Category: General
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Geeks Make Great Entrepreneurs: Here’s Why
When you think of a geek the first thing that likely comes to mind is a nerdy, awkward social outcast who gets picked on. In fact, what you should be picturing is a successful entrepreneur. Geeks possess unique qualities that are well-suited to business and industry. Take a look at some of the reasons why…
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10 science fiction weapons that actually exist
In many science fiction works, authors or scriptwriters invent futuristic weapons. They imagine an entire arsenal developed using technologies that can equip a soldier in a video game, a book or a film. And very often it is these technologies that make the difference during a war. The great powers have understood this: here are 10 science fiction…
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34.8 Helpful “tricks” using a digital multimeter (DMM)
The digital multimeter (DMM) is quite possibly the most useful tool in the instrument technician’s collection4 . This one piece of test equipment, properly wielded, yields valuable insight into the status and operation of many electrical and electronic systems. Not only is a good-quality multimeter capable of precisely indicating electrical voltage, current, and resistance, but it…
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34.7 Common diagnostic mistakes
Volumes could be written about poor diagnostic technique. The following mistakes are not intended to comprise a comprehensive list, but are merely warnings against errors that are all too common among students and within the profession. 34.7.1 Failing to gather data Perhaps the most common mistake made by technicians attempting to diagnose a system problem is…
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34.6 Scientific System diagnosis and Scientific Reasoning
At the root of successful system diagnosis is a rigorous adherence to scientific reasoning. There exists no single algorithmic approach to solving problems, but rather a singular mind-set characterized by the following traits: Curiosity Persistence Attention to detail Diligence in checking conclusions Regular checking of assumptions A willingness to abandon ideas based on contrary evidence Science is, at…
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34.5 Problem-solving by simplification
A whole class of problem-solving techniques focuses on altering the given problem into a simpler form that is easier to analyze. Once a solution is found to the simplified problem, fresh ideas for attacking the original problem often become clear. This section will highlight multiple techniques for problem-simplification, as well as other useful techniques for problem-solving. The…
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34.4 Mathematical problem-solving techniques
Some problem-solving techniques are unique to quantitative problems, involving mathematical calculations. In this section we will explore some useful tips to help you solve such problems. 34.4.1 Manipulating algebraic equations One of the most useful problem-solving techniques in all of algebra is the art of manipulating, or re-writing, equations to solve for a particular variable. The…
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Chapter 34 Problem-solving and Diagnostic Strategies in Control System Analysis
The ability to solve complex problems is the most valuable technical skill an instrumentation professional can cultivate. A great many tasks associated with instrumentation work may be broken down into simple step-by-step instructions that any marginally qualified person may perform, but effective problem-solving is different. Problem-solving requires creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to…
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33.5 Policy-based fortifications
These fortifications focus on human behavior rather than system design or component selection. In some ways these are the simplest to implement, as they generally require little in the way of technical expertise. This is not to suggest, however, that policy-based fortifications are therefore the easiest to implement. On the contrary, changing human behavior is usually a…
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33.4 Design-based fortifications
A design-based fortification is one rooted in technical details of system architecture and functionality. Some of these are quite simple (e.g. air gaps) while others are quite complex (e.g. encryption). In either case, these fortifications are ideally implemented at the inception of a new system, and at every point of system alteration or expansion. 33.4.1 Advanced authentication The…
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33.3 Glossary of Cyber-security Terms
Cyber-security seems to have its own vocabulary, ranging from unwieldy technical acronyms to slang terms borrowed from amateur computer enthusiasts. What follows is a partial listing of some common terms and their definitions. This list is not only useful as a definitional reference when encountering such terms in cyber-security literature, but it also serves to…
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33.2 Motives for Compromising the Security of an Industrial Control System
There are multiple motives for compromising the security of an industrial control system, some of which overlap motives for attacking IT systems, and some of which are unique to the industrial world. This section details some of the reasons why people might wish to attack an industrial control system. 33.2.1 Technical challenge Computer experts tend to…
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Chapter 33 Instrumentation cyber-security
As digital technology finds greater application in industrial measurement and control systems, these systems become subject to digital vulnerabilities. Cyber-security, which used to be strictly limited to information technology (IT) systems such as those used in office and research environments (e.g. desktop computers, printers, internet routers), is now a pressing concern for industrial measurement and…
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32.6 Safety Instrumented Functions and Systems
A Safety Instrumented Function, or SIF, is one or more components designed to execute a specific safety-related task in the event of a specific dangerous condition. The over-temperature shutdown switch inside a clothes dryer or an electric water heater is a simple, domestic example of an SIF, shutting off the source of energy to the appliance in…
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32.5 Overpressure protection devices
Fluid pressure exerts force on any surface area it contacts, as described by the formula F = PA. One practical consequence of this fact is that process vessels and pipelines may catastrophically burst if subjected to excessive fluid pressure. If subjected to excessive vacuum, some vessels and piping may implode (collapse in on themselves). Not only do these…