Global Positioning System Reference
In-Depth Information
with a map to show where the subject is, was, or will be, but then generally be
associated with an action to do something. If systems are automated then the
“map” may be present as a geographical information system (GIS) but perhaps not
visible to any person. Some examples include:
•
My colleague may be in a meeting room on a different floor of the
building so a text message is sent to my mobile phone to tell me the
details;
•
My child did get to school on time so no action is needed (this time!);
•
The nearest ambulance would be nowhere near the accident in 15
minutes because there is a major traffic jam ahead, so another vehicle
must be dispatched urgently from a different depot.
There is a three stage process involved, which in human terms is sometimes
expressed as shown in Figure 3.1.
Figure 3.1
The three stages of automation are sense, think, and do.
Automation in the “think” stage can be achieved using artificial intelligence
(AI) software and associated databases to infer situations and then the “do” stage
initiated either directly or indirectly via human intervention. All stages are very
likely to be dependent on communications and computation that are becoming
distributed. Some tasks may be performed locally or may be offered via a remote
server or may use a hybrid approach. Businesses can generally save on
