HMI (Human Machine Interface)

System operators and plant floor personnel require some way of monitoring the processes they are overseeing and/or a way to control their operation. Pilot devices, such as switches, pushbuttons, indicators, etc., provide a basic means of system monitoring and control. For more detailed informational displays, easier changes, or to monitor/control numerous operations from one device, an operator interface (OI) or human machine interface (HMI) can be used.

HMIs allow operators to "interface" with automated systems, providing a visual overview of the system's status and direct control of its operation. An HMI's graphical screens can be programmed to display important status and control information to the operator. Pictures, icons, sounds, and colors can all be used by HMIs to visually represent different operating conditions, and many HMIs deploy touch screen technology for user interaction with elements displayed onscreen.

LED message displays provide a more simplified way of communicating vital information. They can convey important data/messages using different color options and transitions. Electronic message boards are ideal for basic displays of process status such as tank level, pressure level, oven temperature, pump or motor status (ON/ OFF), equipment failures, conveyor line error conditions, production output levels, and more.

For many PC-based systems, an HMI can be driven directly from the PC (no separate operating system), and industrial monitors are a cost-effective choice for such applications.

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