[Excerpt] Graphical user interfaces, multimedia CD-ROMs, and the Internet have increased accessibility and people’s understanding of computers. And greater understanding has brought substantially greater ownership. Between 1990 and 1997, the percentage of households1 owning computers increased from 15 percent to 35 percent. During this time, the amount spent by the average household on computers and associated hardware more than tripled. This report briefly examines the demographics of computer ownership (also see table ) as reported by households participating in the interview component of the Bureau’s Consumer Expenditure survey.