What is an HMI? from AutomationDirect

What Is. From AutomationDirect. HMIs. Smartphones and tablets have become our visual search companions, thanks to their magical displays. That’s because human beings are visual creatures. It’s believed that our brains can process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. Ninety percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual and over half of the brain is devoted directly or indirectly to vision, so why should we not control machines like we control our phones and handheld devices? Today, let’s learn about HMIs. An HMI, or Human Machine Interface, allows operators to interface with the systems they oversee. It provides a visual overview of the automated system’s performance and control information and allows for direct control of the connected system. HMIs use pictures, icons, sounds, and colors to represent operating conditions, device status, or a graphical representation of system data. Operators can interact with the HMIs using keyboards, mice, or even touch displays! HMIs give users a simple, user-friendly way to adjust their machines quickly. For example, if you’re controlling the temperature of an industrial oven, you can install a potentiometer and manually adjust it until you think it’s close. You could edit the program online through your PLC software or just enter a value on your HMI and move on. With an HMI, the controls are all in its programming. You can also save money and your enclosure doors by substituting one HMI for many pushbuttons! With HMIs You can even track how the machine is running right on the screen using Line and Bar graphs with real-time data. You can enter data with a pop-up numeric keypad or arrows. The design is up to you! Alarms can be set to show what needs fixing without guesswork. You can even change the operating parameters with the simple press of a button! HMIs can be a real-life saver for your bottom line. At AutomationDirect, we have all your HMI needs covered with our brand-new line of CM5 touch panels and accessories. If you want to learn more about HMIs and what they can do for you, we have Ebooks, white papers, and a wide array of articles available right now! If you have any further questions, contact our free technical support. Check out our HMIs today and learn more at AutomationDirect.com! Click here to learn more about our HMIs. Click here for more videos.