IAQ vs. DAQ
Gleaning True Information From Every Growing Mountain Of Data
A.K.A. Survival In The Internet Age!

By Chuck Cimino
Keithley Instruments, Inc.

In the Internet age, the acquisition of a wide variety of mere data has not only become extremely easy, it has become too easy! Spam, junk E-mail, push technologies and the huge number of junk websites and associated data are overwhelming anyone with access to the web of E-mail.

The need for help in extracting true information from mere data has accelerated rapidly with the rush of data the Internet. In the test and measurement world, the terminology and very concepts of Data Acquisition System are in dire need of updating to reflect modern times and the associated challenges. The name of the game in T&M has shifted from rapidly getting data to extracting useful information from an ever-growig glut of data. In some sense, DAQ systems need to make a shift to a new paradigm of product called an Information Acquisition System or IAQ system. The vendors that can deliver modern and cost effective IAQ systems will in effect be adding value in the form of information extraction above and beyond just collecting data.

This will mean more integration of analysis capabilities including in some cases strategic 3^rd party software applications focused on specific applications. Examples include combining mathematical analysis software capabilities with the ability to measure real world analog signals providing a true solution rather than piles of raw data for the user to sort, filter and process. It may mean adding machine control capabilities in order to control a process and collect resulting data that may be causally related to process control parameters.

The rewards in the information economy will go to those solutions providers that make the shift from the past emphasis on generating more detailed data to those that also enable insightful use of the data. This will require both high quality DAQ hardware and carefully defined and implemented IAQ enabled software. The synergies that can come from linkage of the two elements will be will extremely powerful as the strengths of hardware performance can be fully exploited by the software.

In this regard, companies will be required to take responsibility for both aspects of these systems without undue emphasis on either element. Rather, as in good systems engineering practice, each element must be tailored to work together efficiently and accurately for optimal results. An example is the way a well designed website can take advantage of certain browser features like frames or other dynamic graphical capabilities to enable a richer website outcome. Similarly, IAQ systems that effectively marry the hardware performance to that of the software can yield superior solutions for focused test, measurement and even control applications.

With regard to control, which is an underlying aspect of all automatic test or ATE systems, including facilities to easily enable such automation add substantial value as well. Also, modern discrete electronic device production has grown rapidly with the advent of cell phones, PDA's and other high-volume consumer electronic devices requiring even more sophisticated measurements be combined with process control and analysis capabilities. Once merely a wild notion, many production test systems are today based on commercial PC's and ATE systems fully integrated into manufacturing information systems including web stores on-line order tracking systems.

It's clear that today's e-Business world demands on-line access to high quality information to enable competitive success. The source of much of this information related to products being produced and sold via the Internet needs to com from increasingly integrated production systems. The modern products produced must be developed and tested throughout their life cycles with high quality, highly integrated IAQ systems.