Human Machine Interface – Understanding What It Means

If you are a not a computer geek or aren’t all that well versed with modern data processing technology and its jargons, the term human machine interface might seem a little other worldly. But the surprise here is that this technology is such a big part of everyday life that almost every person uses it in some or the other way at least once a day. In fact, if you own a smart phone, you will be carrying the technology around with you wherever you may go!

Intrigued? Allow me to explain.

Human Machine Interface or HMI is the means with which you interact with or basically use any computing technology. In simple words it is the graphical display that represents a machine or an application that allows a user to control and perform computing activities or information extraction and processing on a device. Pretty much, it is everything you can see on your mobile and computer screen.

But the use of HMIs has long before crossed the realms of everyday computing. This technology today finds application in heavy duty industrial processes with a simple touch on the screen. Here, the interface sends the signal to start or stop an action when the operator pushes the graphical button on a touch panel. When the industrial process being controlled is large and complex, you will be using SCADA database and system controls to manage the entire operation.

One of the most important aspects of HMIs is that they are solely dependent on the intelligence and decision making of the controller managing the industrial process. This is usually a PLC although you can find integrated HMI/PLC options in the market as well. As explained above, the signal to start or stop the application is generated when the operator presses the relevant graphic button on the HMI. This signal is sent by the HMI to the PLC which in turn acts in accordance with the intelligence programmed into it, instructing the machine to produce the desired action. There are various sensors placed on the machine which then send signals to the HMI about the status of command execution.

The design and layout of the human machine interface makes a lot of difference in the overall usage experience you can derive from it. The screens are laid out to be intuitive and easy to understand and control, providing all the relevant information to the operator as and when required. You can generally expect an industrial grade HMI to have a Main screen, Overview Screen for every main section, Current Alarms screen and an Alarms History screen at the very least. The navigation and usage flow has to be logical and easy to understand for the operator and should also have one-touch-navigation options to main screens and connected processes.

Creating a well designed human machine interface requires both engineering and psychology knowledge. If you wish to know more about this technology, be sure to check out the https://www.comfiletech.com/ to get answers to all your questions.

About The Author

Timothy Parker is a computing technology expert who believes touch screen monitors and HMI to be the epitome of convenience and versatility. He recommends ComfileTech.com as the name to bank upon for all your touch panel PC requirements.