Data Acquisition (DAQ) technology 
provides the link between the data-generating sensors and data-storing 
recording devices.  DAQ can also provide the means for driving external 
actuators from a computer, by the generation of external excitation 
signals.  DAQ technology includes both hardware and software. 
Thanks to the recent advancements in processor technology, the 
low cost personal computer is now the most important carrier for data 
acquisition cards. The high clock speeds of modern central processing 
units (CPUs), such as Pentium and PowerPC, enables higher sampling 
rates.  This along with high performance bus architectures such as PCI, 
cheap RAM, and fast voluminous hard disks make long-term continuous 
measurements possible.
Traditionally, the clock speed of the computer CPU can significantly affect the performance of the DAQ system. However, newer direct memory access
 (DMA) transfer technology speeds up the system by using dedicated 
hardware to transfer data directly into system memory. Thus, the CPU is 
not burdened with moving data and is therefore free to engage in more 
complex processing tasks. In addition, if an application requires 
real-time processing of high-frequency signals, a dedicated digital signal processing (DSP) chip can be built-in on the DAQ board to share the work load of the main processor. 
Another important development is portable data acquisition based 
on laptop computers with PCMCIA cards. This configuration allows more 
convenient field measurements that used to be troublesome for practicing
 engineers.
Emerging broadband internet and broadband cellular phones 
outperform traditional modem hookups using RS-232 or RS-485 serial 
communication ports.  These emerging communication technologies will 
make remote monitoring and access measurements more achievable.
In short, the current level of data acquisition technology, 
although still not perfect, is far more effective and efficient than a 
decade ago. In the future, one can expect even more affordable and 
accurate measurement instruments, some that could be fitted into 
computers as small as modern hand-held calculators or personal digital 
assistants.
God bless us all.....:)
























