| Computer Industry Trends in OPC, Windows, and Java - ISA Show |
(February.1999) |
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The "ISA EXPO" was held in Houston, USA, from October 19 to 22, 1998, and the following is a report of the current trends Windows, OPC, Java and other areas of popular interest.
OPC
Recently OPC is being built into almost all products as a matter of course. In this show, 17 out of 18 SCADA manufacturers exhibited products that use OPC drivers. In the near future, not only will all industrial devices use the same language via OPC standard interfaces, but different pieces of application software will be able to function as both a client and a server for each other.
Although many suppliers have released their OPC client(s), the number of servers available is still limited. Some HMI suppliers such as Digital are also OPC suppliers, which allows Digital's OPC server to use both single and integrated protocols, eliminating the need to develop a variety of drivers that can communicate with other devices. (Intellution Inc. and Digital are OPC server suppliers.)
Windows®CE
Windows®CE's design is based on scalable Win32API with a modular function. Thanks to improvements in CE engineer skills, we can expect to see the number of API types increase soon. The current and existing versions of Windows®CE are suitable for information-related products. The next step for Windows®CE version 3.0 should see ActiveX, COM, TAP I, MFC, and HTML being supported, together with DCOM. This is promising since, by supporting all major network protocols, this easy-to-use OS will then become a vital component in the field of interactive Internet devices. Furthermore, by combining VenturCom, Inc.'s technology with Windows®CE, development of embedded type solutions for demanding and mission-critical applications, as well as development of a wide variety of applications for each application's embedded environment will become possible. Extended functions such as improvements in interrupt nesting, semaphore, thread response and the widening of task priority levels seem to be popular solutions to problems that require a fast response to external events and interrupts.
Also, PLCs, with Windows®CE and a PC bus installed, were displayed at the Microsoft booth.
Windows®2000
Recently, WindowsNT® Version 5.0 will be released under the name of Windows®2000. Newly added function-related information, however, has not drastically changed from earlier versions.
Users with manufacturing applications find it especially useful that when installing this new OS, each system component can be upgraded individually. Additionally, it appears that Microsoft, which is currently promoting the reduction of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) for industrial automation systems, is eager to advertise the IntelliMirror product, which is part of Microsoft's Zero Administration for Windows (ZAW) initiative.
IntelliMirror allows the user to copy a client machine's data/status to the server intelligently and transmit the machine's profile, preferences, and data to other machines. One concern is, however, that the actual product release will be severely delayed due to the software's name change to Windows®2000.
Java
Microsoft's strategy against Java is to position Windows systems as the optimal platforms to provide Java-based applications.
Java is also an ongoing concern for OPC vendors, and Digital will continue to investigate and report on Java's future trends. |
Masashi Murakami, Sub-chief of the Product Planning Department |
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