CRITERIA B

The IT system used in the grid consists mainly of sensors and two way communication. Sensors use ‘feedback system’ to regulate the conditions in a system. There are 3 main parts to a sensor. These are: the input, the processing and the output. For instance, in temperature sensors in microwaves, temperature at which an object is to be heated is input manually by means of buttons. The processing would involve the system sensing the temperature and decreasing it if it gets higher than the input temperature and increasing it if it gets lower. The output is a beep sound or light. Such temperature sensors are used in the smart grid to monitor transmission line. Other kinds of sensors being used are: sound sensors (acoustic sensors) and sensors to measure the motion of underground cables for detect mechanical errors. (Smalltimes.com, 15th October, 2008).
The grid has improved and become more technical and is expected to continue to do so in the near future. The old grid, while being cheaper, had a few consumer choices and limited price information as to the choice of companies to buy electricity from. In contrast to this, the new grid not only has several consumer choices, it is digital and also less prone to blackouts and brownouts and has a ‘self healing’ system (this detects errors in the system using sensors and automated controls) (Wikipedia, 2008). Perhaps Google and GE are trying to improve and eventually dominate the sales of the grid so more ‘clean energy’ is used. If this does happen, it is possible that the effects of global warming could be reduced significantly. The grid is also expected to become more technical and environment friendly in the future.



This is a diagram of the feedback system involved in a water regulating system.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/measurecontrol/0computercontrolrev3.shtml