个人计算机在实验室中的作用和应用是多种多样且灵活的。实验室中的个人计算机可用于控制关键实验室分析，提高生产率和分析质量，并促进各种管理功能。重要的个人计算机应用包括数据采集和仪器控制、实验室样本和数据管理、质量控制、水质数据分析和趋势分析、信息检索（文献检索）、计算机辅助培训和一般行政应用。对每一种应用都进行了简要描述。

The role and application of personal computers in the laboratory is varied and flexible. Personal computers in the laboratory can be used to control critical laboratory analyses, increase productivity and analytical quality, and facilitate a variety of administrative functions. Important personal computer applications include data acquisition and instrument control, laboratory sample and data management, quality control, water quality data analysis and trending, information retrieval (literature searches), computer-aided training, and general administrative applications. Each of these applications is briefly described.