A display device is an output device for presentation of information in visual or tactile form and when the input information that is supplied has an electrical signal the display is called an electronic display. In a measuring device, the value of the measured physical quantity is automatically represented by a number on a digital display or by a code, that is, a set of discrete signals. Digital display of measurements i.e., smart electronic display boards have almost replaced traditional ways of measurement and record presentation and keeping in everyday life applications from aeroplane dash boards to petrol pumps to vegetable vendors. Manipulation with measuring devices is an old practice but in the initial phase, people believed digital display as a most reliable tool of measurement indication but with growing unethical business practices in order to earn fast bucks, these systems are being continuously manipulated to fool the buyers. People from different walks of life are being cheated for their take/purchase with these so called would be authentic and reliable digital display boards.
In general, we all think that traditional weighing system was not correct and we have a lot of belief in the latest electronic/digital weighing machines. Electronic or digital weighing scales well accepted and respected as authentic measuring devices made fast in roads to the market but consumers are fleeced through manipulation of these electronic/digital balances. But our belief is going ruined by the commercial or by cheating of merchants. It is found that there are chances for adjusting in the weighing system as per the requirements. Manipulation of electronic balance through external calibration is one of the common methods adopted to fleece the consumers. A trader could hoodwink the consumers by simply placing the electronic balance on an uneven surface, as the equipment gives accurate measurement only if is placed on a flat surface. Consumers are constantly taken for a ride by market players ranging from provisional stores to vegetable and fish vendors to gold jewellers and petrol pumps in the district as more and more cases of cheating are being surfaced every day from all over the country. So, while a consumer may have paid for a certain quantity, he may be actually taking home much less. Many cases of short delivery (selling lower quantity than what the consumer pays for) of commodities are being reported from various platforms in the market. Union government also erred in accepting an electronic balance model that was susceptible to external calibration leaving 90 per cent of the electronic balances in use in the market vulnerable to manipulations. Further, manipulating an electronic weighing machine can be done by using a remote control.
Earlier, customers who were unwilling to pay for the used electricity and water they consumed generally temper with meter readers to reduce the volume recorded, thereby lowering their bills as falsified or tempered meter readings are difficult to be detected for any common customer. At present, electronic meter tempering is not limited now to electricity and water meters but this malpractice has spread to every sphere where electronics displays are being used like: in general grocery shops, public distribution system shops, petrol pumps, vegetable vendors and one day it may happen with ATMs, vending machines, and anywhere we use electronic metering. Manipulation of electronic displays at petrol pumps have been highlighted many times by smart customers. The owners of petrol pump are updating their electronic and sensing devices with the latest developments to make it possible to show more on digital display and give less petrol. Similarly, weighing digital scales can be tricked simply by the movement or placement of a power cord, which can take tens of pounds off of someone weighing in. Also, the placement of the scale itself on a certain surface can fluctuate weights, and make you cheat.
Digital measuring devices can be divided into digital measuring instruments and digital measuring transducers. Digital measuring instruments are self-contained devices that automatically present the value of the measured quantity on a digital display whereas, digital measuring transducers lack a digital display and the measurement results are converted into a digital code for subsequent transmission and processing in measuring systems. The most common types of digital measuring devices are those used to measure electrical quantities, such as current, voltage, and frequency. However, these devices are being commonly used to measure nonelectrical quantities-such as pressure (weight, volume), temperature, speed, and force by converting the nonelectrical quantity into an electrical signal. The operation of digital measuring devices is based on the digitization (that is, quantization with respect to level) and coding of the value of the measured physical quantity. The coded signal is fed either to a digital display or to a data transmission and processing system. In a digital display the coded measurement result is converted into a number expressed by numerals, usually in the decimal number system. Digital measuring instruments may use electric, cathode-ray, gas-discharge, or liquid-crystal displays. The design of digital measuring devices, their accuracy, and their area of application depend on the principle underlying the coding of the measured quantity. The three most commonly used basic principles of analog-to-digital conversion in digital measuring devices are direct conversion, counting, and successive approximation.
The manipulation of petrol pumps to dispense lesser fuel than what is paid for is making ripples all over the country and it is detected to the use the assembled chips installed inside the pumps or remote controls to manipulate meter readings. These devices can manipulate meters by stopping or slowing or making fast to show more or lesser manipulated readings. Some petrol pumps have rigged meters that start ticking even before petrol starts to flow from the hose. According to the people who are involved in the business of manipulating digital meters, it’s all about setting a chip into the dispenser. With a solid grip (on the system), one can control or reduce the quantity of the fuel. The chip can be a remote-controlled chip that can be hidden inside fuel machines and this tiny device replaces the original gadget to manipulate deliveries. It works by speeding up meter reading but giving the customers less than indicated. With the help of a remote control, the chip can be controlled or switched off in case of some inspection or problem of notice.
No doubt, digital or electronic display in measurements explains difficult concepts clearly and describes delicate procedures step-by-step. It is the most up-to-date mode available for designers, engineers, manufacturers and users of display systems who need to develop precise, reliable methods for evaluating electronic or digital displays. Sometimes, such type of deceit is executed in collusion with weight and measurement officials. The day the digital display machines are stamped (for installation), it’s then that the tampering happens. The person from the weights and measurement department will detune the dispenser in accordance with what to save with unethical means. The tampering of digital display meters is of course can be done smoothly by professionals called fitters. The latest modus operandi involve an electronically programmed chip retrofitted to the fuel-dispensing machine and the chip is controlled using a remote gadget. This type of manipulation with digital displays being used in different applications to cheat the customers has become a common practice, thus, it has become imperative to think that how to check tempering with digital measurement displays and that such tools are available to everyone and when required one can make use of such tools to verify and authenticate the supplied/purchased item. People from different disciplines like electronics, mechanical engineering (mechatronics), robotics, artificial intelligences and others should come forward to design cost effect, easy to operate, robust and handy devices which can check on the tempering of digital displays.
