ABSTRACT
Technological developments over the past several decades have dramatically
changed the ‘‘way of life’’ throughout the world. Developments and advances
in microprocessor technology have been a primary driver of these changes. It
was not too long ago that major sources of information and recent news were
encyclopedias, newscasts, and newspapers. In recent times, just about any-
thing you want to know can be found on the Internet within a few minutes.
Not more than a decade ago, personal communications required hard wire
connections or cumbersome and unreliable radio signals. Currently, a large
portion of the population of the world can communicate reliably using small
wireless devices that can easily fit into a shirt pocket. All sorts of gadgets
have emerged to keep people entertained. Computational power has grown at
an exponential rate with similar reductions in cost. When electronic calcula-
tors were first marketed in the 1960s, the cost was upward of $400-a much
more powerful and smaller calculator today can be purchased for about $20.
Computers, which are at present considered as throw-away units, have power
that required a room full of equipment during the earlier years when com-
puters were first developed. Power system protection has not been left out of
this revolution. In recent years, microprocessor-based protection devices,
programable controllers, and digital communication systems have dominated
the market and have become the norm for a large majority of new applica-
tions. Such developments have changed the landscape of substation control
rooms. Massive amounts of wiring have disappeared, control boards have
been greatly reduced in size, and CRTs are used to operate the substation and
display substation configuration, alarms, and events. Change, however, does
not come without the creation of a new set of problems and concerns.
Engineers need to become familiar with the new technology that always
seems to be in a state of change along with completely new types of products.
