The design, construction, and operation of a high‐resolution electron energy‐loss spectrometer incorporating a multidetector of 96 discrete anodes are described. In conjunction with temperature and pressure perturbations, this fast data‐acquisition spectrometer allows studies of surface kinetics and reaction mechanisms by accumulating spectra in as fast as 2 ms. A comprehensive hardware and software system has been developed that permits experimental control and data acquisition with an LSI 11/23 microcomputer. A routine increase in data‐acquisition speed of ≊10, when compared to a conventional electron energy‐loss apparatus, has been achieved when the spectrometer is operated with 10–20‐meV resolution.