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Fieldbus training course on CD-ROM

A Hightech Multimedia Tutorials product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 13, 2002

Hightech Multimedia Tutorials (HMT) has developed a new Fieldbus training tool, a comprehensive self-paced learning module on CD-ROM.

Hightech Multimedia Tutorials (HMT) has developed a new Fieldbus training tool, a comprehensive self-paced learning module on CD-ROM.

Tutorial designer Dan Dumdie says: "Foundation Fieldbus Concepts is essentially the only easy-to-follow Foundation Fieldbus (FF) training tool on the market.

It comprises a multimedia presentation, but also includes a graphic and text-based PDF file that can be used as a hard copy.

It is targeted on users who wish to learn introductory and advanced FF concepts without having to read through the specification".

Dumdie has 30 years of experience in the process industries.

He assumed overall responsibility for the first interoperable FF installation using instruments from multiple suppliers on 3rd June 1997 in the pulp and paper industry.

He has published articles on fieldbus and other process control topics in numerous technical trade journals, including a series on advanced process control for the ISA's respected InTech magazine.

He co-authored the TAPPI Press textbook "Process control fundamentals for the pulp and paper Industry", and has patented instrumentation designs.

The tutorial is suited to students, technicians, engineers and the sales force.

It was designed because of a general lack of FF training resources available on the market, Dumdie says.

The tutorial uses narrated graphic slide shows to present material.

It contains introductory and advanced instructional media, with a glossary of terms so the tutorial can serve as a learning guide and a reference guide.

The multimedia presentation uses narrative graphic and sound files to guide the user through the concepts.

The tutorial is laid out in a logical fashion, from introductory to more advanced concepts.

It uses a standard tree type structure for graphical user interface.

A printable text and graphics version in PDF format is included in the tutorial for use with Adobe Acrobat reader.

Its powerful search engine makes finding specific topics quick and easy.

The multimedia content can be played directly from within the Acrobat Shell.

The tutorial covers the physical and user layers, and contains details regarding the communication stack.

Fieldbus benefits are discussed, as are comparisons with the DCS and with Profibus PA.

The tutorial also covers interoperability, and provides an introduction to high-speed Ethernet.

References to suppliers and their products were intentionally excluded from the tutorial.

Foundation Fieldbus Concepts concentrates entirely on the specifications and standards established for this particular digital bus.

The tutorial has been successfully tested with Windows 98, Me, NT4.0, 2000, and XP.

System requirements are met with an IBM or compatible PC with a VGA graphics adapter and monitor capable of 256 colours or more and 800 x 600 minimum resolution.

Also required are a Pentium P120 or better, a sound card with speakers or headphones, a CD ROM drive 32X or faster, a mouse, and 3Mbyte of free hard drive space.

The only prerequisite for users of the tutorial is a basic understanding of process control loops used in the process industries.

Familiarity with 4-20mA technology and the general architecture and function of distributed control systems are helpful.

However, the latter topics are reviewed in the tutorial.

For a limited time, HMT is offering the complete multimedia and text version of Foundation Fieldbus Concepts at an introductory price of US $699.

Educational institutions, students, or anyone considering a purchase of multiple copies should contact HMT for information about discount pricing.

Orders are currently being accepted online.