Not so long ago, industrial Man-Machine Interface (MMI) meant little more than LEDs, a few switches, a numerical keypad and maybe the odd buzzer.

These days, people have grown accustomed to the rich graphical and multimedia environment offered by PCs. This is now becoming more commonplace within new markets, such as industrial machinery, due to the cost reductions that seem to be inherent in the electronics business.

Typically, a latest specification MMI mimics or even exceeds the interface offered on a PC. So for instance, graphics displays are replacing character modules – often offering full color and high

resolution screens. In addition, touchscreen interfaces are becoming more and more common and are replacing the older style membrane keypads. Finally of course, the advent of low cost DSP technology means that audio interfaces for industrial equipment have moved on from bleeps and buzzes to synthesized instructions and warnings. So, while most industrial equipment doesn’t offer the iPhone standard of human interfaces, they are starting to get remarkably close in many cases.

This edition of FTM will look at the full spectrum of solutions for MMI designs; from new technology, enabling the latest generation of devices, to improved components for more effective implementation of existing interfaces.