be done to reduce them? The book aims to treat the data acquisition process in depth with less detailed chapters on the fundamental principles of measure­ ment, sensors and signal conditioning. There is also a chapter on software packages, which are becoming increasingly popular. This is such a rapidly changing topic that any review of available pro­ grams is bound to be out of date before the book reaches the read­ ers. For this reason, I have described the data handling which is available in various types of program and left it to the reader to select from whatever is on the market at the time.