Technology's Impact on the Primary Sector

The Impact of New Technology in the Primary Sector

• New technologies, such as tractors, harvesters, grain-drying machines, and automatic feeding systems, have significantly increased productivity in agriculture.
• These advancements have reduced the need for a large agricultural workforce.
• Chemicals and pesticides have led to increased crop yields.
• Biological research has developed disease-resistant plants.
• Genetically modified (GM) crops are showing promise by introducing genes from different living sources into plants.
• Early GM crops focused on reducing the harmful effects of pests and diseases.
• Newer GM crops aim to enhance the nutritional value of crops for consumers.
• Examples include rice with more iron and vitamins, potatoes with more starch, healthier oils from soybean and canola, and allergen-free nuts.
• GM crops are widely used in the USA; for example, 88% of corn, 93% of soybean, 94% of cottonseed, and 75% of Hawaiian papaya are genetically modified.
• Drones are being utilized in agriculture for water and disease management, improved planting strategies, and monitoring crop progress across fields.
• In the mining industry, new cutting machinery has boosted productivity and improved worker health and safety.
• MineSense Technologies Ltd launched the MineSense Solution in 2016, designed to decrease the use of energy, water, and chemicals in material extraction and analysis.
• It is believed that the technology will increase the recovery of usable materials by 25%.

The Impact of New Technology in the Secondary Sector

• In many industries, production has shifted towards being more capital-intensive, with greater reliance on machinery over labor.
• Modern technology is flexible, sophisticated, and highly efficient.

Robots

• Robots are commonly used in assembly and on production lines.
• They use a mechanical arm and move by computer instructions.
• Robots are used to weld, assemble and move components
• Material handling robots transport goods within factories or plants like automated warehouses.
• Processing operations robots perform programmed tasks like spray painting and spot welding, using specialized tools.
• Assembly line robots perform single tasks on assembly lines, such as fitting caps on bottles.
• Inspection robots check parts for faults using tools such as lenses and scanners.
• Manufacturing robots can perform repetitive or dangerous tasks involving heavy machinery, pollutants, chemicals, or hazardous materials.
• They are precise, operate constantly, and can run 24/7.
• Robots can be expensive to introduce and can cause job losses, also products sometimes have to be standardized for use with robots.

Computer Aided Design

• Computer aided design (CAD) enables businesses to produce accurate drawings, which can be viewed in 3D and altered cheaply and quickly.
• Designs can be accurately measured and tested on computers for faults.
• CAD can eliminate the need for physical models and prototypes by using 3D computer-generated images.
• CAD identifies optimal design solutions by analyzing various alternatives.

Computer Numerically Controlled Machines

• Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines can be programmed by computers to cut, mill, drill, weld, sew, and print, enabling the production of regular and irregular shapes accurately and quickly.
• CNC machines can handle repetitive work without human error, reducing waste and the need for rework.
• CNC machines can use instruments and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) to measure simply or complex measurements, check batches, or components, and measure multiple variables like weight, dimensions, and temperature.

Computer Aided Manufacturing

• Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) can automate the whole of production
• CAM uses computers to assist in operations including planning, management, transportation and storage.
• CAM speeds up production and minimizes waste by using the exact amount of raw materials needed, also it needs less energy.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing

• In computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), computers oversee the entire production process.
• CIM integrates functional areas like design, planning, purchasing, cost accounting, stock control, and distribution.
• Factory floor functions, such as materials management, are linked, allowing direct process control and monitoring.
• People supervise, monitor, and maintain the work.

The Impact of New Technology in the Tertiary Sector

• New technologies are increasingly being used in the service sector to overcome the traditional labor-intensive business model.
• In financial services ATMs are used to withdraw cash 24/7.
• Money can now be transferred electronically internationally.
• Electronic finds transfer at point of sale reduces the need for physical cash.
• IT makes market research easier and cheaper, while gathering and presenting market research data.
• Online research and surveys become more convenient for users thus expanding the data available.
• Television commercials now use film technology and special effects to target viewers.

Advertising and The Internet

• The Internet is used to promote products and services.
• Many businesses run their own websites for product information.
• Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems record customer purchases via technologies such as scanning at the checkout.
• Information from barcodes provides till receipts, stock details, and customer purchase data.
• EPOS reduces time, improves queues, improves stock and automatically reorders new stock.
• Customer data collected also improves targeted marketing.
• Online shopping has experienced a surge for all these same reasons.
• Technology allows travel without a ticket in the leisure industry.
• Booking for transport, accommodation and entertainment is available online, cutting administration costs.
• IT reduces administration and communication costs and can process customer invoicing and billing tasks quickly.
• Computer databases can process, edit, store and access data.
• Information can be sent electronically anywhere instantly.
• E-commerce uses electronic systems to buy and sell, primarily online, including Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B).
• B2C e-commerce covers online sales from businesses to consumers.
• Some e-commerce is fully digital, for instance individual downloads music.
• Ordering online and delivery at home is called e-tailing.
• B2B e-commerce involves businesses selling to other businesses.
• In some cases, the services sold to consumers are also available to businesses.