title: Computer based instruments for laboratory environments.
abstract: The personal computer is viewed as an all-purpose laboratory instrument and work station. Popular architectures are examined with regard to advantages and limitations, and applications discussed in terms of "stand alone" environments, situations requiring passive interfaces, and those employing intelligent configurations. A new hardware/software architecture is presented which is highly modular, and which supports rapid instrumental reconfiguration, high throughput (information capacity), and ease of use.
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D007753:Laboratories; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*