The author’s goal is user education; he separates applications from BASIC programming. The book is well organized and presents its material well. Most chapters end with short-answer questions and projects. A set of manuals, tests, transparencies, software tutorials, and integrated software supports the book.

Part 1 is a two-chapter introduction. The first chapter introduces the use of computers in banking, schools, homes, shops, offices, and business management. The author considers life without computers and gives reasons for using them. Chapter 2 extends the concepts of computers and groups them based on size and the power of their hardware. Software is defined in terms of programs and programming languages.

Part 2 explains hardware in four chapters. Chapter 3 is devoted to primary storage and the CPU. It introduces data representation and machine language. The fourth chapter describes I/O devices, including keyboards, mice, VDUs, printers, touch input, optical character recognition, magnetic stripe readers, voice I/O, and microfilm. The design of I/O devices is described based on ergonomics. Chapter 5, on secondary storage, covers magnetic and optical disks and magnetic tape. Chapter 6 describes data communications in terms of hardware, software, terminals, PC connections, and network strategies.

Part 3 takes eight chapters to cover software. Chapter 7 introduces operating systems, presenting the concept, implementation, and interfaces. Chapter 8 describes the concept of word processing systems and presents their hardware, software, and utilities as well as desktop publishing. Spreadsheets are defined in chapter 9, which introduces the idea of a spreadsheet, presents the functions of the software, and describes advanced features such as financial modeling. Data management software functions are described in chapter 10. It covers the basic concepts, file and database management software, and drivers such as programming languages, report generators, forms, and multiple access. Chapter 11 covers the hardware and software of computer graphics. Related subjects are covered, including presentation graphics and CAD, as is integrated software that handles communications, data management, spreadsheets, graphics and word processing, desktop organizers, and hypertext. Chapter 12 addresses software development in terms of algorithms and their representation as pseudocode, flowcharts, structure charts, life cycle phases, and the resulting products. Chapter 13 is a brief description of programming languages, including machine, assembly, and higher-level languages.

Part 4 comprises four chapters on information systems concepts and applications. Chapter 14 covers the concept of information systems and presents various applications. The components of information systems are hardware, software, stored data, personnel and procedures, and their functions. The author briefly describes applications in basic business, accounting, finance, marketing, and manufacturing. Chapter 15 defines different types of information system architecture as centralized, teleprocessing, decentralized, distributed, and transaction processing system. Applications are described for management information, decision support, expert systems, office automation, and executive support. Chapter 16 reviews database technology, host languages, application generators, and support systems. Chapter 17 describes the processes involved in the development of information processing systems, presenting the phases, methods, and tools. A case study provides a system development example.

The two chapters of Part 5 address computers and society. Chapter 18 describes the impact of computers on society, including the benefits of computers, privacy, employment, crime, and the future. Finally, chapter 19 is devoted to careers and computers, including the information systems department, end users, the computer industry, career preparation, and keeping one’s knowledge current.

Appendices are devoted to the selection of a PC, the history of computers, number systems, and BASIC programming. The 275-page BASIC appendix is divided into six sections: introduction, calculation and I/O, control structures, looping, subroutines and functions, and array processing.