`Impedance match´ personal computers with engineers

The author gives a framework to help judge the merits of personal computer applications and discusses the `interface impedance´ between the engineer and the computer, drawing the analogy that, just as in electrical circuits, the effective power transfer is optimized when the impedance match is optimum. He discusses different types of computer users and the tasks to be computerized. He discusses software from the viewpoint of the training it requires and how much use will be made of it. Choosing engineering programs is discussed, and the software developer is given guidance in the development of useful programs based on looking at end users as having a spectrum of ability rather than as a homogeneous group