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If one were forced to use a single key word to describe the decade
of the 1980's, a very prominent one would be "technology. " Leading
the forefront of tech nology advancement were breakthroughs in
electronics. Devices that were uncommon or unknown in 1980 became
commonplace, and almost indispens able, by 1989. This trend has
continued into the 1990's and it does not seem to be abating in any
way. Microwave ovens, video recorders, telephone answer ing
machines, compact disc players, computers, and a host of smaller or
less sophisticated devices now appear in most households. The
development of small and inexpensive computers, i. e., personal
computers, has placed computing resources within reach of many more
people. In addition, many traditional, and largely mechanical
devices, have been enhanced by electronics. For example,
specialized microprocessors are combined with arrays of electronic
sensors to control and monitor sophisticated engineering components
in most new auto mobiles. In this and many other ways, we are
touched by the new electronics in almost every aspect of our daily
lives. Initially, personal computers were little more than toys.
They contained only a small fraction of the computing power of
their immediate ancestors, the mini computers and mainframe
computers. However, rapid improvements in integ rated circuit
design and chip manufacture produced regular reductions in size and
cost of computer components. During the same time, processor speed
and sophistication increased."
If one were forced to use a single key word to describe the decade
of the 1980's, a very prominent one would be "technology. " Leading
the forefront of tech nology advancement were breakthroughs in
electronics. Devices that were uncommon or unknown in 1980 became
commonplace, and almost indispens able, by 1989. This trend has
continued into the 1990's and it does not seem to be abating in any
way. Microwave ovens, video recorders, telephone answer ing
machines, compact disc players, computers, and a host of smaller or
less sophisticated devices now appear in most households. The
development of small and inexpensive computers, i. e., personal
computers, has placed computing resources within reach of many more
people. In addition, many traditional, and largely mechanical
devices, have been enhanced by electronics. For example,
specialized microprocessors are combined with arrays of electronic
sensors to control and monitor sophisticated engineering components
in most new auto mobiles. In this and many other ways, we are
touched by the new electronics in almost every aspect of our daily
lives. Initially, personal computers were little more than toys.
They contained only a small fraction of the computing power of
their immediate ancestors, the mini computers and mainframe
computers. However, rapid improvements in integ rated circuit
design and chip manufacture produced regular reductions in size and
cost of computer components. During the same time, processor speed
and sophistication increased."
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