System Software. Browsers. Spreadsheets. Presentation Graphics

Functionality - Функциональность

Basic - Основа

Browser - Браузер

Processor - Процессор

Spreadsheet - Крупномасштабная таблица

Database - База данных

Utility - Утилиты

Resource - Ресурс

Complexity - Сложность

Identity - Идентичность

Feature - Особенность

Purpose - Цель

Type - Тип

Rectangular - Прямоугольный

Area - Область

Request - Просьба

Resized - Измененный размер

Uncomplicated - Несложный

Personalized - Персонализированный/индивидуальный

Receive - Получить

Discussion - Дискуссия

Debate - Обсуждение

Variety - Многообразие

Challenge - Вызов

Hypertext - Гипертекст

Explorer - Исследователь/программа анализа

Command - Команда

Associated - Связанный

Personalized - Персонализированный

Standard - Стандарт

Convert - Преобразовывать

Icon - Иконка

Participate - Принимать участие

Coordinate - Координировать

Persuade - Убеждать

Supervisor - Супервизор

Instruction - Команда

The microcomputer is an electronic tool. A microcomputer is very good at typing, calculating, organizing, presenting, or managing information. All it takes is the right kinds of software - system software and application software.

Competent end users need to understand the functionality of systems software and to know the capabilities of basic application software including browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, database management, systems, and presentation graphics.

System Software

System software consists of utilities, device drivers, language translators, and operating systems. Operating systems manage resources, provide user interface, and run applications.

System software deals with the physical complexities of computer hardware. It consists of four kinds of programs: utilities, device drivers, language translators, and operating systems.

Utilities, also known as service programs, perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources or files. They include programs to help users identify hardware problems, locate lost files, and back up data.

Device drivers are specialized programs designed to allow particular input or output devices to communicate with the rest of the computer system.

Language translators convert the programming instructions written by programmers into a language that computers understand and process.

Operating Systems

Every computer has an operating system and every operating system performs three basic functions: managing resources, providing a user interface, and running applications.

Resources. These programs coordinate all the computer's resources including keyboard, mouse, printer, monitor, storage devices, and memory.

User interface. Users interact with application programs and computer hardware through a user interface. Almost all operating systems today provide a windows-like graphical user interface (GUI) in which graphic objects called icons are used to represent commonly used features.

Applications. These programs load and run applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. Most operating systems support multitasking, or the ability to run more than one application at a time.

For end users, the most important operating systems are those for microcomputers. These include DOS, Microsoft Windows, OS/2, Macintosh, and Unix.

General-purpose Applications

Browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems, and presentation graphics are general-purpose applications. That is, they are designed to be used by many people to do the most common kinds of tasks. This is why they are also known as basic applications. These and many other types of applications and operating systems have common features. The following are the most important.

1. Windows

A window is simply a rectangular area that can contain a document, program, or message. Many operating systems and application programs use windows to display information and request input. More than one window can be opened and displayed on the computer screen at one time. For example, one window might contain a browser, another a word processing program, and another - a graphic image. Windows can generally be resized, moved, and closed.

2. Browsers

Browsers are used to connect you to remote computers, open and transfer files, display text and images, and provide in one tool an uncomplicated interface to the Internet and the Web. Now, browsers are widely used by almost everyone who uses a computer. The most common activities include communicating with others, searching for information, and creating personalized Web pages.