IEN: How can/will this sector meet industry''s higher benchmarks for automation and flexibility?
Brandt: Web-based and wireless technologies can help industries meet higher benchmarking standards by enabling them to have mobility with control. Users can take their HMI applications with them as they perform their normal job routines and stay in contact with the running production equipment. They are instantly aware of alarms and conditions in the production process and can make decisions based upon these conditions that can help them to decrease downtime and improve plant efficiency. Wonderware''s Industrial Tablet is a device that users can carry with them and view real-time process information with control while they walk through a plant, visit remote sites, and monitor process equipment. Wonderware''s world leading HMI software, InTouch, also has features built into it to enable users to create a screen capture of the real-time process, mark it up, write on it, highlight items, and print, save, or email the marked-up screenshot to colleagues for further analysis. This static capture of real-time information can really assist in troubleshooting and production maintenance.
IEN: Will HMI/MMI shift from client-server to device-based architectures?
Brandt: Already there has been a huge shift into adding web servers to many devices throughout a plant. These web servers in devices are able to interact with the HMI/MMI systems to provide information and control not only to the operator, but also to plant intelligence portals, such as Wonderware''s SuiteVoyager Portal. HMIs deployed in a client-server architecture benefit the company through the reduction in software administration and maintenance, reduction in engineering costs, and the ability to visualize the information from multiple devices wherever the user goes, and from standalone workstations to PDA and tablet PCs.
Device-based architectures would require too much time for an operator to monitor separately. An HMI enables an operator to view all the information in one place, which is very helpful for improving plant efficiency and productivity, troubleshooting, and daily production.
IEN: Where does Thin Client fit in?
Brandt: Thin Client devices are great for expanding the visualization of an application to many different users at a low cost. Instead of having expensive equipment that can break in industrial situations, or replacing existing, out-of-date hardware running older operating systems, thin clients can extend the latest software applications and operating systems to these devices less expensively. They also reduce the amount of time spent on software administration and maintenance, as the main application is run on the server and deployed to the thin clients.
IEN: What innovations are in store for users of equipment, systems, and peripherals? What enhancements can be expected in software?
Brandt: Better portable hardware and more useful tablets, for example. Better user input recognition, such as handwriting and voice, will encourage this. Better audio and visual components. Software that enables users to share this information and seamlessly connect with all plant devices.
IEN: What''s the status of plant floor connectivity? Open standards? Data sharing?
Brandt: OPC is paramount to this, and all major players understand this. It creates better openness for the end user, hence its attraction. It enables data sharing between devices no matter who the manufacturer is.
IEN: How important is embedded intelligence to HMI/MMI today? Collaborative manufacturing? Collaborative Production Management?
Brandt: Embedded systems are becoming more intelligent and capable and as they do, their importance is slowly becoming more prevalent.
IEN: Where are other R & D hot spots?
Brandt: Mobile technologies, not just wireless.
IEN: Will HMI/MMI go wireless?
Brandt: Yes, but not everywhere. Factories often have electrical environments inherently inconducive to wireless architectures.
IEN: What''s the place of the Internet/intranet in HMI/MMI?
Brandt: The same place as it is today, as a tool to help companies and personnel to visualize the real-time and historical information without requiring them to be physically present in front of the equipment and machinery. To enable worldwide sharing of information for better decision making, to facilitate better communication regardless of location, language, and time zone.
IEN: How can security issues be addressed?
Brandt: Good question. Security is paramount, but there are standards in place today that are acceptable to many organizations. Typically users use a combination of security technologies, including encryption and VPNs. Newer standards are evolving which will increase the takeup of this technology.