IST（信息社會技術）領域的知識預示著未來5-10年智能自動化系統和實時中間件技術領域的技術分歧。這種技術分歧將網絡化的嵌入式智能擴展到實時生產控制和重新調度級別，比目前可能的更進一步，從而允許全新的智能自動化產品和服務范圍。這些產品和服務使基于基于基于代理的技術的新的生產模式、新的產品服務概念和新的智能生產自動化概念更加靈活、靈活和集成。期刊的范圍考慮了行業向更多基于知識的生產和系統組織的轉變，并從更全面的角度考慮生產，不僅包括硬件和軟件，還包括人和他們學習和分享知識的方式。這種框架適應了以下方面的思想：具有網絡和掌握能力的工業結構的根本轉變；新的混合技術；新工藝和設備的開發以及靈活和智能的制造系統；復雜分布式生產系統的控制工具；實現工業水平的環境智能景觀。該雜志主要集中在以下幾個方面：柔性的、協作的工廠自動化、分布式工業控制和計算范例、基于互聯網的監控系統、工業過程實時控制軟件、工業環境中的Java和Jini、無線傳感器和執行器的控制、系統互操作性和人機界面。

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.