Abstract :
Since its appearance in May 1990, Microsoft´s Windows 3 has rapidly become the operating environment of choice for the IBM-compatible computer. The success of Windows 3 can be attributed to a variety of factors: its easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), multitasking, access to larger amounts of memory, integrated applications, networking, extensive hardware support, device independence and DOS compatibility. These factors, which can be categorised into those significant for users and those significant for developers, are discussed by the author. The author then describes LabVIEW, a graphical programming system developed by National Instruments from the Macintosh-based data acquisition and control software LabVIEW. The main features and functions of LabVIEW are described. The future development of Windows is discussed.<>
Keywords :
Apple computers; IBM compatible machines; data acquisition; engineering computing; graphical user interfaces; laboratory apparatus and techniques; microcomputer applications; software packages; visual programming; Apple Macintosh; IBM-compatible computer; LabVIEW; Microsoft Windows 3; National Instruments; data acquisition; engineering; graphical user interface; instrumentation programming;
