Methods for deriving chemical information from a variety of systems and environments have changed dramatically in the last decade. Unique principles from physics, chemistry, and biology are the basis for sophisticated instruments that incorporate computers for data acquisition, reduction, and interpretation. Such analytical systems have shown orders-of-magnitude improvements in sensitivity, specificity, and speed, yet with greater simplicity and lower price. The increasing importance of analytical instrumentation requires reexamination of its coverage in educational curricula and of the role of the analytical chemist in its further development and application.