APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE

Systems software available on micro-computers includes compilers interpreters for popular programming languages like BASIC, COBOL and FORTRAN. However, because of their large numbers and personal use, powerful applications software which does not require significant programming knowledge has been developed to run on personal computers. The most important categories of this software, which enables a user to autonomously utilize a personal computer are:

 

1. Data Base Management Software
2. Spreadsheet Software
3. Word Processing Software
4. Graphic Software
5. Data Communication Software

Data Base Management

Software packages called Data Base Management System (DBMS) has been developed long before micro-computers to handle the problems of maintaining and integrating large volumes of data on large machines. The most important distinguishing feature of a DBMS package on personal computers is that it provides a very high level language interface which can be learned by a user who is not a computer programmer. In a few hours, it is possible to acquire enough skill to use the basic features of DBMS packages like dBASE III which is the best selling software currently in this class.

HARDWARE-1

With the proliferation of micro-computers, the concept of distributed computing has emerged. In distributed computing, a number of computers are dispersed in different parts of an organization and inter-connected using special cables, telephone lines or other telecommunication media. This allows data and programmers to be shared and also provides for some new types of application such as electronic mail. Electronic Mail moves messages through inter-linked computers/terminals.

 

To support such networking special electronic devices such as modems an network inter-face cards are often fitted into micro-computers. For example, a blinds company who are selling vertical blinds and roman shades online, they are having inter-linked computers by which they are sending their marketing emails. Another example is a company who are providing term life insurance rates online, they are using lead management tools by which their online leads are transfer to their insurance software and from that insurance software they are distributing their leads.

 

As with large computers, micro-computers have operating systems to enable the user to easily interact with the machine. These operating systems are similar to those on large machines except that they are much simpler. This is because the majority of micro-computers are not multi-terminal machines – only one user has access to the machine at any time. In this situation the machine is the personal computer of the user. Personal computers are used for a variety of tasks. The most common applications are:

 

1. Word Processing
2. Financial Analysis
3. Data Base Access
4. Graphics
5. Accounting