We are experts in creating smart graphics through the use of technical illustration, graphic conversions, and software engineering. But, what exactly are “smart” graphics? These graphics are electronic illustrations that respond to user actions when applied to objects – often useful when troubleshooting a signal path on a schematic.
Our illustrators apply unique coding to vector graphics, which then enables select portions of the graphics to be highlighted in a variety of ways. For instance, components are highlighted on a schematic or wiring diagram when the user hovers his or her mouse or clicks on the illustration. The user is then able to click on the suspect wire(s) within a system in order to identify the root cause of a fault along a signal path.
These links can continue across pages – highlighting a selected circuit from one page to the next and providing a coherent path to the solution. Moreover, these highlights can be activated from external programs, such as
Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) or webpages, so that the hyperlinked text in those documents activate features on the smart graphics.
These types of tools provide big advantages to maintainers that are trying to find a needle in the haystack.