HMI software

Human Machine Interface (HMI) overview

Human Machine Interface (HMI) software provides the user to interact with the machine or an application program. Generally speaking human machine interface can be anything that allows the user to interact with a particular device, machine, systems, or software. But particularly the term HMI is referred to as an embedded software for Industrial PCs and applications. So a computer containing human machine interface (HMI) software is known as HMI. HMI software offers a graphical user interface (GUI). This GUI allows the operators to control the machines or devices.

Human Machine Interface (HMI) Packages

HMI software is available in two packages. One is for SCADA systems and the other is for production facility. HMI for package for SCADA offers system control and data acquisition function. It facilitates in data collection and transmission to the central processing computer. HMI package for production facility runs on embedded systems or devices used in the production. Both the packages can be installed into same HMI software application. But this can be expensive as both the packages offer separate cost.

HMI specifications

HMI software is specified by the supporting platforms, hardware system architecture and devices, administration and implementation feasibility, performance and integration, and total cost.

HMI platforms

The most common operating system for HMI software is Microsoft Windows CE. Windows CE allows HMI software to run on distributed HMI servers, Portable devices such as handheld PCs, and diskless open-HMI machines.

HMI hardware platforms

DeviceNet and ControlNet are two common communication infrastructures for HMI software. DeviceNet is the communication structure for industrial devices. These may include switches, converters, PLCs (programmable logic controller), industrial computers, or displays. ControlNet offers the high speed real-time transmission of Input-Output and messaging information.

HMI Features

HMI features may vary among various products. These include ActiveX technology, operation planning and control (OPC), alarms, data logging and data migration, and security. Integration requires an analysis of how easy HMI software allows adding more devices in the existing system. Implementation and administration also affect the performance. Simpler the implementation easier is the administration of HMI software.

HMI software types

As mentioned above HMI is broad term. HMI described above refers to the industrial computing and data acquisition. Most HMI software (of not all) contain graphical user interface. But there is a great deal of variety for human machine interface software. These include web-based, command line, text based, tactile, attentive, etc. Web based interface allows interaction through web. Command line interfaces allow interaction through various strings of commands. Tactile interfaces allow interaction through simulators, text based interfaces display output in text form and interpreted by the operator. These interfaces may include with the software depending upon the HMI software packages.