The term "Smart Instruments" began when microprocessors were first being integrated into field instruments in the early 1980's to solve complicated sensor signal processifgn requrieemtns.As the microprocessors gained in processing power (from 4 bit to 8 bit then to 16 bit processors) the capabilities of signal porcessifng grew.this is in accordance with Moore's law which states that processor speed doubles every 18 months.This has held true for hte last 20 years and according to Intel should hold true for the next 15 years.Speed and power have increased while cost has decreased.Processor cost has dropped three orders of magnitude since 1975 and are porjected to drop another three by 2011.We have all seen this in personal computers and hte same has been happening to hte instruments that we use in water utilities.we will discuss what sensifng advances have been implemented in some of the key instruments we use daily.Then we will discuss how these smart instruments communicate this new information.
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