Human Machine Interface Trends to Watch

Oct 9, 2015

hmi-02Human machine interfaces (HMI) are becoming more and more common in today’s world. In fact, a recent report published by RNRResearch found HMI to grow at a rate of 7% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the next four years. That’s a pretty substantial growth, attesting to the widespread demand and use of HMI. But like most markets, HMIs fluctuate based on new and upcoming trends, which is something that we’re going to discuss further in today’s blog post.

Gesture Controls

We’ve already seen this technology being used in tablets, smartphones and similar mobile devices, but now it’s being used in HMIs as well. Gesture controls offer a whole new world of possibilities for HMI users, allowing them to issue commands simply by making gestures in front of the sensor. Swiping the user’s hand from left to right, for instance, may open a new window, or swiping up to down may close a window. Rather than physically touching the touchscreen display, users can operate the HMI via gesture.

Multi-Touch

Another trend that’s becoming more and more common among HMIs is multi-touch. As the name suggests, this technology supports multiple-touch commands via the interface. While most standard HMI systems only support single touch, some of the newer models now support multi-touch. The ability to perform commands with multiple touch can streamline operations, allowing users to perform more tasks in less time. Subsequently, this can boost a company’s overall productivity.

Voice Commands

In addition to gesture commands and multi-touch, voice commands are also being used in HMI. Here’s a scenario to consider: what if a worker has his or her hands full but needs to issue a command in an HMI system? Assuming the HMI system supports voice commands, he or she can do so simply by speaking the command into the system. Voice recognition software has improved dramatically over the past few years, with it becoming more accurate and easier to use. HMI manufacturers have taken advantage of this trend by incorporating voice recognition software into their systems.

What trends to you think we’ll see more of in the HMI industry in the months and years to come?

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