Sunday, 5 February 2023

Summary reader response draft 1

After reading the article regarding 'How tech can ease the cleaning industry's manpower crunch', by GERMii (2021) , I learn about how future labour will be complemented by robots. First and foremost, since the COVID-19 outbreak, cleanliness has been one of the highest priorities. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the article stated that Harold Van Haltren, CEO of pathogen mitigation company GERMII, will be exploring the trends that will influence public hygiene. From the article, paragraph seventeen, "By introducing Whiz, an AI vacuum cleaning robot that has GERMII’s technology, which transforms ultraviolet C (UV-C) into a concentrated beam of light that is lethal to viruses, bacteria, and pathogens able to disinfect surfaces without relying on chemicals and sterilize the environment." As a result, having sterile and safe business premises provides peace of mind. With its capability of learning routes and creating reports, it saves the facilities manager time and cleaners. Whereby in paragraph seven it stated that the cleaners will be expected to concentrate on more crucial chores, including sterilizing "high-touch, high-risk, or difficult-to-clean areas" as a result. Lastly, for its features from the photo it is given from the article, it has a 2D/3D camera (sensor), and with its small build, it can move around in a crowded area without any difficulties.

While the robot, Whiz, can keep the environment or surrounding clean and move around without any difficulties with it’s 2D/3D camera (sensor), I feel that there are also other types of robots out there that are similar to it which will benefit  us too in the future purposes such as supporting manual labour making GERMii not the only company that does this.

For example, from the article “For Robots, it’s a time to shine (and Maybe Disinfect)’ by Lisa Prevost ( 2020 ), it says that there is  an AI robot, the Neo floor-scrubbing robot also does create its own maps of a facility and make staff to focus on making sure the ‘high touch’ areas are cleaned more frequently.” Not only that, for its features that was shown in the article , it has an oddly huge design compared to Whiz, it is still able to move around in crowded areas due to its camera sensors that would make it stop if there are any obstacles in its way.

The next article also discusses the use of technology to support manual labour. The article which says, “NEA exploring table-cleaning robot at hawker centres to support manual labour” by Ang Qing (2022) , tells us that “hawker centres may get an automated table cleaners under the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) plan to support manual labour.” The robot's functions are essentially the same as those of the earlier articles described above, where it can also assist and complement cleaners to keep the environment tidy. The difference is that it just cleans tables. A photo shown in the article shows its compact formed body shape and attributes allow it to roam through hawker centres without disturbing the community.

Lastly, I would like to share another article which also says about “ How commercial cleaning robots complement in-person shopping attitudes” by Avidbots (2022)  . In the article, paragraph number five, due to the epidemic, people bought things online, but now that it has receded, they are starting to purchase in stores. Additionally, merchants are finding it difficult to meet customers' expectations for clean environments due to a labour shortage. Thus, they introduce a fully autonomous floor scrubbing robot name Neo where its function is to “enhance and simplify floor care and surface disinfection and also gives the flexibility to thrive.” As for its features shown by a video in the article, it has an oddly huge design and a built-in sensor that allows it to move around and avoid obstacles making it at a disadvantage comparing to the other robots that was said earlier.  

From these articles, I feel that Whiz, the AI vacuum cleaning robot from GERMII, is much better from the other three robots by comparing with its features and functions.

In conclusion, I think technology will eventually benefit us and reduce the workloads of these cleaners making a safe and clean environment. As a result, reading these articles teaches us more about technology, how robots will supplement human labour in the future, and how these robots will make the world a cleaner and better place for everyone.

 

 

Reference:

For Robots, It’s a Time to Shine (and Maybe Disinfect) - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/nea-exploring-table-cleaning-robot-at-hawker-centres-to-support-manual-labour#:~:text=Autonomous table-cleaning robots can,unsuitable tables for human cleaners.

How commercial cleaning robots complement in-person shopping attitudes | AvidbotsAvidbots

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