Introduction of a New Technology Into a Laboratory Program

In an academic environment, the use of current technology is crucial to the effectiveness of the curriculum. In a laboratory course, this means that equipment, components, and experiments must be periodically updated to use new technology and facilities. The updating procedure requires careful planning in order to avoid potential problems. This paper outlines the steps required to introduce a new technology into a laboratory course. The problems likely to be encountered at each step and their avoidance are also explained. As a case study, the introduction of programmable logic devices (PLD's) into the digital design curriculum at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is presented.