The Microcomputer in Cell and Neurobiology Research [antikvár]

The computer revolution has arrived in cell and neurobiology research. Theadvent of the microcomputer makes measurement, control, and analysis of databoth simpler and far faster than seemed imaginable a decade ago. In the mid-70s,computer analysis of cell and neurobiology experiments was generally limited toa few "wealthy" laboratories that could afford high-priced mainframe or mini-computers. Today, inexpensive microprocessors and microcomputers make com-puter analysis accessible to virtually every scientist. Spurred by the popularity ofthe personal computer and the availability of low cost computers like the Appleand IBM-XT, many cell and neurobiologists have "computerized" their labora-tories. In the near future, the microcomputer will become an indispensable gen-eral purpose research tool in the laboratory.In a recent review of microcomputer applications in cell and neurobiology(Mize, 1984), I became aware of a number of microcomputer systems that hadbeen developed for use in those disciplines. Descriptions of these systems, how-ever, either had not been published or were scattered in a wide variety of journals.Those that were published varied greatly in technical detail and research use.Often they were too technical to be understood by the computer novice. Just asfrequently they included too little detail to be of use to those with a backgroundin computers. The articles often lacked a comprehensive description of theresearch application for which they were designed. Most importantly, I foundvery few books that collected such information in a single volume. This book isan effort in that direction.Although the book is designed primarily for cell biologists, neurobiologists,and others who analyze the structure and function of tissue, scientists in relatedfields will also find it useful for understanding microcomputer architecture andthe potential of microcomputers in a laboratory setting. Graduate and advancedundergraduate students should be able to use it as a supplementary text in bio-logically oriented computer courses.The book is divided into six sections: the first section includes chaptersdescribing the components of a microcomputer, programming languages, andhardware and software selection. The remaining sections describe microcomputer