Using the GOT – Customizing GOT Appearances for Optimal Usability

The appearance of Mitsubishi’s GOT (Graphic Operation Terminal) HMIs is highly customizable, allowing operators to create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces tailored to their specific applications. By optimizing the GOT’s visual layout, color schemes, and screen elements, you can improve operational efficiency and reduce errors in industrial environments. This guide provides an overview of customizing GOT appearances, covering layout design, color themes, and display settings to enhance usability and accessibility.

---

---

The Importance of GOT Appearances in HMI Design

A well-designed HMI screen layout makes it easier for operators to monitor, control, and adjust processes efficiently. By customizing appearances, you can ensure that critical data is clear, that controls are intuitive, and that alerts are highly visible. GOT HMIs provide tools within GT Works3 software to create these tailored screen designs, from simple color changes to detailed layouts with interactive buttons, charts, and alarms.

Benefits of Optimizing GOT Appearances:

• Enhanced Usability: Clear, organized screens reduce the time it takes for operators to interpret data and make decisions.
• Reduced Errors: With a logical layout and prominent alerts, operators can respond to issues faster, reducing downtime and preventing accidents.
• Improved Accessibility: Customizable fonts, colors, and sizes improve readability, ensuring screens are accessible to all users.

Step 1: Designing a User-Friendly Screen Layout

The layout of elements on the GOT screen significantly impacts how easily operators can interact with the system. A user-friendly layout should prioritize visibility, logical grouping of controls, and easy access to frequently used features.

Organizing Elements for Readability

Place essential information and frequently accessed controls in prominent locations, such as the center or top of the screen, where operators can quickly find them.

• Data Display Fields: Position key data fields like temperature, speed, or pressure readings centrally, making them easy to monitor.
• Control Buttons: Arrange start, stop, and reset buttons logically near related data fields, reducing the need to navigate across the screen.
• Navigation Menu: Include a navigation menu or toolbar for easy access to other screens and settings, usually positioned along the top or side.

Grouping Related Controls

Grouping similar controls improves usability by keeping related elements together, reducing cognitive load for the operator.

• Sectioning: Divide the screen into sections for different functions, such as monitoring, control, and alerts, to make the interface intuitive.
• Consistent Layouts Across Screens: For multi-screen setups, maintain consistent layouts for similar functions on each screen to make navigation easier.

Adding a Home Screen

A Home Screen provides a central starting point for accessing various screens and functionalities, giving operators a clear overview of system status and quick access to key features.

1. Display Key Metrics: Show critical operational metrics on the home screen, providing an at-a-glance view of system health.
2. Quick Navigation: Add buttons for direct access to essential screens, such as alarms, controls, or settings.

Step 2: Customizing Color Themes and Styles

Colors and styles can be used effectively to differentiate screen elements, emphasize important data, and improve overall readability.

Selecting Color Themes

The right color scheme can make a significant difference in readability and focus. GOTs offer a range of color themes within GT Works3, allowing operators to create screens that are visually appealing and functional.

• Color Coding: Use color coding for data values, like green for normal operations, yellow for warnings, and red for critical alerts.
• Background and Text Contrast: Choose background and text colors with high contrast for readability. Light text on dark backgrounds or dark text on light backgrounds is usually best.
• Themed Color Palettes: Select or create a consistent color palette for all screens to give the HMI a cohesive look, especially for multi-screen interfaces.

Enhancing Visibility with Dynamic Colors

Dynamic colors change based on real-time conditions, making it easier for operators to spot changes and act quickly.

• Status Indicators: Use dynamic colors for status indicators, where the color shifts according to the state (e.g., idle, active, or fault).
• Data Value Highlights: Configure values to change color when they exceed certain thresholds, drawing attention to critical metrics.

Step 3: Setting Up Font Sizes and Text Styles

Clear text is vital for efficient HMI usage. Adjusting font sizes and styles improves readability, especially in environments where operators may be viewing the screen from a distance.

Choosing Readable Fonts

Use simple, sans-serif fonts that are easy to read, even at smaller sizes, to minimize eye strain and improve readability.

• Font Selection: Choose built-in fonts in GT Works3 that are compatible with GOT screens and provide optimal clarity.
• Avoid Overly Stylized Fonts: While decorative fonts may look appealing, they are less readable, especially in an industrial setting.

Adjusting Font Sizes

Select font sizes that are visible from typical viewing distances, considering the HMI’s screen size and application requirements.

• Primary Data: For critical data, such as current machine status or speed, use larger font sizes for immediate visibility.
• Secondary Information: Use medium or smaller fonts for supplementary data, such as date and time or secondary process metrics.

Using Bold and Italics for Emphasis

Apply bold or italic styles to highlight specific information or control labels, guiding operators’ focus to priority data.

• Bold for Alerts: Use bold text for warnings and alerts to make them stand out.
• Italics for Instructions: Italicize instructions or notes to differentiate them from real-time data and control labels.

Step 4: Adding Visual Indicators and Icons

Visual indicators, such as icons and status lights, provide instant feedback and improve the clarity of the GOT interface.

Using Icons for Quick Recognition

Icons help operators recognize functions and states quickly, making the interface more intuitive.

• Common Symbols: Use standard icons, like play, stop, and alert symbols, for universal recognition.
• Status Icons: Add icons that represent machine states (e.g., active, paused, error) to convey information at a glance.

Incorporating Status Lights and Gauges

Status lights and gauges are useful for visualizing process states and key metrics, especially in applications where values change frequently.

• Dynamic Status Lights: Set status lights to change color based on real-time conditions, like green for active and red for fault.
• Analog Gauges: For metrics such as temperature or pressure, use analog gauges that display data in a format operators can interpret quickly.

Step 5: Configuring Alarms and Notifications

Alarms and notifications are essential for alerting operators to abnormal conditions and require careful design to be effective.

Customizing Alarm Appearance

Make alarms visually distinct to draw immediate attention and ensure that critical alerts are not overlooked.

• Color and Animation: Use red with flashing animations for critical alarms, making them highly noticeable.
• Sound Alerts: Enable sound notifications alongside visual alarms to alert operators even when they are not directly viewing the screen.

Organizing Alarms by Priority

Categorize alarms to help operators respond based on urgency, reducing the risk of overlooking important issues.

• Priority Levels: Define levels for each alarm, such as high, medium, and low, and visually differentiate them with colors and icons.
• Alarm Log Access: Include a button or tab for accessing an alarm log where operators can view historical alarm data and trends.

Practical Applications of GOT Appearances in Industry

Effective customization of GOT appearances provides operators with a streamlined, efficient way to control complex systems across various industries.

• Manufacturing: Customized screen layouts allow operators to manage multiple production lines, view KPIs, and control equipment from a centralized HMI.
• Energy and Utilities: Color-coded data and dynamic indicators help track critical parameters like voltage, current, and load distribution in real-time.
• Food Processing: Status indicators and alerts are crucial for monitoring processing conditions, like temperature and humidity, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
• Building Automation: GOTs provide facility managers with real-time access to HVAC, lighting, and security systems, where customized screens simplify multi-system oversight.

FAQs

What is the purpose of customizing GOT appearances?
Customizing GOT appearances enhances usability by making data clearer, controls more accessible, and alerts more noticeable, ultimately improving operational efficiency.

How do I set up a user-friendly layout on a GOT?
Organize key elements centrally, group related controls, use sectioning, and create a Home Screen to give operators easy access to essential functions and metrics.

Can I use colors to improve the visibility of data on GOT screens?
Yes, color coding and dynamic colors enhance readability, with different colors signaling normal operation, warnings, and critical alerts, making it easy to identify important information.

What are the best practices for fonts and text styles on GOT screens?
Use sans-serif fonts for clarity, choose readable font sizes based on screen size, and apply bold or italic styles selectively to emphasize critical data and instructions.

How do alarms improve safety in GOT HMIs?
Alarms notify operators of abnormal conditions in real time. Customizing their appearance and setting priority levels ensures they are noticed promptly, reducing risks.

Are icons helpful on a GOT HMI?
Yes, icons improve usability by providing quick visual cues that operators can recognize instantly, making navigation and control more intuitive.

Conclusion