Abstract

Computers in Chemical and Biochemical Research, Volume 1, is the first of multi-volume series that provides updated information on developments in computer-assisted techniques for chemical and biochemical research. Each volume will include a variety of review articles by expert practicing computer-chemists and biochemists, dealing with a wide array of topics. These will range from delineations of design philosophies and of laboratory computer systems to descriptions of special computer hardware developed to solve specific problems. Also included will be articles discussing algorithms, languages, and programming techniques; articles devoted to the more important applications of digital computer methods to specific problems (e.g., Fourier transform spectrometry, stopped-flow kinetics, automated spectrophotometry); and aticles devoted to techniques for training both graduates and undergraduates in laboratory computing.
The present text contains seven chapters and begins with a description of an educational program on digital computer instrumentation for the chemistry laboratory. Subsequent chapters cover topics such as multiprocessor systems in laboratory automation; a simple computer system for on-line data collection and manipulation in the biochemical laboratory; Fourier transform spectroscopy; and a small computer system used to collect and process data from three electron spin resonance spectrometers at the University of Oregon.