Book Cover -- Half-Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- 1 Getting started -- 1.1 What are computers? -- 1.1.1 Digital computers -- 1.1.2 Types of digital computer -- Mainframes -- Minicomputers -- Microcomputers (desktop computers) -- Portable computers -- 1.2 Hardware -- 1.2.1 Processors -- 1.2.2 Memory -- 1.2.3 Storage -- Hard disks -- Floppy disks -- CD-ROM -- CD-R -- PhotoCD -- Tape -- Removable cartridge drives -- 1.2.4 Input and output devices -- 1.2.5 Input devices -- Keyboard -- Mouse -- Paddles and joysticks -- Tablets and digitizers -- Touch screens -- Scanners -- Digital cameras -- Voice recognition -- Character recognition -- Input from stored and transmitted data -- Future developments -- 1.2.6 Output devices -- Monitor (visual display unit) -- Projectors -- Printers -- Plotters -- Sound -- 1.2.7 Portable computers -- 1.3 Software -- 1.3.1 System software -- Control programs -- Operating systems -- Programming languages -- Software development -- 1.3.2 Applications software -- 1.4 Overview of a range of applications -- 1.4.1 Office management -- Word-processing (document production) -- Desktop publishing (presentation of reports and publicity) -- Graphics (presentation of images) -- Spreadsheets (prediction and calculations) -- Accounting and financial prediction -- Filers and databases (information storage and retrieval) -- Personal organizers (electronic Filofax) -- Presentation software -- 1.4.2 Design aids -- Surveying -- Drafting (electronic technical drawing) -- Modelling and visualization -- Structural and environmental calculations -- 1.4.3 Running a job -- Job costing -- Project management -- 1.4.4 Communications -- 1.5 Acquisition -- 1.5.1 Single user -- 1.5.2 Computers in practice -- General office management -- Job running and costing -- Accounting -- Secretarial tasks and administration.

Library information and archives -- Design and drawing procedures -- Technical support -- 1.5.3 Definition of needs -- 1.5.4 Sources of advice and consultancy -- RIBA IT groups -- Schools of architecture -- User groups -- Consultancy organizations -- Consultants -- Exhibitions -- Magazines -- Dealers -- 1.6 Implementation -- 1.6.1 Choosing hardware and software -- 1.6.2 Macintosh or PC? -- 1.6.3 Space and environmental requirements -- 1.6.4 Furniture layout -- 1.6.5 Electricity -- 1.6.6 Installation and maintenance -- 1.6.7 Maintenance -- 1.6.8 Training -- 1.6.9 Health and safety -- 1.6.10 Security -- Accident and theft -- Access to computers and data -- Viruses -- Back-up -- 1.6.11 The Data Protection Act -- 2 Office and job management -- 2.1 Documentation -- 2.1.1 Word-processing -- 2.1.2 Explanation of terms, requirements of professional typists -- 2.1.3 Originating and editing text -- 2.1.4 Templates, styles and standard documents -- 2.1.5 Illustrations, sound, 'movies' -- 2.1.6 Spelling and grammar checkers, thesaurus -- 2.1.7 Mail merge -- 2.1.8 The 'paperless office' -- 2.1.9 Managing the production of documents -- 2.1.10 Storage, back-up and archiving -- 2.2 Promotion and marketing -- 2.2.1 Documentation as an aid in marketing -- 2.2.2 Page layout -- 2.2.3 Fundamentals of page layout and typography -- 2.2.4 Page layout programs -- 2.2.5 Printing and production -- 2.2.6 Originating and managing a house style -- 2.2.7 A page layout glossary -- 2.3 Spreadsheets -- 2.3.1 Example -- 2.3.2 Characteristics of spreadsheets -- 2.3.3 Choosing a spreadsheet -- Compatibility -- Size and speed -- Ease of use -- Format -- Editing -- Functions and facilities -- Printing -- Data interchange -- Product support -- 2.4 Accounting, job costing and office management -- 2.4.1 Accounting and job costing -- Choosing an office management system -- Size -- Ease of use.

Features -- Customization -- Data interchange -- Training -- 2.4.2 File management systems and databases -- 2.4.3 Flat-filers (card files) -- 2.4.4 Structure of databases -- 2.4.5 Hypertext -- 2.4.6 When to use a database -- 2.4.7 Setting up a database -- 2.4.8 Maintaining a database -- Retrieval and manipulation of data -- Reports -- Printing -- Graphics -- 2.4.9 Security -- 2.4.10 Choosing a database -- Purpose -- Hardware compatibility -- Size and speed -- Operation and ease of use -- Data access and retrieval -- Editing -- Security -- Functions and facilities -- Data interchange -- Product support -- 2.4.11 Archives -- 2.4.12 Private and public databases -- 2.5 Project management -- 2.5.1 Project manager -- 2.5.2 PERT chart -- 2.5.3 Gantt chart -- 2.6 Information management -- 2.6.1 Document management -- Operating systems -- Indexing documents -- Document distribution -- 2.6.2 Archive and retrieval -- 3 Drawing, modelling and visualization -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.1.1 Definitions -- Vector and bit-mapped graphics -- 3.1.2 Benefits of computer drawing programs -- 3.1.3 Disadvantages of computer drawing programs -- 3.2 Two-dimensional drawing -- 3.2.1 Programs for the smaller job or office -- 3.2.2 Drawing programs for the larger job or office -- 3.2.3 Drawing input -- 3.2.4 Organizing a set of drawings -- Layers -- Drawing templates or stationery -- 3.2.5 Checklist for drawing software -- 3.2.6 Drawing output -- 3.3 Three-dimensional drawing: modelling and rendering -- 3.3.1 What modelling programs do -- Modellers help the user organize work by providing: -- 3.3.2 Visualization: rendering and animation -- Rendering -- Animation -- 4 Networks and communications -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.1.1 Networks -- 4.1.2 Uses, advantages and disadvantages -- 4.1.3 Simple networks -- 4.1.4 Peer-to-peer networks -- 4.1.5 Client/server networks.

4.1.6 Temporary network -- 4.1.7 System manager -- 4.2 Connecting machines: hardware and software -- 4.2.1 Layout and connections -- 4.2.2 Topology -- 4.2.3 Cables and transmission media -- 4.2.4 Protocols -- 4.2.5 Network connections -- 4.2.6 Software -- Network databases -- 4.2.7 Network security -- 4.3 Connecting people: communications -- 4.3.1 Modems -- Remote access -- 4.3.2 ISDN -- 4.3.3 E-mail -- 4.3.4 Bulletin boards -- 4.3.5 Intranets -- 4.3.6 The Internet and the World Wide Web -- 4.3.7 Information sources -- 4.3.8 Marketing on the Internet -- 4.3.9 Internet telephone services -- 4.3.10 Conferencing -- 5 Futures -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Students and education -- 5.3 The client and the construction industry -- 5.4 On the other hand -- 5.5 Likely developments in hardware and software -- 5.5.1 Equipment -- 5.5.2 Operating systems -- 5.5.3 Input -- 5.5.4 Software -- 5.5.5 Networks and communications -- 5.6 What we should like to see -- Appendix A Glossary -- Appendix B A selection of software and suppliers -- Chapter 2 Office and job management -- Word-processing programs -- Page layout programs -- Spreadsheets -- Accounting, job costing and office management -- File management systems and databases -- Hypertext -- Project management software -- Speech recognition software -- Chapter 3 Drawing, modelling and rendering -- Drawing (illustration programs) -- Image editing and photograph manipulation programs -- 2D and 3D drawing programs -- Animation and multimedia -- Chapter 4 Networks and communications -- LANs only -- LANs and WANs -- Net browsers -- E-mail -- Web authoring -- Further reading -- General -- Chapter 1 Getting started -- Chapter 2 Office and job management -- Chapter 3 Drawing, modelling and visualization -- Chapter 4 Networks and communications -- Chapter 5 Futures -- Web sites -- Magazines and periodicals -- General.

Computing -- Index.