Discriminative Display Support for Process Operators

Abstract

The advent of computers has had a rather haphazard influence on information presentation in industrial control rooms. Some areas, as exemplified by the American nuclear field, have almost completely ignored their possibilities while others such as chemical installations, el-distribution networks, etc. have taken great strides in incorporating computers with visual display units such as CRT’s (with colour and/or graphics) to serve as the main vehicle for information presentation for the operators. However, it seems safe to state that the availability of this new technology has not brought with it any evident advances in the design philosophy employed so as to better enable the operator to cope with the vageries of the complex and potentially risky processes which technology also has made possible. Thus, current presentation techniques essentially preserve the one measurement — one indication approach from conventional installations and use the relatively modest area on the VDU to display information in ways which reflect both pre-computer practises as well as the influence of digital computer inspired alphanumeric presentations as the basis for the display repertoire which is utilized.