Computer technology in a nutshell

THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION: S. Venkatachalam; Pitambar Publishing Co., 888, East Park Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005. Rs. 140.

GLOSSY MULTI-COLOURED books by Western authors on the latest in computer technology are not difficult to find these days - and many of them are available as affordable Indian reprints, albeit quite a few months after the original publication.

But many Indian readers who look for a single all-in-one reference which covers current technology without assuming a lot of prior knowledge, find these foreign publications unsatisfactory if not intimidating. Such readers might find what they are looking for in Prof. Venkatachalam's unpretentious, friendly volume on the computer revolution.

The author who is with Bombay IIT's Metallurgical Engineering Department, has earlier written an award-winning book on computers, in Tamil.

In the present book, he provides a brief introduction to the history and technology of computers in a dozen introductory chapters, before going on to discuss programming languages, database management, and the whole gamut of Internet-based topics.

With an eye on the future, the author includes some treatment of image processing, as well as subjects currently exciting computer technologists, like wearable PCs and DNA computers. However, the chapter entitled ``Know your PC'' was better left out since anything one writes becomes obsolete in a month or two.

That apart this is a handy guide for those who seek a quick run- through of information about computer technology in a book that can be read - if required - at one go.

ANAND PARTHASARATHY

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