The history of the personal computer as a mass-market consumer electronic device began with the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s. A personal computer is one intended for interactive individual use, as opposed to a mainframe computer where the end user's requests are filtered through operating staff, or a time-sharing system in which one large processor is shared by many individuals.

Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) is an interviewing technique in which the respondent or interviewer uses an electronic device to answer the questions. It is similar to computer-assisted telephone interviewing, except that the interview takes place in person instead of over the telephone.

<company> A UK computer manufacturer, part of the {Acorn Computer Group} plc. Acorn was founded on 1978-12-05, on a kitchen table in a back room. Their first creation was an electronic slot machine. After the Acorn System 1, 2 and 3, Acorn launched the first commercial microcomputer - the ATOM in March 1980. In April 1981, Acorn won a contract from the BBC to provide the PROTON. In January 1982 Acorn launched the BBC Microcomputer System. At one time, 70% of microcomputers bought for UK schools were BBC Micros. The Acorn Computer Group went public on the Unlisted Securities Market in September 1983. In April 1984 Acorn won the Queen's Award for Technology for the BBC Micro and in September 1985 Olivetti took a controlling interest in Acorn. The Master 128 Series computers were launched in January 1986 and the BBC Domesday System in November 1986. In 1983 Acorn began to design the Acorn RISC Machine (ARM), the first low-cost, high volume RISC processor chip (later renamed the Advanced RISC Machine). In June 1987 they launched the Archimedes range - the first 32-bit RISC based microcomputers - which sold for under UKP 1000. In February 1989 the R140 was launched. This was the first Unix workstation under UKP 4000. In May 1989 the A3000 (the new BBC Microcomputer) was launched. In 1990 Acorn formed Advanced RISC Machines Ltd. (ARM) in partnership with Apple Computer, Inc. and VLSI to develop the ARM processor. Acorn has continued to develop RISC based products. With 1992 revenues of 48.2 million pounds, Acorn Computers was the premier supplier of Information Technology products to UK education and had been the leading provider of 32-bit RISC based personal computers since 1987. Acorn finally folded in the late 1990s. Their operating system, RISC OS was further developed by a consortium of suppliers. Usenet newsgroups: news:comp.sys.acorn, news:comp.sys.acorn.announce, news:comp.sys.acorn.tech, news:comp.binaries.acorn, news:comp.sources.acorn, news:comp.sys.acorn.advocacy, news:comp.sys.acorn.games. Acorn's FTP server (ftp://ftp.acorn.co.uk/). {HENSA software archive (http://micros.hensa.ac.uk/micros/arch.html)}. {Computers Ltd.phudv/">Richard Birkby's Acorn page (http://csv.warwick.ac.uk/Acorn Computers Ltd.phudv/)}. RiscMan's Acorn page (http://geko.com.au/riscman/). Computers Ltd.rhh01/Main.html">Acorn On The Net (http://stir.ac.uk/Acorn Computers Ltd.rhh01/Main.html). {"The Jungle" by Simon Truss (http://csc.liv.ac.uk/users/u1smt/u1smt.html)}. [Recent history?] (2000-09-26)

Computers can be classified, or typed, in many ways. Some common classifications of computers are given below.

<company> A US computer manufacturer. Quarterly sales $544M, profits $49M (Aug 1994). (1994-09-26)

Personal and Ubiquitous Computing is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1997. It covers original research on ubiquitous and pervasive computing, ambient intelligence, and wearable and mobile information devices, with a focus on user experience and interaction design issues.

Computers and Mathematics with Applications () is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Elsevier, covering scholarly research and communications in the area relating to both mathematics and computer science. It includes the more specific subjects of mathematics for computer systems, computing science in mathematics research, and advanced mathematical and computing applications in contemporary scientific fields, such as ecological sciences, large-scale systems sciences and operations research.

Personal web pages are World Wide Web pages created by an individual to contain content of a personal nature rather than content pertaining to a company, organization or institution. Personal web pages are primarily used for informative or entertainment purposes but can also be used for personal career marketing (by containing a list of the individual's skills, experience and a CV), social networking with other people with shared interests, or as a space for personal expression.

(personal assistants)

(right-hand men)