Whereas older systems might use mainframe technology and take three seconds or more to display data, modern systems take advantage of 64-bit processors to update complex data displays - perhaps with as many as 300 dynamic elements - in less than one second.

Furthermore, the use of more up-to-date software opens the door to the sharing of data via industry-standard desktop PC packages such as Lotus123 or MicrosoftExcel or Access.
While a few seconds may not sound like a long time, the speed at which process plant operates means that vast volumes of product - or smaller volumes of high-value product - can be incorrectly processed and therefore wasted. A few seconds can also mean the difference between turning a salvageable situation into one requiring a shutdown.
The ability to update data more quickly also implies that data displays can be more comprehensive, enabling critical decisions to be made on a firmer basis. Invariably there is a significant cost associated with an operator making a mistake due to a data acquisition system being too slow or simply displaying raw data instead of clear information that can be used for decision-making. ABB has developed a novel online benefit analysis tool (http://ebat.us.abb.com) that allows plant engineers to calculate the cost based on figures taken from their own plant. In many cases the potential cost of a mistake is far larger than the cost of upgrading the data acquisition system to a high-speed, user-friendly, state-of-the-art system. n