new technology.

3. Innovative software to check for millennium bugs

No one should complain on 1 January 2000 that they were not warned of the millennium bugs that could be present in their systems. A scenario of doom and gloom already pervades in the media and warnings "Millennium bug ­ act NOW" appear with great frequency. Software experts range in their opinions from those who forecast total disaster and tell us to stock up with food, fuel and the essentials of life, to those who believe there will be few glitches.

Those who are worried and, indeed, many who smugly claim that their systems have already been debugged can use some of the innovative software that has been produced to check the vulnerability of equipment to the millennium bug.

Although some of the software appears quite costly it may well pay for itself on New Year's Eve in 1999. The Y2K program began early in many US states, and indeed included the first lawsuits in 1997 at the California State Legislature. Now most countries have begun to realise that problems do exist but even at this late date many have little idea how to tackle them. In the UK the government's bug-busting company has swung into action. Among the products endorsed by Action 2000 are:

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  Delta-T Probe ­ designed to check embedded systems; (costs about £16,000 and takes three hours to check each chip). Details : www. embedded-science.com or www.wsp-y2k.com

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  Check 2000 ­ is for PCs by Greenwich Mean Time; (for a PC costs £39.95 and a small business version at £180 + UK VAT) ­ also a client-server version. Details: www.gmt-2000.com

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  Norton 2000 are similar to the above; details: www.symantec.co.uk

Many of these software products may give a comprehensive diagnosis but may not be able to actually implement a fix, only suggest one.

Further information about Action 2000 is at: www.bug2000.co.uk or UK telephone: 0845 601 2000.

Cyberneticians who were some of the early producers of computer programs are not too happy at being held responsible for the 2000 bug. The problem arises because two digits were used in the early software instead of four, or indeed some other representation to code the year when dates were needed. The result could be for example that 99 might move to 00 and cause a program to assume it is the year 1900 with possible dire consequences. If, instead of adding to measure time, a substraction of one date from another is used a negative result will be obtained.

It has to be recalled that memory was in short supply and very expensive, indeed a system with 4k of store was the standard for many UK University Computer Centres in the 1960s and the so-called large systems for commercial uses were equally deprived of storage.

B.H. RudallNorbert Wiener Institute and University of Wales (UK)