INTERNATIONAL Business Machines Inc, the market leader for the large and powerful mainframe computers, is adapting its machines to the growing demand for smaller, more flexible and less costly computers.

The new technology developed over five years by IBM at the cost of over $1 billion, will allow these computers to be the size of a refrigerator instead of a car. The new machines will use scores of microprocessors and their operating costs are likely to be a third less than before.