New white paper on multi-touch HMI available
March 24, 2014
By Manufacturing AUTOMATION
A white paper from InduSoft, an Invensys company, describes in depth the benefits multi-touch HMI offers the automation world.
With many companies implementing “bring your own device” (BYOD) policies to cut costs, multi-touch technology for accessing HMI data is quickly becoming very important to businesses and users alike. These BYOD policies allow workers to use their personal devices – such as smartphones and tablets – to interact with HMI systems. For these programs to succeed, users must be able to interact with data on their mobile handheld devices in the same way they do with other applications, the paper says.
Multi-touch technology in industrial settings offers reduced hardware and software costs, the ability to manipulate data quickly and easily, and widespread knowledge of how to use the technology. However, when multi-touch technology is used with HMI systems, it offers additional advantages, including more longevity in harsh environments compared to traditional screen interaction methods such as pointing devices, according to the white paper.
Users can troubleshoot potential problems by quickly zooming into a suspect area or piece of equipment, instead of scrolling through multiple screens or menus. Multi-touch technology can even improve worker and plant safety by requiring two hands on the screen to perform certain actions, the paper says.
Indusoft calls multi-touch interface an important evolution in HMI technology.
