As usual, you IT folks tend to underestimate what we engineers in the industrial controls and instrumentation field do. We simply do it in a more modular and efficient manner most of the time. Fortunately, we don't have to mess with distractions like 'Banner Ad' cartoon content, etc.
Working with PLCs (programmable logic controllers) for localized control and DCS (Digital Control Systems) for plant or system oversight and control, most of the GUI programming resides in the local plant floor display device (industrial environment-rated, PC-based, operator display panels - "OCP"s) or the configuration software of the DCS screens presentation on the high end. Dynamic parameters are transmitted and received as data packets of 16 or 32 bit words, the number of words is equal only to what is required for that packet's data content. The packets are dynamic having a variable word count up to a maximum total word count per packet.
We use RF transmitters for real time municipal wastewater collection pumping station control, municipal water reservoir control, and/or shipping-receiving-routing-pumping control at fuel depots and tank farms. Direct system-to-system dial-up is frequently used for less critical systems, and continuous WWW-based communication in often employed for higer speed system, manufacturing, and plant management information systems.
I did a customized, portable, intinerant-farmworker-proof "..Chicken Checker.." for an associate division of Monsanto a few years back. That system monitored broiler chicken growth weight, daily environmental conditions, and water-&-feed consumption in real time 24/7 for 70 days. The purpose was tracking growth and conditions from new chick loading to mature bird shipment at broiler husbandry facilities anywhere in the world (via dial-up). It's kind of fun to watch birds playing king of the mountain on weigh scales located somewhere in Bumphudge, GA from my laptop anywhere I choose. You could also see a weather front pass through their area, by watching the temperture transmitter data changes as the wind direction reversed.
I guess it all depends on what the client wants - and the potential fees, aye. The parallel might be that plant managers and Operators always seem to like the 'Screens' I develop for their daily use. So, we're both involved in visual presentations to people for slightly different applications.
Working with the Human Engineering folks at Martin-Marietta on the 'MX' missle launch controls was very enlightening; ...what to put where - colors - sizes - nomenclature, etc. etc. And, it's always nice to have had at least a 'little itty-bitty part' to play in bringing down the Berlin Wall, ...which 'MX' and 'SDI' certainly did.
John :-)
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