ABSTRACT
My aim is to provide busy clinicians and researchers with a relatively jargon-free introduction to using ‘new technology’. You may think that wasted learning time outweighs potential benefits. Hopefully, this guide will clarify the issues, demonstrating potential uses and benefits. I start with an overview of the core uses of computers in research, framed by the central concept of the ‘personal workstation’. Then each area will be considered to show how using a computer can assist you. Details of actual computer programs are not possible here, but selected references and information sources are provided for you to follow up. Finally, there is some practical advice on acquiring computing skills, and selecting suitable equipment. There is also a short glossary that attempts to explain basic computer jargon, which often baffles readers. Fuller descriptions of computing terms can be obtained from specialised dictionaries (e.g. British Computer Society, 1991; Gunton, 1992; Illingworth, 1990).
