With advanced hydroponic systems and the evolution of computer systems and programming, are growers are still relying on a very narrow field of environmental controllers?
Hydroponic systems have really developed over the last several periods of years. Hydroponic mediums like rockwool and coco coir have replaced sand and gravel; food grade polyethylene and polypropylene plastics have replaced PVC (polyvinyl chloride); and poor quality fertilizers have been replaced by pharmaceutical grade, easy-to-use nutrients and organic teas.
But, let’s consider all the recent technological advancement in our computers and phones. The desktop computer is now a second choice, behind laptops that offer more flexibility and the same capacity. Our mobile phones allow us to take our office anywhere. Tablets and pads are replacing spiral notebooks. The “cloud” allow us to access our information from any device, anywhere in the world where wifi is available.
So, I’m wondering why, with advanced hydroponic systems and the evolution of computer systems and programming, are growers are still relying on a very narrow field of environmental controllers? Many of these computers that regulate greenhouse temperature, humidity, and other conditions are still not digital, have limited capabilities and cost too much.
The primary reason for computer technology advancement is competition. Great companies like Apple and Google push each other to develop smaller instruments with more capabilities at even more affordable prices. This drive for success has prompted these companies to employ the brightest people from all over the world to predict and create the future. On the other hand, with a limited number of companies developing environmental control technology for commercial greenhouse controls, the competition for market share is not nearly as fierce. In the past, the market for environmental control was fairly limited, relying on a few greenhouse and grow room growers. But now, many more people are producing food at home and commercial crop production is moving into greenhouses and other forms of crop protection.
Imagine if Google, Apple, and Microsoft were all developing environmental controllers and applications for those controllers in competition for their market share. Imagine, instead of the controller telling the grower what the options of control were and only allowing you to set the parameters, the controller was more users friendly. You could tell it what to control, you could operate it from your mobile phone. You could use the same controller for your grow room as well as your commercial greenhouses, not only to control the environment, but everything from fertility to humidity and everything in between. Imagine if the cost of the equipment was a fraction of the cost it is today because the market competition drove the price down.
This is where the hydroponics industry needs to go. It’s true that crop production has evolved far beyond the simple seed-in-soil method of growing crops, and it’s true that there are increasingly sophisticated controls available for growers.
source http://pressreleaser.org/how-long-hydroponics-growers-can-control-their-entire-operation-remotely/1360068
