PC-based data acquisition systems are used in a wide variety of applications. In laboratories, in field services and in manufacturing facilities, these systems act as general-purpose measurement and control tools well suited for measuring voltage signals. Teaching and learning experiences may be enhanced by integrating new-technologies in the engineering curriculum, particularly in experimental-type courses. By installing plug-in data acquisition boards and signal-conditioning hardware, and appropriate software, the general-purpose computers become enormously flexible virtual-instruments with data acquisition and analysis capability. This paper describes a Computer-Aided Testing System which uses a commercially available A/D board to offer users a wide array of measurement and control capabilities. It can be used for making repeated high speed measurement, controlling motors or teaching data acquisition.
