From the Editor´s Desk

IEEE Annals has already published several pioneer accounts and scholarly articles on the transformation from commercial mainframe computers to distributed local area networks (LAN) of personal computers linked to a server in a branch office. This reshaping of computers encompassed extensive basic hardware and software innovations and provided widespread new business opportunities. However, more documentation and historical studies are needed for us to reach a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and impact of this transformation on business, technology, and how we live and work. This issue is the sixth in series of special issues on software history. Burton Grad serves as guest editor for this issue on "Relational Database Management Systems: The Business Explosion."