Touch-screen techniques: performance and application in power station control displays

Abstract The use of touch screens for the enhancement of the man-machine interface is described, with particular reference to the requirements of the electricity generation industry and the ‘soft’ control desk at Didcot Power Station, Oxfordshire. The hardware of the screens, their firmwave and the software used to communicate with them are each considered for their contribution to the ‘touch performance’ of the installation. Touch-sensitive display design is investigated, with emphasis on methods by which concepts and data from complex plant can be made more assimilable. The design of control displays with which plant may be operated is discussed in detail. The conclusion is that man-machine interaction can be greatly assisted by the use of touch screens, particularly if the human factors are fully observed.