Dealing with large data sets.

Collection, storage and retrieval of large amounts of data from multiple experiments for subsequent reduction, graphing and statistical analysis need not be a burdensome task. Although turnkey systems may offer significant economies for single well-defined and repetitive tasks, they may not permit sufficient flexibility to achieve the diverse aims required by many research programs. Using popular microcomputers to run one or a few experimental subjects may confront the investigator not only with significant bookkeeping problems, but also with an allocation of labor resources to computer maintenance and support that might be better invested in research effort. By using networked minicomputers, economies of scale emerge both in data collection, transfer, reduction, and analysis, as well as in maintenance, support, and scientific effort.