Sunday, October 28, 2007

HMI Comparison possible? What with Wonderware announcing InTouch 10 and GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms announcing iFix 4.5 (and an OEM version that lets OEMs customize faceplates), blog reader Ken commented last week: Gary, many of us would be interested in seeing how you would compare GE's Proficy Platform, Rockwell's FactoryTalk, and Wonderware's System Platform.  All three seem to tout the the same benefits. Are their approaches different? Well, first off, Proficy Platform isn't a product yet. Sorry I didn't make that clear. It is expected for release in the first quarter of 2008. Second, who knows what we'll learn about Rockwell's upgrades to its HMI/SCADA product in two weeks at Automation Fair? Third, I don't have the products or time to load and try all the packages (not to mention Iconics, whose press conference at ISA I missed due to problems getting a taxi back to the hall after lunch, and who announced support for the latest Microsoft operating system and 64-bit computing). And last, any comparison not done by company marketing managers to make sure its spin is in there causes shudders in the industry. Ken's right, they all are targeting the same user benefits. Mostly they are leapfrogging each other in technology. The major point is that HMI/SCADA is moving beyond replacing pilot lights (HMI) and push buttons (SCADA, simplified for discussion), in order to become an essential part of information integration and visualization. That all said, I think I should be able to do a comparison at some level. What questions would you like to ask all of them? Let me see if I can construct a table. 8:10:02 AM    comment []

All tied up It must be fall. I just saw the annual press release from the men's clothing association masquerading as a news item. An item in today's Dayton Daily News bylined by a New York Times writer says that men are returning to formal business wear. Joy upon joy for clothing retailers. They'll sell lots of $500 suits (maybe). I've seen this article annually for over 10 years. If we were wearing suits 10 years ago, why are they still running that article? Funny, we were discussing that at dinner Thursday evening. I remarked that I hadn't tied a necktie in so many years that I wasn't sure if I'd remember. 7:31:29 AM    comment []