Simple visuals that are easy to view and understand. That’s what a high performance Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is. But for a more technical definition: A high performance HMI is an advanced but user-friendly graphical representation (interface) of an industrial process.
This way operators can more quickly and easily understand operational statuses and thereby more efficiently monitor and control these complex processes. Also, high performance design principles focus on displays that convey relevant information, so they have navigation and displays structured to provide a system overview with a hierarchy that allows drilling into further levels of granularity.
And high performance HMIs have simpler designed graphic displays with standards-driven recommendations for navigation and presentation and monochromatic color schemes that provide clear and actionable information. Operators therefore do not waste time or make mistakes interpreting operational displays. What results is much more efficient operations. If you look at some of the key characteristics of high performance HMI design principles, you’ll understand why.
Some Key Takeaways of High Performance HMIs
Some of the key characteristics of high performance HMIs include the following:
- Intuitive design: Simple and easy to use and understand interfaces are designed resulting in better operational monitoring and control.
- Contextual information: Operational information is presented logically and contextually, so operators can more quickly and thoroughly understand the status.
- Trend visualization: Real-time data and historical trends are displayed for enhanced operational analysis and decision-making.
- Alarm management: Alarm indicators are simple, clear, and prioritized, so operators can promptly respond to the most critical alarms for improved alarm management.
- Customization: Displays can be customized to suit specific processes and user preferences for heightened operational visibility.
You now know a bit more about high performance HMIs, but to understand why this is the HMI of today, we’ll look briefly at its history and the International Society of Automation (ISA) standardization.
A Bit of HMI History
HMI systems are integral to industrial automation as these systems are fundamental in understanding what’s going on with processes. Obviously, knowing the status of your operations helps you to improve overall operational efficiency and reduce downtime. And with the continued progress in computing technology, HMI systems have evolved from basic indicator lights and control panels to more advanced/sophisticated systems.
For example, distributed control systems (DCS) are commonly associated with continuous process and batch manufacturing operations. Historically, the scope of a DCS was provided by a single supplier and included field devices, I/O modules, controllers, operator interfaces, and operations management. Displays for DCS operator interfaces were often based on engineering schematics such as piping and instrumentation (P&I) diagrams.
These displays provide accurate systems representations but still require involved operator training to effectively run a system and experience to identify and triage critical issues. This evolution has continued, especially given the increased complexity of industrial processes and the increased need for improved operator interfaces. But the advancement in HMIs has not always been that helpful to the operators. Let me explain.
HMI Design Needed to Change from Crazy Busy Displays to Clear Simple Understandable Displays
Probably based on the concept that “more is better”, the advanced HMI systems evolved to have designed displays with all the bells and whistles--excessive objects, color, and information that were messy and confusing. Instead of helping operators do their jobs effectively, this so-called Christmas tree effect hindered and often overwhelmed them with multiple confusing alarms that had no prioritization.
It became clear that HMI design needed to change from the crazy busy displays to displays that presented relevant, actionable information simply and clearly. What was needed were HMIs that could enhance interaction between operators and complex systems by providing intuitive, contextualized information more efficiently. It also became clear that HMI design standards/guidelines were needed. This is where the International Society of Automation (ISA) stepped in.
The ISA-101 HMI Design Standard
As mentioned above, many HMIs were poorly thought out, ending up with unnecessary graphics and colors that distracted operators. Rather than giving operators situational process awareness, these designs got in the way of the intended purpose, which was to give them the information they needed to stay on top of operations.
To get a handle on HMI design, the International Society of Automation started work on a standard in 2003, and in 2015, they published the ISA-101 HMI Design “Human Machine Interfaces for Process Automation Systems”. (You can download a copy here.)
High Performance HMIs Provide Substantial Customer Value
High performance HMIs are not just technology for technology’s sake. This HMI system is the outcome of a fundamental commitment to progress, efficiency, and continuous improvement. It was developed to better equip and aid operators for their jobs and in turn adds tremendous value to the customer. So, what kind of value are we talking about?
High performance HMIs offer crucial advantages over traditional HMI systems, some of which include:
- Customization: High performance HMIs are customizable, allowing operators to configure displays relevant to their tasks and preferences. This flexibility enhances user experience and adaptability.
- Enhanced situation awareness: High performance HMIs provide relevant contextual information allowing operators to quickly recognize and understand the status of the operations. This level of operational visibility improves response time to critical situations and improves decision-making.
- Reduced information overload: High performance HMIs present information concisely and clearly to reduce information overload. By minimizing the interface to only show the most relevant operational details, operators can efficiently focus on critical information and tasks.
- Historical data and trend analysis: High performance HMIs display real-time data and historical trends that allow operators to analyze operational patterns allowing them to identify potential issues before escalation. This capability promotes proactive rather than reactive decision-making in addition to improved maintenance planning.
- Effective alarm management: High performance HMIs have the capability to prioritize alarms based on set conditions, so operators can respond to these based on severity. This capability also prevents alarm overload to ensure that attention is directed to the most critical events. Operators can therefore quickly identify and respond to critical issues.
- Reduced downtime: High performance HMI technology provides top level situational awareness and alarm management to operators, giving them the ability to quickly respond to issues to reduce downtime. This capability not only reduces the number of operational malfunctions and failures but also saves a substantial amount of money.
- Improved operator efficiency: High performance HMIs provide the necessary tools for operators to effectively monitor and control operations, so they can make informed decisions for process optimization. The result is increased operator efficiency. High performance HMIs offer significant advantages over traditional HMI systems as shown above.
But there’s more. These systems also offer:
- Increased integration with advanced technologies such as touchscreens, connectivity, and mobile solutions for a more modern and connected operational environment.
- Intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that are easy to learn and navigate, consequently easing the training and onboarding of new operators.
- Increased overall operational excellence, a goal shared by all industrial and infrastructure organizations.
The Arguments for ICONICS GENESIS64 as the Foundation for Your High Performance HMI
So far, I’ve defined high performance HMI and given its history, and the customer value. You should now understand the argument for these design philosophies. Next, I’ll present solid arguments for choosing one extremely powerful high performance HMI: ICONICS GENESIS64. Let’s get started.
High Range of Connectivity
Besides being able to meet client requirements around performance-based HMI configuration, GENESIS64 provides an extensive range of connectivity to a variety of different devices and data sources. GENESIS64 has native platform capabilities to connect to devices using standard protocols such as OPC UA, BACnet, SNMP, and Modbus.
Additionally, GENESIS64 has native platform features enabling integration with web services and databases. Integration options are further expanded through a strategic relationship with Takebishi, whose DeviceXPlorer OPC server enables connectivity to devices ranging from sensors, industrial controllers, robots, barcode scanners, machine tools, and various types of meters for over one hundred vendors.
Asset Modeling Capability
GENESIS64 can abstract a heterogeneous install base of devices and data sources through an asset modeling capability. Asset models created in GENESIS64 projects enable consistent taxonomy and provide organization and metadata that can be used in smart symbol objects and displays and that standardize alarming and historization.
Seamless UX Development to Web Delivery
GENESIS64 utilizes connectivity and modeling in GraphWorX64, the graphical development environment where displays are built and data is visualized in a variety of different formats, including HTML5. GraphWorX64 can be used to build and deliver high performance HMI experiences on desktop with a seamless user experience to deliver the same information to any web browser.
For process industries and scenarios requiring one-line type schematics, GraphWorX64 can import a variety of CAD files, and it offers a native piping tool that accelerates development of displays tailored to customer preferences. GraphWorX64 also enables displays that are accessible on an operator workstation, in a control room, or on a mobile device allowing you to visualize your operations displays on large screen monitors/TVs or on smaller screens on personal devices.
Flexible & Scalable Architecture
If your organization needs a high performance HMI and will therefore select and invest in one, then the selected product and supplier should offer deployment scalability and flexibility. And ICONICS GENESIS64 does. What’s more, GENESIS64 can be implemented architecturally in small systems on single computers with a limited number of devices and tags, ideal for customers who wish to start small and grow the application over time.
Additionally, platform components can be distributed across multiple virtual machines and hosted in the cloud to enable scale for a large number of clients, alarms, and historical data points. The platform can also be deployed in a number of different architectural configurations to support high availability, redundancy, and client load balancing.
ICONICS Does High Performance HMIs Extremely Well
The main design objective of high performance HMIs is to help operations teams do their jobs with more accuracy, efficiency, and ease. If we look again at some of the key characteristics of these HMIs - intuitive design, contextual information, trend visualization, alarm management, and customization - you can see how high performance HMIs can be instrumental to running your industrial operations at the highest level. There is eloquence and beauty in simplicity, and this is true for high performance HMIs. And the same is true for ICONICS GENESIS64.
GENESIS64 can be deployed to the letter of the ISA standards as necessary, but it can also be tailored to customer preference, and it has a high range of connectivity, asset modeling capability, seamless UX to web delivery, in addition to being highly flexible and scalable.
ICONICS - a Proven Track Record with 35+ Years in the HMI Business
But equally important, ICONICS has been in the HMI business for more than 35 years and therefore has a proven track record. We have the expertise, experience, and technical support to get your facility and your team operating at optimal level. Ultimately, we do standard high performance HMIs extremely well. It’s what we do.
What’s Next?
Download our whitepaper for more details: High Performance HMIs Key to Next Level User Experience & Operational Efficiency.
Or
Contact one of our experts to learn more about how you can achieve that next level user experience and operational efficiency with ICONICS software suite and GENESIS64.