Automation friend or foe [TV network]

This paper sets out to take a fresh, if possibly controversial view of factors not always considered at the beginning of automating a network. It is considered that not to take such issues into account at an early stage would result in painful and expensive lessons being learnt later. Many of the issues raised will apply to all forms of broadcast automation, although specific examples will mainly relate to network automation. The introduction of automation is not simply installing a system, it is a change of fundamental working practices. Automation systems should manage broadcast plant not try to duplicate existing product functionality. Attention must be given to the complexity, hardware and software design criteria. As reliability is the number one criteria, the simpler the system the more reliable that system will be. The system designer will need to take into account that the user is unlikely to be technically minded, the user interface must be simple to operate, this is particularly true in a breakdown situation. The paper explores these issues with examples, of the necessary design criteria that need to be considered for hardware, software and systems when determining the introduction of automation