Sometimes, two different views provide a clearer and truer picture of the task at hand than a single point of view ever could. To illustrate this point, consider the military’s latest night-vision technology.
Previous generations of this infrared technology — designed to give soldiers the ability to see, move and engage the enemy in total darkness — covered both of the user’s eyes. But the newest generation of night-vision technology covers only one eye, according to a report in The New York Times.
The new system is lighter than previous models, but it also has given soldiers some unexpected benefits.
For example, soldiers in combat often move quickly between bright and dark areas and need a keen eye at both light levels — an advantage the new system allows. Also, troops say their hearing becomes sharper as their vision adapts to darkness, so they like to keep one eye in the dark.
The idea that people can actually get a clear picture of their particular situations by mixing a high-tech point of view with a more traditional one might be comforting to those in institutional and commercial facilities who specify a wide range of products, equipment and services. Very often, organizations focus on the benefits that new and updated technology can bring to their facilities.
But maintenance and engineering managers who focus on high-tech applications at the expense of the nuts and bolts of facilities — pun intended — might miss out on benefits that facilities can realize from paying attention to changes and advances in these more traditional maintenance products.
Successful product specifiers most likely will be those who can keep one eye on high-tech systems and the other on tried-and-true products and equipment — and then blend the benefits of each to maximize the organization’s investment.
The product information in this month’s buyer’s guide resource ranges from software and power monitoring equipment to roofing systems, power tools, and plumbing equipment and is a good place to start.
