How to gain traction for Grayscale graphics

tlajoie's picture
Submitted by tlajoie on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 20:57.

Of all the projects I have been part of, I cannot remember one that actually made the switch from multi-color graphics to grayscale graphics, or even adopted grayscale from the onset for new plants.

There is a large body of scientifically-backed evidence that grayscale graphics are generally a better choice for automation and alarm management. Why is it that it's not widely adopted? I understand certain reasons (see list below) may be significant for some, but in general can they justify keeping the less effective rainbow graphics? Does anyone have an effective way to convince a customer to go grayscale?

    Reasons I've heard to avoid grayscale [obviously incomplete]:
    1) Cost of training
    2) Graphics designers lack knowhow to use effectively
    3) Graphics are boring to look at
    4) Operators set in their ways / Can't get operator approval
    5) Loss of color-coded information (ie: pipes: blue = cold water, red = steam)
    6) Others??
‹ Is "Easy Advanced Control" Really that Easy? Grayscale graphics - do they help? ›

Picture is worth a thousand words

DougLutz's picture
Submitted by DougLutz on Tue, 09/08/2009 - 21:25.

Mock something up on one of your more colourful graphics... then force a tag into alarm. Show what it would look like grey scale and with the colour burst option.

Grey scale may be "boring", but it really does show off those areas that are not normal - and therefore areas that you presume are important to address... or draw conclusions as to the relationships during an upset situation.

That's an interesting

aaroncrews's picture
Submitted by aaroncrews on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 14:47.

That's an interesting problem - in my experience, our customers are usually wanting the "latest" in technology, and that usually includes a color overhaul. One thing that could help is to know that it's not necessarily "gray" graphics that hold the solution - it's well-designed graphics and well thought out ways to display the information that the operator NEEDS to see. Convincing end users to redesign their graphics in an operator-centric manner might be the easiest way to get your foot in the door.

What follows from that are questions about what operations needs to see on their displays every second of every day. Do they REALLY need to always be reminded as to which utility line is which? Or do they just need to know what their temperature setpoint should be?