IST（信息社会技术）领域的知识预示着未来5-10年智能自动化系统和实时中间件技术领域的技术分歧。这种技术分歧将网络化的嵌入式智能扩展到实时生产控制和重新调度级别，比目前可能的更进一步，从而允许全新的智能自动化产品和服务范围。这些产品和服务使基于基于基于代理的技术的新的生产模式、新的产品服务概念和新的智能生产自动化概念更加灵活、灵活和集成。期刊的范围考虑了行业向更多基于知识的生产和系统组织的转变，并从更全面的角度考虑生产，不仅包括硬件和软件，还包括人和他们学习和分享知识的方式。这种框架适应了以下方面的思想：具有网络和掌握能力的工业结构的根本转变；新的混合技术；新工艺和设备的开发以及灵活和智能的制造系统；复杂分布式生产系统的控制工具；实现工业水平的环境智能景观。该杂志主要集中在以下几个方面：柔性的、协作的工厂自动化、分布式工业控制和计算范例、基于互联网的监控系统、工业过程实时控制软件、工业环境中的Java和Jini、无线传感器和执行器的控制、系统互操作性和人机界面。
Knowledge in the IST (Information Society Technologies) field envisions a technology bifurcation in the field of intelligent automation systems and real-time middle-ware technologies in the next 5-10 years. This technology bifurcation extends networked embedded intelligence at the real-time production control and re-scheduling levels further than is currently possible, allowing for a completely new range of intelligent automation products and services. Such products and services enables new paradigms of production and new concepts of product-services and new intelligent production automation concepts, which are more agile, flexible and integrated, based on agent-based technology. The scope of the journal considers the industry’s transition towards more knowledge-based production and systems organization and considers production from a more holistic perspective, encompassing not only hardware and software, but also people and the way in which they learn and share knowledge. Such a framework accommodates ideas related to: radical shifts in industrial structures with capabilities in networks and mastering; new hybrid technologies; development of new processes and devices and flexible and intelligent manufacturing systems; tools for the control of complex distributed production systems; realization of an ambient intelligence landscape at industrial level. The journal focuses on the following main topics: Flexible, collaborative factory automation, Distributed industrial control and computing paradigms, Internet-based monitoring and control systems, Real-time control software for industrial processes, Java and Jini in industrial environments, Control of wireless sensors and actuators, Systems interoperability and human machine interface.