Contemporary Issues in IT

This report discusses contemporary issues in IT including computer control systems, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Benefits, limitations, and ethical issues are also discussed.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN IT
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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................2
Discussion......................................................................................................................3
Computer control system...........................................................................................3
Robotics and artificial intelligence.............................................................................6
Conclusion......................................................................................................................9
Reference......................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
This report aims to discuss the contemporary issues in IT. The research topic are
Computer control, robotics, and artificial intelligence. A detailed discussion about these
topics are provided in this report. An introduction about computer control, robotics and
artificial intelligence is provided in this report. The benefits of computer control, robotics and
artificial intelligence is discussed along with the limitations. Lastly, this report concludes
with an appropriate conclusion of this report.
In these modern times, several facilities and works are managed by the system of
automation and computers. There are several advantages of implementing automation system
in a business such as increased efficiency, cost reduction, increase in the number of operators,
increase the safety of workers, improvement of working performance and completion of work
that cannot be achieved manually (Azar and Vaidyanathan 2015).
The term Artificial intelligence determines the complete concept of an intelligent
machine in the terms of equally social and operational consequences. The trend towards
shifting towards AI in swiftly increasing for the benefits of sophistication and accuracy of AI
systems (Russell and Norvig 2016). The artificial systems can be useful in many sectors such
as public services, transportation, business, medical, energy, engineering, and education. As
per prediction, the next step in the field of artificial intelligence is the development and
introduction of augmented intelligence (Michalski, Carbonell and Mitchell 2013). Wearable
technologies and global sensing systems are growing towards systems embedded with
intelligence. The implementation of AI in the systems has several benefits as well as
disadvantages. It is vital to understand the harmonic and rational interaction that is essential
between the projects that are application specific and the idealistic research ideas.

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Discussion
Computer control system
Operation of computer control system
1. Microprocessor
One example for understanding the computer control system is microprocessor.
Microprocessor is the small integrated circuit that is used for various purposes. It has
the capacity to store huge amount of data. The usage of microprocessor varies from
CPU in a computer to several other applications for broadening its usage (Miller and
Rice 2013).
2. The working principle of computer control system
The working principle of computer control system can be understood with the
example of sensors.
Sensors are commonly used for collecting data and provide input in the computer. The
various kinds of sensors are thermal sensors, pressure sensors, and light sensors.
These kind of sensors has the ability of producing electrical signals as per the changes
in external environment. In one case, light sensitive resistor has the ability to be used
as a light sensor. It is due to the fact that the corresponding current and resistance will
alter with the intensity of light in the environment. The input signals are processed by
the computer. Then the output signal is transmitted to the components that are under
the control of the computer, such as LED (Light Emitting Diode), and relay, for
responding accordingly. Some input and output signals of a computer needs
supplementary equipment and interface (Niewiadomska‐Szynkiewicz et al. 2013).
Benefits of computer control system

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Some of the benefits of a computer control system are as follows:
1. Swift speed of calculation: A huge number of calculations are carried out by the
central processing unit of a modern computer in a small duration of time. The fast
speed of calculation helps in controlling several facilities simultaneously under
various conditions (LaFleur et al. 2013).
2. Several systems of input and output devices: A computer possesses several input
devices such as keyboard and mouse. Moreover, computer can utilise the electronic
circuits for transforming signals into digital forms from the electronic sensors and
then input them into the computer. The output signal is generated after processing the
appropriate data. Computers can also use these electronic circuits to output digital
signals, which is used for controlling different output devices, such as monitor and
printer (Roffel and Chin 2017).
3. High data storage capacity: Computers uses a huge number of storage devices for
storing information like magnetic disk and floppy disk. These devices helps in
performing the task of work control by using these stored information. Computers can
be used to design complex design of work pieces. The designing process is executed
by the transferring the input data in the storage devices of the CNC machine and
allow the computer to control the shaping of the work pieces depending on the data
(Alverson et al. 2014).
4. Programmable control: a set of instructions is called a program. Computer generally
operate depending on the program. This provides an opportunity to the operators to
either input fresh program or alter the prevailing programs for changing the procedure
and operation of the program depending on the needs. So, along with operating the
repetitive work and the simple tasks, the computer control system performs the duty

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of operating the complex and complicated work under various conditions and then
feedback depending on the program (Cao et al. 2014).
5. Possibility of telecommunications: Computer control systems can be utilised for
input or output of digital signals, using several wires for transmitting signals, establish
communication or exchange information. The computerised information can be
communicated to vast areas with the help of isolated cables, telephone connections,
radio waves or internet. Machines or distant video cameras can be controlled using the
internet; computers are also used for controlling spaceships in space via radio waves.
Limitations of computer control system
There are several limitations of the computer control system. The advantages makes
this system essential for the implementation but the limitations of this system has to be
considered.
1. High cost: A huge amount of time has to be invested to make the design of a
computer control system. The cost of the equipment that are required for the
successful implementation of computer control system. The controlling of cutting
machine can be considered as an example to understand the cost of
implementation of computer control. A specified set of control program is
required for controlling the movement path for the tools, speed of movement,
speed of spinning, rate of feeding, alteration of tools, and addition of coolants
(Matuszek et al. 2013).
2. Maintenance difficulties: Integrated circuits and electronic circuits are produced
in a mass scale with the help of computers. Replacement of damaged parts is a
necessary aspect for the industries. As the computer technology is developing at a
significant rate, the use of newly designed parts is not possible in the outmoded

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electronic circuit boards, and therefore, the maintenance of these computer
systems is quite difficult.
3. Intolerance under adversarial conditions: The working capability of the
computer control system under adverse conditions is very low such as too hot or
too cold conditions can hamper the working of the computer control system.
4. Necessity of huge amount of supportive devices: Computers possess the
capability of managing huge amount of data in a short duration, but there is a
requirement of supporting devices for providing information.
Robotics and artificial intelligence
Robotics is growing is becoming complicated by creating a foundation on the
progress made in computing and electrical engineering, mechatronics. The basic sovereignty
of a robot in an environment can be categorised into recognising, development, and
implementation. The prominent idea of converging robotics and AI is to optimise the level of
autonomy of learning (Siciliano and Khatib 2016).
Ethical issues in robotics
Privacy threat: The main component of AI is data, and it requires high level of security and
proper management to properly maintain the information source to prevent security breaches.
Preventive and protective technologies are required to be developed against these threats.
Even though the issues may not be connected to the operations of AI, it is the most important
responsibility of the AI operators to ensure the protection of data. In addition to these, the AI
applications, which can compromise the privacy rights, must be preserved with distinct
legislation that safeguards the individual (Geiger et al. 2013).
Security threats and AI weaponisation: With the propagation of security threats, like
regional conflicts and terrorism, the modern world is in a race of global arms that developed a

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need of innovative weapons that are developed using AI, like missiles and autonomous
drones, malicious software and virtual bots that are designed for executing sophisticated
espionage. It might lead to the possibilities of an unexpected war escalation (Vertut 2013).
Economic and Employment issues: It has been predicted that the number of jobs occupied
by the robots will rise at a significant rate in the near future (Lin, Abney, and Bekey 2014). It
is also predicted that the development in the robotics and AI field will provide ability of
interacting, evaluating, and executing complex decisions to the robots (Taylor et al. 2016).
The implementation of Big Data in the branch of robotics will assist in creating formidable
database for the robots to judge which algorithm is most suitable for a situation The increased
growth in the technological field has replaced labour with machinery. The sole issue
regarding the loss of jobs due to automation is that, the amount of jobs created with the
introduction of automation in several industries is not proportionate to the amount of jobs that
are created by automation. It is essential to implement proper guidelines to ensure the
benefits of automation is gained by all the employees and not only by the employers.
Limitations of AI
Intelligence as fundamental model: A machine need to satisfy the needs of several abilities
like reasoning, model building, real world understanding, and anticipation of the future
actions to be considered intelligent. The notion of intelligence consists of these high-level
mechanisms: insight, development, similarity, semantic, cognitive, and common sense
(Nilsson 2014).
Hard generalisation and large datasets: After broad exercise on vast datasets, the machines
of this new era can achieve striking results in identifying images or speech translation. These
capabilities are obtained with the assist of statistical approximation on the accessible data.
Moreover, the situation when the system has to deal with a new prospect, it is often identified

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that the system fails. The reason behind this failure is that, the recent AI systems are missing
the level of generalizability and abstraction of humans (Cohen and Feigenbaum 2014).
Lack of analysis and Black box: The lack of interpretation can be considered as another
issue in the recent AI system. For instance, profound neural networks possesses millions of
restrictions and the understanding of the failure and opportunities of the network becomes
impossible (Wenger 2014). Despite conducting some latest work on the effort of visualising
some high-level features with the help of weight screens in convolution neural network, the
gained competent models are not interpretable. The consequences are that several researchers
use the method of recent AI approaches as Black box (Hovy, Navigli and Ponzetto 2013).
Robustness of AI: The recently developed AI systems are very easily deceived, which is the
main problem that can affect almost all the machine learning (Bond and Gasser 2014).
Opportunities with AI
Even though there are some issues in the concept of AI, it is still considered to be a
major aspect in the recent times and it is breakthrough development for a prosperous future.
The tendency of humans to depend on the systems of AI will increase in the near future as
there is a significant growth in the availability and utilisation of AI systems (Yang and Xu
2013). This is the sole reason why so many large firms are investing huge capitals for the
implementation of AI in their business. In some cases, AI systems are required to handle the
data with increased complexities. The benefits of increased accuracy and sophistication of AI
makes it ideal for the use in the sectors of economics, medical, energy, industrial, schooling,
transportation, and public amenities (Charniak et al. 2014). Robust AI systems has the ability
of replacing expensive human labour and generate different potential applications and work
with humans for achieving better standards of service. As per prediction, the next stage of AI
systems is the introduction of augmented intelligence (Gero 2014). Pervasive systems for

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sensing and easily accessible technologies are progressing towards the smart embedded
systems, which are predicted to create a natural addition of the physical abilities of the human
beings. The physical abilities of the human, information retrieval, and human sensing is
limited for the humans but it has vast opportunities in the AI systems. The modified
algorithms of AI with the addition of progressive sensing systems can track the various
aspects around the humans and comprehend the intentions, therefore enabling seamless
communication with each other (Ghahramani 2015).
The recent developments of AI will act as a crucial factor in the imitation of the
human brain. The recent advances in computation hardware and sensing will enable the
linking of brain function with the behaviour of humans at such a level that the emotions and
self-awareness can be observed and simulated in a more realistic way (Copeland 2015).
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of AI in these recent times is gradually
increasing. Several firms are progressing towards the implementation of AI in their system
for increasing the revenue of their business and create more opportunities. The term Artificial
intelligence determines the complete concept of an intelligent machine in the terms of equally
social and operational consequences. The artificial systems can be useful in many sectors
such as public services, transportation, business, medical, energy, engineering, and education.
The implementation of AI in the systems has several benefits as well as disadvantages. There
are several advantages of implementing automation system in a business such as increased
efficiency, cost reduction, increase in the number of operators, and increase the safety of
workers. Some of the benefits of computer control system are swift calculation speed, several
systems of input and output devices, high data storage capacity, programmable control, and
the possibility of telecommunications. Some of the limitations of computer control systems

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are high cost, maintenance difficulties, intolerance under adversarial conditions, and
necessity of huge amount of supportive devices. Robotics is growing to be increasingly
complicated by creating a foundation on the progress made in computing and electrical
engineering, mechatronics. Some of the ethical issues of robotics are privacy threat, security
threats and AI weaponisation, and economic and employment issues. Some of the limitations
of AI are that a machine need to satisfy the needs of several abilities like reasoning, model
building, real world understanding, and anticipation of the future actions to be considered
intelligent. Some other limitations are hard generalisation and large datasets, lack of analysis
and Black box, and robustness of AI.

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Reference
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