Human and Nature Minding Automation: An Overview of Concepts, Methods, Tools and Applications

This book examines the "symbiosis" of automation and technology with the human and the nature towards the ultimate goal of assuring global sustainability. Throughout the years a variety of approaches, technologies and practices have been produced in the direction of achieving human-and nature-minding automation and industrial activity. In this book an attempt is made, for the first time, to present in a cohesive and consolidated way an overview of all these issues together, and show how they combine to provide human-and nature-minding (green) systems. Human-minding automation is possible by employing concepts and techniques from the human factors and ergonomics fields, including job satisfaction, human-friendly interfaces, and human values, whereas nature-minding industrial activity and human development can be achieved by considering as a whole the human, economic, natural and cultural resources in the short and long term. In particular, nature-minding design selects the production methods and technologies that have the minimum impact to the nature. The book is intended for use both as a free reference conceptual book, and as general introductory book in relevant teaching and research environments.