What if machines had LinkedIn?
Since the start of digital transformation, machines that were previously siloed and separate have been connected to networks to communicate and operate more efficiently. Alongside this we have seen developments in natural language interfaces, allowing humans and machines to interact simply by asking questions. There’s no set end to this ‘humanisation’ and we’ve seen lots of options in sci-fi movies but let’s take a look at a potential near-future possibility.
As machines learn to converse in human language and AI is deployed, it is conceivable that assets within a facility or even beyond would begin to mirror social media like LinkedIn. If that were the case, how would a machine post, what would it talk about, and what would it celebrate in a public forum?
- Senior conveyor belt
Today marks my 20th anniversary of non-stop motion, minus the occasional maintenance as I started showing my age! This is an exciting career step for me as I move from the production floor into #logistics where my steady and reliable skills are needed.
It’s a great pleasure to introduce my new colleague who brings magnetic levitation to the line, meaning a whole host of new products and variations soon to be pushed through logistics. I hope my long-service data comes in handy in your new role and we can collaborate closely for many years. #robots #cobots - Onsite microgrid
I may be the newest addition to the network but just wanted to say thank you to all my colleagues for collaborating from the moment I was employed. Everyone has been so supportive, sharing data to ensure that onsite energy use is optimised and we each work together to support the national grid. #Teamwork
I was brought onto the team for my sustainability credentials but have since ensured power reliability for the crucial continuous industrial processes. #Sustainability - IoT sensor team
It’s great to shadow experienced employees, we have been retroactively fitted to multiple legacy assets throughout the facility to use our digital-first skills to collect vital data from previously siloed machines. We then take that information and run it to the system, bringing experienced processes up to modern standards.
As one of many IoT sensors in operation, we are constantly looking for new positions where legacy assets are still in use, unlocking the flow data in previously unconnected assets.
