Book excerpt: An Introduction to Information Processing provides an informal introduction to the computer field. This book introduces computer hardware, which is the actual computing equipment. Organized into three parts encompassing 12 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the evolution of personal computing and includes detailed case studies on two of the most essential personal computers for the 1980s, namely, the IBM Personal Computer and Apple's Macintosh. This text then traces the evolution of modern computing systems from the earliest mechanical calculating devices to microchips. Other chapters consider the components and operation of typical data communications systems. This book discusses as well the various types of communications networks and communications via space satellites. The final chapter deals with software or computer programs, the sets of instructions that programmers write to inform the computer how to solve particular problems. This book is a valuable resource for computer specialists, mathematicians, and computer programmers.