Internet control? A new concept takes hold. (Energy Online: Management Information Systems).(HVAC industry; Internet control, catch phrase to describe how to obtain automated control benefits )

For three decades, direct digital control (DDC) has been the industry term for building automation systems and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control. Initially, DDC meant control apparatus that were applied directly to a piece of equipment, but the term evolved to describe networks of microprocessor-based devices with standardized communication that could integrate HVAC, fire, and security systems. After that, Internet access became the new frontier.

Today Internet control is the catch phrase used to describe how to obtain all the benefits of automated control. Internet control moves DDC beyond simple Web access. Internet control automates facilities, HVAC, and processes, while expanding the scope of control to the enterprise level, thus using the Internet to convert a control system into a management …