The purpose of the column "Bums Computing" is to enable the physician to be not just a potential or actual user of the techniques of information science but an active participant in the development of its applications.
This is certainly an ambitious aim, and its achievement will depend not only on the efYorts of those who are directly involved in the production of the column itself but above all on the collaboration of all who feel the need for a synthesis between medicine and information science and who, we hope, will become guests and protagonists of "Burns Computing".
Our intention is to fill a gap in the specialized literature by ofTering bums experts a means for communicating the experience they have acquired in the application of the computer in the management of burned patients, an experience which with even better effect they can place at the disposal of others.
An indispensable premise would seem to be a preliminary analysis of the present use of information sciences in our professional environment. We accordingly invite all users of personal computers and associated equipment to use the form provided to describe the hardware and software they work with and their opinion on the prospects of future applications in our speciality.
All those who accept our invitation and send in the required information will be included in a privileged circuit for the diffusion of application software and they will be entitled to have on-line reception of "Bums Computing" directly on their personal computers.

G. Mighore M.D.