Online circuit design

During the past year or two, most designers will have seen references to the online-computing services that are now becoming available. The organisations promoting these services usually emphasise certain features-the provision of a computer terminal in the designer´s own office or department, the rapid return of results, and the joys of holding a `conversation¿ with a computer. This article sets out to examine the role of this kind of computing service as an aid to circuit design.