PC applications: Engineering: Only recently endowed with the power to do engineering chores, personal computers am already saving designers time and money

The role of the personal computer in engineering and science laboratories, traditionally the realm of the most powerful state-of-the-art computers, is discussed. This trend was started by the introduction of the IBM PC AT in the summer of 1984. The machine is based on the 16-bit Intel 80286 microprocessor, which is more than twice as powerful as the 8088 microprocessor in the IBM PC. Engineers have also been using PCs for controlling and coordinating test of complex systems. Here, up to a dozen laboratory instruments, such as signal generators, voltmeters, and oscilloscopes are connected to the computer through a general-purpose interface bus or an RS-232 serial port. The computer applies test signals, collects data, and compares the results with either prestored values or data collected during previous trials.