In case of an emergency, the central control room can turn into chaos instantly. Being a frequent visitor of control rooms myself, I know how quickly things can start falling apart when there are too many things to be controlled via numerous subsystems, keyboards and mice. As a matter of fact, often times, technology ends up overcomplicating operator tasks, when it should be making things simpler, especially when critical decisions need to be made. Fortunately, help is on the way. And I am here to tell you all about it.

'Monitoring and controlling the multitude of processes is your biggest challenge'

Whether you are working in a utilities, a transportation facility, an emergency service control room, a NOC or any other CCR, one of your biggest challenges is to monitor and control the multitude of processes that are going on - often all at once. If you are a manager running the control room, then on top of that you want all the work to be done cost-efficiently.

Sounds like a lot of work ...

Technology: relieving or adding stress?

In times of crisis, the central control room is a place of chaos - ordered chaos, if you will, but still chaos, all the same. Usually, technology is the root of the problem. We are often confronted with the limitations of IT and OT infrastructures (and their inter-working) at the most critical times; when everything comes together and you need to make a well-judged decision based on different information sources and remote stakeholders. At that very moment, you might as well have five hands and still fall short.

Why is technology making your life harder?

Mouse and keyboards galore

One of the most heard complaints control room operators share with us is about their mice and keyboards set-up. 'Why can't we have just one keyboard, one mouse and one audio set-up that control everything? And why do we need to jump around from monitor to monitor to be able to do our job?'

Granted, you love some exercise at work but not when you are about to make a decision that may potentially impact the lives of millions. So isn't there a better, more ergonomic solution that will simplify the life of the central control room operator?

There is. It's called OpSpace. And here's what it can do:

Become the super operator … with OpSpace

OpSpace is the first operator workspace software, truly tailored to the operator's way of problem solving and decision making. It offers one unified pixel space integrating all visual information. This enables secure viewing, monitoring and interacting with multiple subsystems from multiple networks with different security clearances or liability concerns. All relevant information can be consulted and manipulated within a single pixel space, with just one mouse and keyboard.

OpSpace combines IP-based KVM switching, virtualization and desktop sharing software, and puts them in a robust and simple user environment. Its main features include:

  • one unified pixel space integrating all visual information
  • work area concept to call any source in front of the operator instantly
  • intuitive user interface
  • single keyboard/mouse/speaker set
  • secure access to any subsystem
  • less unnecessary equipment at the workspace

Call any application into a work area with the click of your mouse and then interact with the application while keeping a bird's eye view of all other processes on different screens.

Build a system with 3 or 4 monitors lined up on the desk or stack more and larger displays on top of each other. The first configuration is handy when there is a large video wall in the control room; the second is most often used in smaller rooms without a video wall.

The OpSpace user experience: intuitive, easy to use and responsive

Because time is of the essence in a crisis situation, the OpSpace user interface is designed to be easy to use, intuitive and extremely responsive in order to boost control room operator efficiency. The 'Follow me' function loads your personalized workspace, providing all of your preferred applications and sources in their pre-defined locations. If operators have to go from one console to the other (even one located at another connected site), they can log out at one and log in at the other to find everything just the way they left it.

Central control room vs security

Because security is essential in control room environments, OpSpace can provide secure access across multiple domains, integrating only at the visual presentation layer. Operators are physically separated from the back-end systems that host the content, so that the system complies with governmental regulations and corporate requirements. Furthermore, OpSpace is designed for use in 24/7 environments − so the stability, flexibility and robustness of the system have been tested rigorously to prevent any single point of failure.

Sounds too good to be true?

See OpSpace in action:


Get in touch
and request a demo

Barco NV published this content on 14 September 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 19 September 2017 06:53:03 UTC.

Original documenthttp://www.barco.com/en/News/Post/2017/9/14/Turning-chaos-into-order-in-the-central-control-room

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