Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the release of FAST/TOOLS® R10.01 – the latest version of a web-based real-time operations management and visualization software package that brings revolutionary changes to real-time process information intelligence. This enterprise operations solution introduces breakthrough architectural features that significantly enhance efficiency and security and improve the operational agility of remote process management infrastructure.

Development Background:

The enterprise operations and supervisory solutions market continues to grow, and a number of market research reports have identified increasing demand for the integration of various disciplines and functions that deliver operator-centric information solutions.

The introduction of more smart devices, with 200 parameters per device now the norm, and the current trend toward consolidating operations across dispersed assets over large geographical areas, has resulted in mind boggling quantities of data. Some striking numbers emerge: only 5% of this data is transferred into meaningful information, only 10% is relationally structured, and more than 50% is poor in quality. To really capitalize on the extensive data that is gathered, customers need to think about their information strategy. The requirements for an enterprise-wide operations management solution are driving the need for collaboration and information sharing across different platforms, systems, geographies, and corporate networks. This aims to provide the opportunity, with the underlying technology and network, to seamlessly connect devices and applications, while managing them as a single system from an operations, engineering, and maintenance point of view.

Recognizing that most enterprises will take a hybrid approach to management and control solutions, Yokogawa wants to help customers utilize their application investments and transform data into meaningful information by providing a transparent environment which can integrate multi-tier architectures and a variety of sources that can be accessed and shared globally.

Main Features:

• Enabling the adoption of enterprise solutions

• Information model (process hierarchy)

• New RDBMS interfaces to the enterprise environment

• Wireless mobility solution enhancements

• Enhanced ProSafe-RS support for upstream oil and gas applications

• Distributed temperature sensing and FAST/TOOLS

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ICONICS, a 2013 Microsoft® Application Development Partner of the Year Finalist, Gold Certified Partner and provider of Web-enabled, OPC-based, HMI/SCADA Visualization and Manufacturing Intelligence software for Microsoft Windows® operating systems, continues to make the most advanced technology options available to its customers. ICONICS demonstrates the ability to create virtual operation surfaces, to operate with natural gestures, and to execute actions with voice commands, all utilizing the latest version of Microsoft Kinect™.

ICONICS has made significant investment in Natural User Interface (NUI) technology by leveraging advanced Windows 8 multitouch with gesture, body movement and speech recognition. Using the latest Microsoft Kinect sensor technology, spoken commands can be used to train applications to respond to actions providing a hands free operation. ICONICS GENESIS64™ gives users unique and new ways to interact with their applications.

Virtual Multitouch Mode Based on many years of research, ICONICS’ patent-pending technology can now turn any surface, such as a control room wall, a conference room table or even empty space on an equipment panel, into an interactive touch screen using Microsoft Kinect technology. Simply point the Kinect device parallel to the surface and ICONICS GENESIS64 HMI/SCADA software will interpret finger movements within the virtual plane as one or more touch points (for selection), or gestures such as swipes (to move through graphics or menus) or pinches (for zooming in and out). This technology enables control by operators with gloved hands and reduces equipment costs when compared to industrialized touch screen technology.

Skeletal Tracking Mode Skeletal Tracking Mode interprets the users’ body motions into on-screen commands by utilizing the ability of Kinect to recognize the positioning and movement of the human skeleton. It also allows the user to interact with the display using programmable voice commands. This extends the input options of ICONICS GENESIS64 for the Human Machine Interface to include natural movements and actions. Plant control room operators can now command action on a video wall by looking at and pointing to large screen monitors. Operators in a manufacturing cell can stop their machinery by raising their hand with an open palm. This innovative ability to interpret skeletal positions removes the restriction that the human interaction must occur by manipulating an input device such as a mouse or keyboard.

Speech Recognition Speech recognition has existed in industrial applications for many years, but recent advances in both recognition and noise cancellation have made voice operation more applicable within industrial applications. Operators are able to change views or bring up KPIs by calling out the graphic name and can pan through information by simply saying “Right” or “Down”. Industrial automation system designers seek to improve productivity, safety, and response times of operators both on the manufacturing line and in the control room. These additional interface options provide lower cost solutions as compared to existing approaches. Experience this exciting, innovative approach to a more interactive operator interface for any application! Please visit ICONICS at SPS/IPC/Drives 2013 – November 26-28 – Hall 7, Booth #496 and see these NUI solutions in action or visit us at www.iconics.com for more information.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) has announced the dates, locations and Call for Papers (where applicable) for its technical division symposia for 2014.

ISA’s annual technical division symposia bring together innovators, thought leaders and other automation and control professionals around the world to explore and discuss the latest technologies, practices and trends, and gain high-value, peer-reviewed technical content across a wide variety of automation fields and disciplines.

Plan now to attend the 2014 ISA technical symposium or conference of your choice and professional interest and expertise.

2014 Food and Pharmaceutical Industries Division Symposium—NEW!

5-6 March 2014

ISA Headquarters, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

59th ISA Analysis Division Symposium

4-8 May 2014

Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

14th ISA LDAR-Fugitive Emissions Symposium

19-21 May 2014

Astor Crowne Plaza

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

57th ISA Power Industry Division Symposium

1-6 June 2014

Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas

Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

60th ISA International Instrumentation Symposium

23-27 June 2014

No. 11 Cavendish Square

London, England

2014 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Division Symposium

5-7 August 2014

Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal

Orlando, Florida, USA

2014 ISA Process Control & Safety Symposium—NEW!

6-9 October 2014

Houston Marriott West at the Galleria

Houston, Texas

9th ISA Marketing and Sales Summit

9-11 September 2014

Online Only

After the successful release of its IRIS software in the United States, PAC recently launched this advanced instrument data integration software designed specifically for PAC laboratory instruments globally. IRIS Software provides customers the advantage of connecting their PAC laboratory instruments, locally or worldwide, and managing these instruments, including gathering and analyzing test data, as well as communicating results, from a single computer.

IRIS greatly improves laboratory efficiency since the software has the same look and feel across all instruments, which reduces the amount of training needed when working with multiple software platforms. It is also compliant with security and quality protocols. It includes password protection and user traceability to help ensure that your laboratory instrument data is secure.

With its adaptable configurations, PAC IRIS Software offers each laboratory the flexibility to achieve the highest level of lab efficiency. It currently has numerous PAC instruments it connects to, including the Herzog OptiDist, ISL PMD 110, Herzog HVM472, ISL VIDA, and many more. All IRIS plugins include a variety of basic features including:

• Results - View all previously completed tests

• Run Control - Displays real time data from the instrument

• Reports - Print all test reports

• QC - Allows the user to define upper and lower limits and targets for specified points

• LIMS - Automatic LIMS transfer and easy to configure LIMS mask

• Online Manager - Web-based tool that provides administrative access and remote reporting features

Some plugins have more advanced features including the ability to start a test, to define upper and lower limits and targets, to define the test results from a sample test as a standard to compare to other test results, to create integrated statistical process control charting, or for users to modify units of the instrument parameters.

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