The evolution of HMI interfaces and impact on manufacturing companies

Human-Machine Interactions (HMI) play a vital role in production processes. Real-time information allows operators to control machines effectively and safely in manufacturing plants. The evolution of HMI interfaces is ongoing. Over the past 30 years HMI panels have become an integral part of production halls and beyond. They are indispensable for control and communication and their evolution goes hand in hand with technological advancement.

The breakthrough came in 1984 when Apple Macintosh entered the market, revolutionizing the interaction between man and machine. In the 90s. digitization evolved thanks to a new interface introduced in the Microsoft Windows operating system. With the advent of the Internet, computers started to serve not only execution functions but also interaction and communication. This led to the development of a trend called Social Computing. Touchpads began to be used not only in personal computers but also in public spaces such as ATMs, ticket kiosks or beverage vending machines. Under the influence of a trend towards intuitive interaction with machines, the interface has transformed into touchscreen technology and the effects of this process are getting better and better. Each subsequent attempt to improve the HMI interface makes the use of such devices smoother and more efficient. All this translates into a significant improvement in workflow. Giving commands, data transfer and machine operation are becoming simpler and more intuitive.

The benefits of improvements such as increased efficiency, waste reduction or minimization of errors at various stages of the production process make development in many industries more profitable. With every evolution of interfaces the use of software and the latest technologies is valuable as it leads to modernization and economic growth. The future of HMI interface development is exciting and could be even more dynamic than today. Machines have become a common part of our lives and play an increasingly important role in industry and beyond, so interface development will continue with technological advancement. Regardless of future development directions HMI interfaces will be essential in the production process no matter what form they take. It is important to stay up-to-date with upcoming industrial technologies. The emergence of multi-touch technology has significantly changed the role and scope of HMI interfaces. Who knows what awaits us in the future?

Modern SIMATIC HMI INDUSTRIAL panels

Industrial SIMATIC HMI INDUSTRIAL panels are extremely durable monitors for the industry that allow 3D data visualization. Thanks to SIMATIC Industrial Flat and SIMATIC Industrial Thin flat panels, it is possible to implement remote operating stations and displays for advanced visualization tasks under challenging working conditions. The panels can be quickly and easily connected (plug-and-play design), so they are almost immediately ready to operate. SIMATIC Industrial Flat panels have access to IPC BIOS, so you can modify settings even before starting the system and activating communication drivers.

SIMATIC HMI INDUSTRIAL THIN CLIENTS. Modern and economical solution

SIMATIC HMI Industrial Thin Clients panels are modern operator panels with a high-resolution panoramic touch display: 15", 19" and 22". They are perfect for implementing distributed solutions based on client-server architecture. Thanks to Ethernet communication it is possible to operate panels at an unlimited distance. SIMATIC HMI Industrial Thin Clients panels have an integrated web browser and support various protocols, providing flexibility and fast communication with other systems.

Models of SIMATIC HMI INDUSTRIAL THIN CLIENTS panels

• 6AV6646-1BB18-0AA0 - SIMATIC ITC1900 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 19" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., standard design, supporting foot mounting.

• 6AV6646-1BB18-0NA0 - SIMATIC ITC1900 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 19" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., neutral design, supporting foot mounting.

• 6AV6646-1BB22-1AA0 - SIMATIC ITC2200 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 22" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., standard design, supporting foot mounting.

• 6AV6646-1BB22-1NA0 - SIMATIC ITC2200 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 22" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., neutral design, supporting foot mounting.

• 6AV6646-1BC15-0AA0 - SIMATIC ITC1500 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 15" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., standard design, prepared for support arm without expansion elements.

• 6AV6646-1BC15-0NA0 - SIMATIC ITC1500 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 15" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., neutral design, prepared for support arm without expansion elements.

• 6AV6646-1BC18-0AA0 - SIMATIC ITC1900 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 19" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., standard design, prepared for support arm without expansion elements.

• 6AV6646-1BC18-0NA0 - SIMATIC ITC1900 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 19" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., neutral design, prepared for support arm without expansion elements.

• 6AV6646-1BC22-1AA0 - SIMATIC ITC2200 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 22" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., standard design, prepared for support arm without expansion elements.

• 6AV6646-1BC22-1NA0 - SIMATIC ITC2200 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 22" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., neutral design, prepared for support arm without expansion elements.

• 6AV6646-1BD15-0AA0 - SIMATIC ITC1500 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 15" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., standard design, prepared for support arm with add-on elements.

• 6AV6646-1BD15-0NA0 - SIMATIC ITC1500 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 15" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., neutral design, prepared for support arm with add-on elements.

• 6AV6646-1BD18-0AA0 - SIMATIC ITC1900 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 19" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., standard design, prepared for support arm with add-on elements.

• 6AV6646-1BD18-0NA0 - SIMATIC ITC1900 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 19" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5 etc., neutral design, prepared for support arm with add-on elements.

• 6AV6646-1BD22-1AA0 - SIMATIC ITC2200 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 22" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., standard design, prepared for support arm with add-on elements.

• 6AV6646-1BD22-1NA0 - SIMATIC ITC2200 V3 PRO, Industrial Thin Client, 22" widescreen TFT display, capacitive touch sensor, supported protocols: RDP, VNC, SMARTSERVER, HTML5, etc., neutral design, prepared for support arm with add-on elements.

• 6AV6646-7BA00-0AA0 - SIMATIC HMI, IWP1500MT, Industrial Web Panel, multi-touch, HTML5 browser, 15" widescreen TFT display, built-in unit.

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