Automation, Friend or Foe? [Paperback]

First published in 1956, this book examines the history and principles of automation, and the implications of adopting new systems of automatic control.This book was first published in 1956 in response to growing concerns about the rise of automation. The purpose of the volume was to illustrate the history and principles of automation, its advantages and limitations, and the social and economic implications of adopting new systems of automatic control.This book was first published in 1956 in response to growing concerns about the rise of automation. The purpose of the volume was to illustrate the history and principles of automation, its advantages and limitations, and the social and economic implications of adopting new systems of automatic control.This book was first published in 1956 in response to growing concerns about the rise of automation. Whilst many readers would have heard of automation, few would have had a clear idea of what it was, and what consequences would follow in its wake. The purpose of this volume was to illustrate the history and principles of automation, its advantages and limitations, and the social and economic implications of adopting new systems of automatic control.List of illustrations; Introduction; 1. The development of automatic control; 2. The evolution of automatic production; 3. Control system design problems; 4. The economics of automation; 5. Automatic computers; 6. Present impact and future prospects; Further reading; Index.