Hands-on education-the UK electronics CAD initiative

The ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) has become a key element in the design of modern electronics-based systems. Until recently, electronics students could learn only the theory of ASIC design as there were no facilities for practical work. The author looks at the ECAD (electronics computer aided design) initiative, in particular at Huddersfield Polytechnic and Essex University, which has revolutionised the teaching of complex electronics for thousands of UK students