Trying not to offend (and keeping this post short) I would like to inteject 2 things.
1. Being an engineer, I actually see a difference between 100% automated, fully automated, and automated solution. To me 100% automated is a misnomer like the "silver bullet".
a. 100% automated means everything (all 3 steps and everything within those 3 steps are completely[100%] automated/automatic) in the process are hands free with no human intervention. No one has that so the silver bullet comment is true. CSGI may come the closest to this but it is not 100%, in my definition.
b. Fully automated means as much of the process as is possible is completely automated and hands off. Considering everything I have read on this thread, CSGI is really making this claim and may be further along than anyone else, for the time being.
c. Automated means that anywhere from 1% to 99% of the process is automated. The assembly lines are supposedly automated in Detroit which means there is still some manual human intervention in the manufuacturing process. The Japanese claimed to have a "fully automated" or robotic line for manufacturing certain things. I have seen these lines. They are completely automated with no human intervention (computerized operations , etal.) and product moves down the line with conveyoers, robotic arms, or AGV(robots). A human is sitting at a control panel like the Maytag repairman looking for a red light to go off. When it does, he has to jump into action since the robots cannot repair themselves or the equipment. Therefore, when the line is fully operational, it is fully automated. When it breaks down, a human gets involved. I would buy this as being fully automated and not 100% automated because humans still have to go in on a routine basis to provide the necessary preventative maintenance on all the equipment and robots.
I may be splitting a hair here but I believe there are differences between the 3 types of automation listed above. I do not think any harm or foul was committed by anyone. It is not really worth debating the finer points between the 3 definitions. Suffice to say, CSGI apparently has a higher level of automation over some of its competitors.
The second item is more serious and involves Ted alias TED. With all the trademark infringement and stealing someone's copywrited signature, you neglected to point out to Kevin that both you and I already provided everyone a list of characters for this unfolding drama. How could you forget to chastise Kevin for overlooking the already published cast of characters from the first installment of this movie. Shame on you and your forgetfulness.<GG>
Andrew
PS-Al/Paul/Kevin/Ted/TED or anyone that is upset with this post, do me a favor. Please edit this post into a new post the way you want it to read and I will rubber stamp it with agreement. I will call a donkey an elephant to maintain the peace. We are getting too hung up on semantics of "automation", myself included. |
