About the Author
Nancy Bartels is Control's managing editor. You can her at [email protected] or check out her Google+ profile.Poor graphics have:
- Big flashing animated flames
- Brightly colored 3D process vessels
- Spinning agitators/pumps and moving conveyors
- Highly detailed equipment
- Attempts to color code piping with contents
- Big bright measurement unit callouts
- Bright color liquid levels displayed the full width of the vessel
- No trends
- An exact representation of the P&ID
- Lots of lines that cross
- Inconsistent process flow direction
- Misuse of alarm-related colors
- Limited, haphazard navigation
- Inconsistent color coding
High-performance graphics have:
- Gray backgrounds to minimize glare
- No animation
- Black process lines
- Limited use of color
- Process flow from left to right; gas should flow up and liquids flow down
- Proper layout to avoid unnecessarily crossing lines
- Embedded trends of important parameters
- Low-contrast depictions in 2D
- A layout consistent with the operator's mental model of the process
- Logical and consistent navigation methods
- Display access with a maximum of three operator mouse clicks or keystrokes
- Techniques to minimize data entry mistakes
- Validation and security measures
- Measurement units shown in low-contrast lettering
