The main characteristic of new HSI software platforms is that it typically forms part of the plant’s distributed control system (DCS) software. The DCS is the system that is used for overall plant automation and the HSI forms part of the ‘front end’ that enables the operator to interact with the plant through a hierarchy of controls and displays. This system typically allows development of the functionality and displays of the HSI without the need for low-level programming, while allowing some end — user customisation. It also supports full object-orientation and component-based programming, which ensures consistency of functionality, layout and appearance of objects throughout the HSI. Systems like this also support standardised documentation and code handling formats like XML. In advanced applications, as discussed later, it would support advanced computational methods like neural/semantic networks, pattern recognition, as well as real-time and faster-than-real-time simulation.