(1) Distributed control systems (DCS) are digital control systems that connect field instruments via wiring to computers and HMIs for monitoring and controlling distributed equipment remotely. (2) DCS is used for basic process control in industries like oil refining and chemicals, while SCADA focuses more on supervisory control and data acquisition from a central location. (3) Historically DCS did more detailed control work locally while SCADA took high-level orders, but modern computer networks have blurred the lines between the two systems.