Responsive BMS user interfaces
March 2015
IT in Manufacturing
Built for use in control rooms where the desktop PC reigns, building management system (BMS) applications have been slow to adapt to use on tablet PCs and smartphones. At best, they deliver a ‘clunky’ experience. To meet the rapidly growing requirement for anytime, anywhere access to the BMS via multiple device types, Johnson Controls has made a responsive interface the focus of the latest upgrade to its Metasys BMS.
“Users have become more mobile and use of smart devices has grown,” says Johnson Controls Building Efficiency for Africa general manager Neil Cameron. “At the same time, building systems have become more sophisticated and automated. To realise the potential this represents, Johnson Controls has focused its attention on ensuring Metasys users are able to access BMS information quickly and easily on any smart device.”
In enabling the front-end user interface of the BMS for different devices, Johnson Controls has ensured the user experience is as intuitive as possible, with relevant or critical information prioritised and displayed in a format that is accessible via the device. For example, a small format smartphone may more readily display system performance values graphically, while a tablet PC may facilitate viewing a dashboard display.
“This will put critical information at the fingertips of users, empowering them remotely to control building systems, pre-empting rapid response to situations from wherever they may be,” adds Cameron. “In addition, as system interfaces are easily configurable, users with different profiles, e.g. an electro-mechanical engineer versus the building manager, can easily adapt the interface to display whatever information they find most useful.”
To remain relevant and maximise the functionality of their BMS applications, users need to relook the capability of their solutions. This will become increasingly important as building management job functions continue to specialise, the systems become more automated, and decisions need to be made and acted on faster.
“BMS systems have advanced significantly in the last decade and they will continue to do so.
“To make those advances effective, ease of access to data and reports is essential, as is being able to action those decisions in a timely manner. Better user interfaces make that possible. It is a good time for users to revisit this functionality in their BMS’ and make the necessary upgrades,” concludes Cameron.
For more information contact Johnson Controls, +27 (0)11 921 7141, neil.cameron@jci.com, www.johnsoncontrols.com
Further reading:
Bringing brownfield plants back to life
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Today’s brownfield plants are typically characterised by outdated equipment and processes, and face challenges ranging from inefficient operations to safety hazards. However, all is not lost, as these plants stand to gain a lot from digitalisation and automation.
Read more...
Generative AI for immersive real-time visualisation
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens will deepen its collaboration with NVIDIA to help build the industrial metaverse.
Read more...
Award-winning Gen AI solutions
IT in Manufacturing
Amazon Web Services recently hosted an exclusive event in South Africa on ‘Elevating Possibilities with Partners - a Showcase of GenAI Excellence’. This event brought together ten esteemed partners, including Synthesis Software Technologies, to highlight innovative advancements in the field of Generative AI.
Read more...
AI is driving data centres to the edge
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The data centre has become the cornerstone that links our digitally interconnected world. At the same time, the rapid growth and application of AI and machine learning (ML) is shaping the design and operation of data centres.
Read more...
Full-scale central control room simulator
Valmet Automation
IT in Manufacturing
Valmet will deliver a full-scale central control room simulator to Nordic Ren-Gas, the leading Nordic green hydrogen and e-methane developer in Finland.
Read more...
Re-imagining business operations with the power of AI
IT in Manufacturing
inq. has introduced a range of artificial intelligence solutions to assist organisations across industry verticals in optimising business operations and improving internal efficiencies.
Read more...
Safe, sustainable cycling helmet technology
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Lazer Sport, one of Europe’s leading cycling helmet manufacturers, has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to bring to market KinetiCore, its new proprietary rotational impact protection technology.
Read more...
Defending against modern-day cyber threats
IT in Manufacturing
The anatomy of cyber threats has changed, meaning that organisations can no longer rely on traditional cybersecurity solutions to protect their perimeter, but should instead rethink their data protection strategy and become proactive in their defence against breaches.
Read more...
Data centre sector 2024 market outlook
IT in Manufacturing
As the world adapts to the digital transformation of almost every aspect of everyday life, the data centre sector, which plays such a pivotal role in digitalisation, is constantly evolving.
Read more...
Reinventing the workforce in the age of generative AI
IT in Manufacturing
Generative AI has burst onto the scene. It appeared fast, and is evolving even faster. Its impact on value chains will fundamentally transform the nature of work, reshaping how businesses deliver value, and delivering better experiences for employees and customers.
Read more...
printer friendly version