Evolving Views of Computer-Aided Planning

This article reviews the planning profession's changing views of the role of computer technology in planning practice, research, and education. It begins by reviewing the literature reflecting the enthusiasm that greeted the introduction of computers in the 1960s and the harsh lessons that were learned in the 1970s. It then examines the current literature focusing on practical issues of applying microcomputer technology to professional practice and the political characteristics of public sector computing. The article concludes by evaluatingfuture prospects for computer-aided planning and suggesting useful directions for the future.