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, [email protected], www.johnsoncontrols.com
Further reading:
Quantum computing and its impact on data security: a double-edged sword for the digital age
IT in Manufacturing
Quantum computing is poised to redefine the boundaries of data security, offering groundbreaking solutions while threatening modern encryption’s foundations. For third-party IT providers, this duality presents both a challenge and an opportunity to lead organisations through one of the most significant technological transitions in decades.
Read more...
Next-generation road-legal race car.
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) will move to the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software and use it to develop the next generation of its single-seater road-legal race car, Mono.
Read more...
Cybersecurity at a crossroads
IT in Manufacturing
here’s a growing unease in boardrooms, data centres and cabinet offices across South Africa. It’s not just about economic headwinds or political uncertainty, it’s about something quieter, more technical and yet just as dangerous - the rising tide of cyber threats.
Read more...
Enabling a sustainable industrial organisation
IT in Manufacturing
This article explains the top sustainability trends and key actions that you can leverage to become a more sustainable organisation.
Read more...
Navigating discrete manufacturing in South Africa through digitalisation
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa’s discrete manufacturing sector faces mounting pressure from global competition, fragmented supply chains and outdated infrastructure. In this complex environment, digitalisation is a critical lever for survival, resilience and growth.
Read more...
Africa’s pragmatic approach to AI and how data centres are enabling it
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
In Africa, the current AI momentum is driven by a fundamental need, building a resilient digital infrastructure that addresses the real-world challenges of the continent’s communities.
Read more...
World first simulation of error-correctable quantum computers
IT in Manufacturing
Quantum computers still face a major hurdle on their pathway to practical use cases, their limited ability to correct the arising computational errors. In a world first, researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have unveiled a method for simulating specific types of error-corrected quantum computations.
Read more...
Platform to accelerate supply chain decarbonisation
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric has launched Zeigo Hub by Schneider Electric, a powerful new digital platform designed to help organisations decarbonise their supply chains at scale.
Read more...
Future-ready data centres
IT in Manufacturing
The white paper ‘Future-Ready Data Centres’ by Black & Veatch outlines how integrating sustainable design principles not only helps meet ESG goals but also ensures reliability, operational efficiency and business continuity in the face of climate change and growing digital demand.
Read more...
Sustainable energy management
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Utilising its innovative ONE approach technology, Siemens provides complete transparency on resource consumption and offers data-driven optimisation recommendations for sustainable energy management.
Read more...
printer friendly version