Computers
as a Second LanguageComputers
as a Second LanguageHardware and Software
COMPUTER
SOFTWARE There
are two broad classifications of software, operating system software and
application software.OPERATING
SYSTEM SOFTWAREThe operating system is installed on your hard disk before any other software. The instructions come from the disk, thus the operating system is disk-based. Some early computers like the Commodore 64 (1983) had its operating system entirely in ROM. This was called a ROM-based operating system. The
operating system controls how your computer's hardware communicates with
the CPU, and it runs software applications. The two most popular
disk-based operating systems on the PC are DOS and
Windows '95.DOS
is gradually being phased out. Computers that still use DOS often
include an older version of Windows called Windows 3.11.
Windows 3.11 is not itself an operating system. It's actually a pretty
front-end for DOS. That is, an operating environment
that makes DOS easier to understand by allowing the computer to be
controlled with a mouse.On
the PC platform, Windows '95 (or Windows '98) is the preferred
disk-based operating system. It supports 32-bit software and hardware.
It also supports Plug & Play. Computers can easily be networked to
each other using Windows '95 (or Windows '98). APPLICATION
SOFTWAREAny activity you put your computer to use for can be considered an application. Typing a letter is done with a word processing application. Creating a mailing list is accomplished with a database application. Keeping track of your hourly wages is a spreadsheet application. Playing computer golf is a recreational application. Looking up information about the Sahara Desert on an encyclopedic CD-ROM is a research application. Producing a corporate newsletter is a desktop publishing application. All
applications require an operating system to be in place first. Most PCs
sold today come with Windows '98. Many computers are
bundled with a full suite of applications including personal finance
software, games, and telecommunications programs. Computers have never
been as affordable as they are now. With increasing popularity and
supply, prices will continue to drop and capabilities will continue to
grow! |
