Concepts of Information Techonology and its Fundamental aspects
Information Technology Practices in Business
B.Com (CBCS and Non CBCS)
Unit – 1: Concepts of Information Technology and its Fundamental aspects
Information
Revolution and Its impact on Business
Meaning: The Information Revolution refers to the dramatic changes taking
place during the last half of the 20th century in which information
technology has been the prime area of innovations. The information revolution
began with the invention of the integrated circuit or computer chip. Those
chips have revolutionized our lives, running our appliances, providing
calculators, computers and other electronic devices to control our world.
It is still
early enough that no one knows precisely what all of the implications of the
information revolution will be for social life. But clearly changes such as the
information superhighway permitting people to communicate using computers all
around the globe, fax machines, satellite dishes and cellular phones are
changing how families spend their time, the kind of work we do and may other
aspects of our lives.
The computer
has become helpful in managing knowledge at a time when the amount of
information is expanding exponentially. The information stored in the world’s
libraries and computers double every eight years. In a sense the computer age
and the information age seem to do hand in hand.
The rapid
development and deployment of computing power however has also raised some
significant social and moral questions. People in this society need to think
clearly about these issues, but often ignore them or become confused.
Impact of Information revolution on Business
Worldwide
influence of the internet is well-established and acknowledged. Penetration
rate of the internet has been phenomenal; almost 1/3rd of Human population are
accessing the internet. The way business is conducted in this digital age has
changed due to so many people logged on to the internet. Advancement in communication and information
technology has further strengthened the role of the internet in business. The
internet is widely used in organization for marketing and promotion of products
and services. The internet is used to deliver customer support, share
information and provide training to employees. With the internet becoming a
powerful tool for employees, the impact on business is undeniable.
Internet and Porter’s Five Force Model
Porter’s five
force model is a framework for industry analysis, business strategy development
and study competition. The five forces of the model are the threat from
upcoming and future competition, threat from existing substitute, bargaining
power of consumers, negotiating power of suppliers and threat of competition.
Internet has great Impact on all five force of the model:
1)
Threat of new entrants: The
internet has considerably lowered entry barrier in setting up new enterprise.
The setting up of a new company does not require much capital investment, for
example, online retail sites, etc. Ever increasing competition has lowered the
margins.
2)
Threat of new substitute: The
Internet has reduced the product life cycle; shelf life of products and
encouraged innovation is customer serving.
3)
Bargaining power of customers: The
internet has made the customer well informed about products and available
substitute. Companies have to be careful in presenting differentiation and
pricing.
4)
Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers
are well informed about happening in the industry thanks to the internet.
5)
Threat of competition: The
internet has made transparency and honest important factor in success of the
company. Customers tend to know more about the company. The internet has
lowered the cost of searching new available products.
Internet and the way business is conducted
The internet
has changed the face of business. It has opened up new avenues of conducting
business. Below are some impacts of the internet on business:
1)
Communication: communication
technology combined with the internet has given a new dimension to connectivity
and dispersion of information. Employees are in constant touch through email,
instant messaging, office intranet, etc.
2)
Collaboration: The
internet has facilitated collaboration among employees of organization.
Geographical boundaries no longer hamper project work and sharing of information.
3)
Business Transaction: The
internet has encouraged the culture of online business or e-commerce. In recent
years many players have opened shops through e-commerce. Internet banking,
payment gateways, etc. are part of normal supply chain transaction.
4)
Work Flexibility: The
internet has enabled workers to log in from remote location and home. It has
helped on the move employees by remaining in touch with happenings of work.
5)
Web based application: The
internet has facilitated the development of concept like cloud computing, which
has enabled process and storing of data in large proportion. The internet has
helped reduce infrastructure cost of the company.
The internet
thus has made a big impact in the way the business gets conducted in both
positive as well as a negative way. The internet has made many business
obsolete example post offices. Online security issues like hacking, identity
theft, etc. are a constant threat to internet users.
Information Technology
Information
Technology (IT) is a generic term that covers the acquisition, processing,
storage and dissemination of information. It involves the application of
computers and communication technology in the task of information handling,
information and information flow from the generation to the utilization levels.
It is restricted to systems dependent on microelectronics based combination of
computers and telecommunication technologies. The IT is the boon for mankind.
It gives accessibility to information at fingertips. There has been discussion
on Information highways and high tech libraries. The promising and diversified
possibilities of IT have reduced the space and time between the people,
countries, continents and ultimately have led to the emerging concepts - Global
Society and Global Village.
Information
Technology (IT) is a new technology applied to the creation, storage,
selection, transformation and distribution of information of many kinds. It has
been defined differently by different people.
IT, as
defined by the Information Technology Association
of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development,
implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and
computer hardware." It deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert,
store, protect, process,
transmit and retrieve information, securely.
According to
Mall, IT means various means of obtaining, storage, and transforming
information using computer, communication and micro-electronics.
UNESCO
defines IT as, scientific technology and engineering disciplines and the
management techniques used in information handling and processing their
application, computers and their interaction with men and machines and
associated social, economic and cultural matters.
Objectives of
Information Technology
The
objectives of IT are to provide better means of information of data messages in
the form of written or printed records, electric, audio or video signals by
using wires, cables and telecommunication techniques, IT plays a vital role in
information handling due to developments such as reduction in computing time,
capabilities of files on video discs, use of T.V as readymade information
screen, telecommunication and satellite communication facilities etc. The
objectives of IT can be categorized into the following four groups.
(i)
Supporting technical functions associated with acquisitions, technical
processing, serial control, SDI/CAS, OPAC and circulation work.
(ii)
Supporting information storage, retrieval and dissemination systems.
(iii)
Supporting management information services for libraries, especially analyzing
library statistics.
(iv) It can
best be used in service and orientation courses for practicing librarians,
continuing education programs for faculty teachers of library and information
science, correspondence studies and library extension services.
Features of
Information Technology
Information
Technology possesses various features. Let us have an idea of its features.
1.
Broadness: IT involves more than just computer
literacy. It takes into account how computers work and how these computers can
further be used not just for information processing but also for communications
and problem solving tasks as well.
2.
Streamlining: IT has the feature of streamlining
the processes. It helps in streamlining the business processes. It also helps
in getting constant and up to date information in real time.
3.
Globalization: IT is global. It not only
brings the world closer together, but it allows the world’s economy to become a
single interdependent system. This means that we can not only share information
quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and
geographic boundaries. It makes the word into a global village.
4.
Communication: IT helps in cheaper, quicker
and more efficient communication. We can now communicate with anyone around the
globe by simply text messaging them or sending them an email for an almost
instantaneous response. The Internet has also opened up face to face direct
communication from different parts of the world thanks to the helps of video
conferencing.
5.
Cost effectiveness: Information technology
helps to computerize the business process thus streamlining business to make
them extremely cost effective. This in turn increases productivity which
ultimately gives rise to profits that means better pay and less strenuous
working conditions.
6.
Bridging the cultural gap: Information
technology helps in bridging the cultural gap by helping people from different
cultures to communicate with one another and allow for the exchange of views
and ideas, thus increasing awareness and reducing prejudice.
7.
More time: IT has makes it possible for
businesses to remain open 24x7 all over the globe. This means that a business
can be open anytime anywhere, making purchases from different countries easier
and more convenient. It also means that you can have your goods delivered right
to your doorstep with having to move a single muscle.
8.
Creation of new jobs: IT creates new and
interesting jobs. Computer programmers, System analyzers, Hardware and software
developers and Web designers are just some of the many new employment
opportunities created with the help of IT.
9.
Dynamic: IT is dynamic and ever changing. It
has continuously changing features due to development in the field of
communication and content technology.
Components of
Information Technologies
Technological
change is becoming a driving force in our society. Information technology is a
generic term used for a group of technologies. The following are the major new
technologies as most relevant information system.
Ø
Processor, memory and input/output channels,
Ø
Micro, Mini and Large scale computers,
Ø
Mass storage technologies,
Ø
Data communication, networking and distributed
processing,
Ø
Data entry, display respond and
Ø
Software
These
technologies can also be grouped into three major areas:
1.
Computer Technology.
2.
Communication Technology (Refer below – ICT)
3.
Content Technology.
Computer Technology: The
present era is IT era where computers are performing their dominant role. We
find presence of computers in every field. A computer is an electronic device which
converts raw data into meaningful information by following a set of
instructions called program. Computers can be classified into different
categories. Of these categories personal computers, workstation, servers and
super computers are very important. Personal computers are IBM compatible
computers and are used by one person at a time. The common components of
computer system include input unit, central processing unit and output unit.
Input unit is used to enter the data in computer. It includes mouse, light pen,
tract ball etc. Central Processing Unit is the main and central unit of the
computer that controls the working of the Arithmetic Logic Unit and Memory
Unit. Output unit produces the results which are displayed either on the screen
or are printed through printer. A computer system is composed of hardware and
software. Various hardware parts include memory, input devices, floppy and hard
disk, pen drives, CD or DVD drives etc. Memory is an essential element of
computer. RAM is internal memory and volatile in nature. Cache memory is a part
of memory which uses static RAM and helps the processor to search the data at a
very high speed.
Computers
play an important role in data processing. They take raw data as input and
after processing, provide meaningful information to the user. Electronic data
processing comprises the role of computer which is composure of hardware and
software. Data can be processed electronically at a wonderful speed and
accuracy. This helps in providing timely reports to the management and these
reports are very helpful in taking decisions for future. The processing of data
can be done in two ways; one is on-line processing and the other is off-line
processing.
Content Technology: The
media and entertainment industries are undergoing significant structural
change. Content + Technology interprets in depth the management and technology
issue confronting today’s media companies for managers, operators and engineers
from Software to Hardware, Regulation to Practice, Established and Emerging
Standards.
Content
technology or multimedia technology includes computer-based, interactive
applications having multiple media elements, including text, graphics,
animations, video and sound. Content technology refers to both the hardware and
software used to create and run such systems. The mode of delivery for each
application depends on the amount of information that must be stored, the
privacy desired and the potential expertise of the users. Applications that
require large amounts of data are usually distributed on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM,
while personal presentations might be made directly from a computer using an
attached projector. Multimedia products may be created and run on the commonly
used computer environments. Multimedia system users may employ a variety of
input devices in addition to the keyboard and mouse, such as joysticks and
trackballs. Touch screens provide both input and display capabilities and are
often the choice when potentially large numbers of novices may use the system.
Other display devices include high-resolution monitors and computer projectors.
Information Communication
Technology (ICT)
Information
and communication technology (ICT) is associated with the most sophisticated
and expensive computer based technologies. It consists of IT as well as
telecommunication broadcast media, all types of audio and video processing and
transmission and network based control and monitoring functions. The term ICT
was evolved in 1997 in a report by Dennis Stevenson to UK government. It was
promoted by new national curriculum documents for UK in 2000.
According to
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “ICTs are basically information
handling tools – a varied set of goods, application and services that are used
to produce, store, process, distribute and exchange information. They include
the ‘old’ ICTs of radio, television and telephone, and the new ICTS of
computers, satellite and wireless technology and the internet. These different
tools are now able to work together and combine to form our networked world.”
In the modern
world, the term ICT is used to refer to merging (convergence) of audio-visual
and telephone network with computer networks through a single cabling or link
system. Recently, many companies have come up with campaigns to promote ICT and
how it can be utilized to protect nature. In this aspect, WIPRO has played a
leading role by introducing ‘Earthein’ (wherein students came up with ideas to
use technology to benefit society).
What is the difference between IT and ICT?
IT refers to
an entire industry that uses computers, networking, software and other
equipment to manage information, whereas ICT can be seen as an integration of
IT with media broadcasting technologies, audio/ video processing and
transmission and telephony. Therefore, ICT can be seen as an extended acronym
for IT. The term ICT is widely used in the context of education, whereas IT is
a term widely used in the industry. In addition, recently, ICT is also used to
refer to the integration of telephone and audio/ visual networks with computer
networks. In simplest terms, ICT can be seen as the integration of information
technology with communication technology.
Importance of ICT
The impact of
communication technology in information science has been increasing in
importance, as interactive information retrieval systems have been developed,
that allow users dispersed over wide region to obtain access to these systems
on a real time basis. Computer based information retrieval system form one
broad class of system that can be linked to users in their office, homes as
well as to users in libraries and other centers.
a)
Time Saving: Modern communication technologies
avoid errors, duplication resulting in saving of time. They have more speed
with accuracy and can transmit quickly. The message lead which the machine can
do is definitely more and resulting in saving of time of superiors and
subordinates in the organization.
b)
Saving Labour Cost: New communication
technologies are labour saving devices. They save labour as well as payroll
cost. Less number of workers or staff is sufficient with the installation of
modern communication devices. The staff thereby released can be utilized for
alternative works.
c)
Speed: A large quantity of information can be
fed into the machine, which in term transmits with considerable speed. In
respect of certain matters, speed and quickness are necessary to take quick
decision. The handling of transmission is assigned to electrically or
electronically or radio-wave operated machine which are known for greater speed
of dispatch.
d)
Reduce Monotony: Routine respective work may
lead to fatigue or monotony mechanization of communication system reduces the
fatigue of the staff and resulting in improving the efficiency and quality of
the work. For instance use of visual and audio-visual aids will reduce fatigue,
which improves the quality of work.
e)
Equality: New technology can achieve equality
in the provisions of communication reaching particularly with reference to
geographical location.
f)
Standardization: Standardization of work can
be achieved through machines. The ensure consistency uniformity in the quality
as well as quantity of work the principle of standardization is so important
that no one can afford to ignore its advantages.
g)
Accuracy and Efficiency: Correctness of
message transmission is necessary to enable a receiver to understand in same
spirit and to act accordingly. The systematic and automatic technology promotes
accuracy. The new technology in general increases efficiency.
Disadvantages of ICT
One of the
major barriers for the cause of ICT not reaching its full potential in the
foundation stage is teacher’s attitude. Within the early years educator’s
attitudes towards ICT can vary considerably. Some see it as a potential tool to
aid learning whereas others seem to disagree with the use of technology in
early year settings. Some of the disadvantages of ICT are given below:
1)
High cost
involvement: ICT is an expensive affair as it involves heavy cost in building
and thereafter maintaining it.
2)
Centralized
uniform content: ICT lays emphasis on common content, ignoring
individual differences to increase number of users.
3)
Problem
insensitive: ICT is not ideal for solving local and cultural sensitive
problems.
4)
Unequal
assess: To general mass as a whole, ICT is neither equally accessible nor
equally beneficiary.
5)
Classification
of society: ICT classifies world into two groups’ knowledge rich and
knowledge poor.
Impact and Use of
information technology in business
Small
scale business houses need to buy software packages that could cater to their
specific management, operational and functional needs. For this purpose, they
need to approach firms and IT manufacturers who deal in such software
applications. Other IT services include Internet marketing and email marketing,
web hosting and promotions and maintaining client networks. Larger business
houses have their own operational and functional employees who develop in house
software applications and work on several IT needs of the businesses. They
usually purchase ERI software programs to coordinate different processes and
functions into a single application, which is actually more convenient.
Manufacturing businesses may make use of servers and databases to store their
vast data regarding inventory.
The
information technology role in business sector certainly is of a great
importance, which enables businesses to effectively and successfully plan,
manage, execute strategies to lead to profit. Information Technology has proved
to be a very crucial for business activities. It has introduced various new
technological applications and tools that ha increased productivity and
efficiency in business organizations. Information technology has facilitated
easy and quick modes of communication. Let us see as to how I.T. has
revolutionized this area. Some of the significance of It in business are given
below:
1.
Advertising: Information technology has introduced several new methods of
advertising through the Internet. Business firms increase their income through
these methods of advertising. Business can be increased by advertising on
popular websites.
2.
E-Commerce: One of the revolutions brought by Information Technology is
E-Commerce. E-Commerce or E-business refers to buying and selling of goods or
services through the Internet. These days, countless businesses offer online
services. Some types of online businesses include consumer-based retail sites
and the exchange of services and trading goods between corporations.
3.
Communication: Employees and workers in organizations use emails, instant
messages and video conferencing for quick and effective communication which
improves the quality of work and improves business potential.
4.
Applications: Most business organizations use software programs such as
MS-Word, MS-Access, MS-Excel and PowerPoint. Mostly, photo manipulation tools
like Photoshop are also used by organizations.
5.
Prediction: According to the website networksolutions.com, it is predicted that
in the coming years, the boundaries between electronic commerce and
conventional commerce will fade away as more and more businesses are moving
selective sectors of operations online.
Significance
of IT in education
New
and emerging technologies challenge the traditional process of teaching and
learning and the way education is managed, Information technology, while an
important area of study in its own right, is having a major impact across all
curriculum areas. Easy worldwide communication provides instant access to a
vast array of data, challenging assimilation and assessment skills. Rapid
communication, plus increased access to IT in the home, at work and in
educational establishments, could mean that learning becomes a truly lifelong
activity – an activity in which the pace of technological change forces
constant evaluation of the learning process itself.
1.
Access to variety of learning resources: IT aids plenty of resources to enhance
the teaching skills and learning ability. With the help of IT now it is easy to
provide audio visual education. The learning resources are being widens and
widen. Now with this vivid and vast technique as part of the IT curriculum,
learners are encouraged to regard computers as tools to be used in all aspects
of their studies.
2.
Any time learning: In the era of Information Technology and web networks the
pace of imparting knowledge has become very fast and one can be educated any
time. One can study whenever he wills irrespective of whether it is day or
night and irrespective of being in India or any part of the world.
3.
Collaborative learning: Now IT has made it easy to study as well as teach in
groups or in clusters. With online we can be unite together to do the desired
task. Efficient postal systems, the telephone (fixed and mobile) and various
recording and playback systems based on computer technology all have a part to
play in educational broadcasting in the new millennium. The Internet and its
Web sites are now familiar to everyone.
4.
Multimedia approach to education: Audio-Visual Education, planning, preparation
and use of devices and materials that involve sight, sound or both, for
educational purposes, is being extensively done. Among the devices used are
still and motion pictures, filmstrips, television, transparencies, audiotapes,
records, teaching machines, computers and videodisc. The growth of audio-visual
education has reflected remarkable developments in both technology and learning
theory.
5.
Authentic and up to date information: The information and data which are
available on the Internet is purely correct and up to date. Several hundred
sites are available on the Internet which offers similar information. Internet,
a collection of computer networks that operate on common standards and enable
the computers and the programs they run to communicate directly, provides true
and correct information.
6.
Online library: Internets support thousands of different kinds of operational
and experimental services one of which is online library. We can get plenty of
data on this online library.
7.
Distance learning: Distance Learning is a method of learning at a distance
rather than in a classroom. Distance learning is easier these days as laptops
and internet connectivity have given the Universities faster means of reaching
more students in real time.
Uses of
Information Technology in Medicine
Information
technology plays important amazing roles in medicine. Using information
technology in the medical field can improve efficiency and quality of care.
1. Benefits: Medical
technology provides three primary benefits to the patients.
a)
It helps increase care-guidelines for specific
conditions.
b)
It reduces the number of medication errors.
c)
It also improves how well medical
professionals are able to track the progression of diseases within a community.
2. Storing Information: Information
technology helps to organize patient records and can provide valuable
cross-referencing information when it comes to things like drug interactions.
Because of the rise in the number of medical images captured and used in
treatment for a variety of conditions, information technology is especially
important for storing images and locating them when needed. Even reading
medical images may require IT assistance because of the increasing complexity
of imaging technologies.
3.
Trained Professionals: Information technology in and of itself is not enough to
improve patient care. Hospitals, doctor’s offices and other medical
institutions need trained IT professionals to implement and maintain new
information technologies.
4.
Privacy Concerns: While information technology can improve patient care, it can
also compromise patient information potentially making personal details
available to people outside of the doctor-patient relationship. Institutions
implementing information technology to store and communicate information should
be aware of these concerns and take steps to address them.
Social Impact
of Information Technology
Computing
technologies, like most other forms of technology, are not socially neutral.
They effect and are themselves affected by society. Computers have changed the
way people relate to one another and their living environment, as well as how
humans organize their work, their communities and their time. Society, in turn,
has influenced the development of computers through the needs people have for
processing information. The study of these relationships has come to be known
as “social informatics.”
The
complete impact of the current information technology and networking revolution
remains unknown, but her experiences of organizations and individuals who are
using the tools and resources offered by information technology suggest that it
may change out social fabric.
The
twentieth century saw the development of scientific research and engineering
applications that required increasingly complex computations. The needs and
desires of society have subsequently influenced the development of a vast array
of computing technologies, including supercomputers, graphics processors,
games, digital video and audio, mobile computing devices etc.
In
the twenty-first century, computers are used in almost every facet of society
including agriculture, architecture, art, commerce and global trade,
communication, education, governance, law, music, politics, science,
transportation and writing. In general, computing technologies have been
applied to almost every situation.
Impacts on
Various other Organizations
1.
Banking Industry: Banking sector is one of the
largest organizations which invest heavily in computers. Today, the banking
functions in urban and semi-urban areas are fully computerized. Computerization
in banking industry is necessary due to massive volume of transactions and to
offer better and better customer service to the customers. Banking industry is
facing stiff competition from the foreign and private banks. The technology
being used by the foreign and private banks is much advanced as compared to public
sector banks. This has compelled public sector banks to go in for adopting the
latest technology. Computers are being installed in branches at different
counters viz. Savings Bank, Current Account, Cash Credit Accounts etc. Cheques
are handled by the computers at clearing houses. By computerization, many
problems have been solved. Balances are automatically tallied in the accounts.
Customers can obtain printed statements of their accounts. Automated Teller
Machines have been installed in the branch premises of various banks and at the
places of customer activities. Different networks viz. BANKNET, RBI NET, SWIFT,
INFINET etc. are being used to expedite the customer transactions and to
provide better customer service. National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and
Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) have been started to minimize the time of
funds-transfer and funds-credit in the accounts of customers with the
introduction of RTGS system (Real Time Gross Settlement), funds can be settled
in the accounts almost instantaneously. In all banking industry is handicapped
without computers.
2.
Insurance Sector: The requirements of
computers in insurance sector are similar to those in banking sector. A large
number of files relating to customers’ policies are to be updated. Calculation
of bonus, premium and interest is to be done on a large scale. Insurance
companies have to intimate to the customers who do not pay the installments in
time. Matured policies are to be paid. Manually it is a tedious job to handle
all these transactions. With the introduction of computers in this sector; the
burden on the employees has been reduced and timely statements of accounts are
made ready in no time. Computerized acknowledgements are sent to the policy
holders who pay premium on their policies and date of next installment due is
also mentioned.
3.
Railways: Railway is largest organization
which is effectively using the computers. The record of all trains running
daily or weekly is kept in computers. A passenger can desire information about
a particular train at any station linked with the computer network. For
example, a passenger at Trichy station can get his ticket (with return ticket)
reserved for Mumbai Central. There is no separate or special queue for a
particular train or destination. The passenger can obtain his ticket in any
queue for any station. Similarly he can get his ticket cancelled if his
programme of journey has been changed. All information regarding time table of
trains can be obtained at the computer terminals.
There are numerous organizations which are
going for computerization. The advantages of computerization in these
organizations are mentioned below:
i.
Payroll preparation: In large departments,
organizations, business houses, factories, etc. computer is an aid in preparing
pay rolls of employees. It is very difficult to prepare payroll of all the
employees in a large organization manually. Moreover there are chances of
mistakes in manual calculations. Computer do not make mistake while calculating
D.A., H.R.A and other allowances. Income tax calculations are performed by the
computers.
ii.
Budget Preparation: Computers can be used for
preparation of budget of an organization. Budgeting is a sensitive item for an
organization. Proper financing can be done through correct budgeting. Computers
can store a lot of data of all departments and sections of an organization.
Based on their requirements and trend during the past budget, budget for
current year can be prepared correctly and the organizations can know the variance
over previous year in the budgeted items.
iii.
Designing and Manufacturing: Computers can
design a product very efficiently. This technique of designing is called
Computer Aided Designing (CAD). Various software packages are available for
designing a product. Programs like Auto Cad, CorelDraw etc. are very popular
among computer users (designers). If one design is not approved, computer can
immediately gives you another design according to your specifications. Once the
design is approved, the product is manufactured. Computers are very helpful in
controlling the manufacturing phase. With the help of Computer Aided
Manufacturing (CAM), the manufacturing of the product is very easy. Whole of
the manufacturing process is taken over by the computers and robots. Not only
the use of CAM avoids wastage but also brings high quality improvement in the
product.
iv.
Material Handling: In the manufacturing
process, computers can handle the materials properly. The handling of materials
by computers is very accurate and evens the chances of damage and accidents are
negligible. Robots are used to handle the extremely dangerous and hazardous
materials, acids etc. and avoid accidents.