====== What is an HMI? ======

In the field of automation, an HMI is touchscreen that provides a interface for a human operator to control and monitor a machine.

{{ :comfilehmi:abouthmi:p_factory_automation.jpg?nolink |}}

====== What is an HMI for? ======

Traditionally, user interfaces were comprised of panels with buttons and lamps similar to that pictured below. 

{{ :comfilehmi:abouthmi:controlpanel.jpg?nolink |}}

These hardware buttons and lamps can now be replaced with a single HMI touchscreen where all controls are emulated by widgets on a screen.

HMIs provide the following benefits:

  - With the modern software tools, interfaces can be creating quickly and easily by simply drawing on a computer screen.
  - By adding labels and tooltips to the user interface, the operator can intuitively learn how to operate the controls.
  - Features and upgrades can be easily added or removed without making physical changes to the hardware.
  - With text, lamps and many other output widgets, operators can monitor the status of a machine in great detail. 
  - Because all features for controlling and operating a machine can be added to a single touchscreen, control panels can be made significantly more compact.


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