The genesis of individual computing devices, some of their applications, and the market for personal computers are reviewed, including discussions of electronic mail and computerized music. (JN)

Examines issues involving the use of on-line databases, magnetic and optical data storage, digital telecommunications, and microcomputers on college campuses. These issues include access to computers and computer networking, and educational uses of the computers. Examples of efforts at four universities are included. (JN)

Discusses several areas of artificial intelligence and research in this area, focusing on natural language understanding. Indicates that language is more than words, that "meaning" depends on context, and that "understanding" requires a vast body of knowledge about the world. (JN)

To determine how hard it is for computers to solve problems, researchers have classified groups of problems (polynomial hierarchy) according to how much time they seem to require for their solutions. A difficult and complex proof is offered which shows that a combinatorial approach (using Boolean circuits) may resolve the problem. (JN)

Discusses ultrafast phenomena that may influence device performance and describes new experimental methods utilizing short optical pulses to investigate materials and device structures. (JN)

Advances in factory computerization (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) are reviewed, including discussions of robotics, human factors engineering, and the sociological impact of automation. (JN)

Discusses computer uses in higher education, libraries, publishing, and in generating concordances and dictionaries. Computer networks, videodisc technology, and machine-readable text are also examined. Indicates that the earliest and still most prevalent use of computers in the humanities is the compilation of concordances. (JN)

Advances in electronics and computer science have enabled industries (pulp/paper, iron/steel, petroleum/chemical) to attain better control of their processes with resulting increases in quality, productivity, profitability, and compliance with government regulations. (JN)

Surveys the technology of database software and hardware, describing some of the principal issues related to the user's view of data, sharing, concurrent access, security, and integrity. (JN)

An important development in the computerization of society is the development of the ability to communicate with a computer through human speech. Speech recognition machines with limited capabilities are available today. (BB)

Discusses interdependence of computers and microelectronics, importance of programing, offices of the future, communications for the 1980s, emerging information systems, and the inexpensive, fast, and reliable small devices such as memory chips. (JN)

The use of microelectronics and computers in medicine is reviewed, focusing on medical research; medical data collection, storage, retrieval, and manipulation; medical decision making; computed tomography; ultrasonic imaging; role in clinical laboratories; and use as adjuncts for diagnostic tests, monitors of critically-ill patients, and with the…

Discusses the evolution of the nationwide telecommunications network, including key technologies (transistors, communications satellites, and lasers), putting these technologies together, current and future services, and challenges for the future. (JN)

Discusses the controversy surrounding the initial decision to establish, and the current decision to phase out, the National Resource for Computation in Chemistry (NRCC), a computational chemistry center jointly sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. (CS)

Discusses various aspects of artificial intelligence, focusing on three interrelated issues: (1) representation of knowledge, which is roughly the machine equivalent of human memory; (2) control and use of knowledge, which corresponds to human abilities in problem solving and planning; and (3) the acquisition of knowledge, or what humans call…