Today I took my family to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL. While I was interested in every exhibit we saw (the model trains were phenomenal), I will admit that today I was most intrigued the Farm Tech exhibit.
The entire exhibit is worth viewing. Living in a major urban city like Chicago can make it easy to forget where our food comes from, even when surrounded by Midwestern farms. They did have a hydroponics exhibit, which reminds us that we can grow some food closer than ever before! Agritech has advanced to the point that we all can grow some produce in our own homes, even in a small high-rise apartment.
That being said, what I found most fascinating was a small tractor simulator by John Deere. The steering wheel was absolutely horrible and was not accurately reflected on screen, someone definitely needs to come through and calibrate it. That being said, the information learned made it all worth it. Farmers today have so many technical advancements that enable them to more effectively feed the world's growing population.
For instance, in the initial planting stage, farmers can use a combination of GPS and satellite imagery to map out their farm and to flag obstacles to avoid. After they begin planting with their tractor, an onboard computer can be engaged to navigate the farm, ensuring maximum coverage. Farmers who used the computer reported the crops were planted with more efficient seed placement, at a faster speed and with reduced fuel consumption, compared to manually steering the tractor.
Additionally, while growing the crops, the onboard computer can use a combination of satellite imagery and farmer feedback to analyze sections of the field. The computer can use this information to determine which areas in the farm are in need of treatment in the form of fertilizer or pesticide applications. This allows the farmer to precisely apply these treatments where needed, reducing the amount used and the environmental impact.
Finally, when it comes time to harvest, the tractor is equipped with a number of sensors that can analyze the quality and amount of the harvest, allowing the farmer to have a more accurate assessment of their yield as they go.
None of this would be possible without software developers, hardware engineers, and farmers working together to build tools to fit their needs. Technology has become a critical part of every industry and affects every aspect of our lives, and so there will be a need for us to work closely with members of every industry. We must be willing to learn more than software development but also learn from members of society, people from all backgrounds and all walks of life, how we can best fulfill their needs.
Sure, we all hope we'll make a lot of money doing this job, but this exhibit today really reminded me how important it is that we act almost as servants to humanity, building our future one of piece of technology at a time.
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