The evolution of the Human Machine Interface, HMI, had a rapid acceleration in recent years thanks to the development and spread of mobile devices, mainly smartphones. Touch-screen technology is surely the most widespread HMI application, but since 2018 there have been developed new important technologies like conversational interface and AR and VR technologies.
The rapid development of HMIs has influenced interface design in the consumer and industrial areas. To guarantee a smooth and efficient relationship between humans and machines, it is fundamental to use high-quality hardware, like boards and processors, that can support the optimal functionality of the device. The clients, whether they are smartphone users or workers on an industrial machine, want a service or a product that is fast, intuitive, and easy, if not natural, to use.
HMI in today’s industry
In today’s industry, HMIs are mainly touch-screen and can be used in different situations: from a simple screen used by a worker to command machinery to a more complex system on the entire production line. Thanks to their reliability in data processing and collection, HMIs have become crucial in the decision-making process of a company. The industrial areas that have integrated innovative Human Machine Interfaces are the automotive, pharma, transport, and energy sector.
HMIs have an important role in the industrial automation process, as well. In the pharma industry, as an example, there can be an entire production line with the operator remotely controlling the production. In this case, it is possible to avoid contamination of the products or biological risks for the workers. Thanks to an HMI, the machinery can be commanded and controlled remotely without the physical presence of a human operator. Like other technology, HMI focus needs to be usability, flexibility, speed, and security. A Human Machine Interface must be easy to use, adaptable if needed, fast, and secure to use.
Human Machine Interface: from touch-screen to “Mind and Body”
The HMI technological evolution won’t stop with touch screens. From the “Hands & Touch” era, when the command was given by pushing a button or as recently with a simple touch, we will move to the “Mind & Body” era, where our body is the interface and our mind will guide the actions. This shift will bring the need for more immersive and smart interfaces.
Among the advantages of an immersive interface, there is the opportunity to offer an experience that can be engaging, customized, emotional, and interactive where the user can be an active ‘player’. Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering – Google, stated that in the future of Human Machine Interface we will have a virtual backup of our mind, with our memories and thoughts recorded and stored in a cloud. Other futuristic scenarios imagine a sharing of thoughts and information between humans and from human to machine.
MAS Elettronica products for HMI:
Discover MAS Elettronica products to design efficient HMIs: