Modern business conditions require moving away from centralized data processing, which is associated with the concentration of all computing power in a computer center, to processing information in the place of its direct appearance and use. This fact allows you to remove the intermediate links when a person is in contact with a computer. As a result, a single cycle of procedures can be carried out by one employee in his place, from the input of information to the receipt of output data.
An automated workplace is an element of a control system equipped with the means by which human participation in the implementation of automation functions is ensured.
In other words, it is a problem-oriented complex of software, technical and linguistic tools. It is installed directly at the user’s workplace and is intended to automate the processing of operations during the design and solution of necessary tasks.
The workstation has certain signs. Among them are the following:
- a combination of software, information and hardware is available to the user;
- computer technology is located directly at the user workstation;
- there is the possibility of continuous improvement of the processes of automated data processing in a certain field of activity;
- data processing is carried out by the user;
- the presence of a dialogue mode of user-computer interaction both in the process of designing management tasks and their solutions.
An automated workplace can be assigned to a certain class depending on such features:
- in the field of use (in scientific activity, design, production and technological processes and organizational management;
- by type of computer equipment used;
- depending on the operating mode (network, group or individual);
- on qualification training of users (professionalism or lack of professionalism).
A more detailed classification within each group is possible.
For example, the workplace of organizational management is divided into levels. This is the level of the head of the enterprise, employees of the logistics departments, planned workers and accountants. Conventionally, such an organization of work is called the “automated workplace of an economist." The conceptual difference of this concept from the previous indicated types is the setting in the physical, functional and ergonomic terms for a specific user or group of users.
A business automated workplace helps bring an employee closer to the capabilities of modern technology and creates favorable working conditions without intermediaries - professional programmers. Moreover, there is the possibility of working both offline and in interaction with other users within the organizational structure of the enterprise.
Three main classes of workstations are distinguished: a manager, a specialist, and technical personnel. Depending on the use of a particular class, various tools are used to create such jobs.