In the modern world, it’s hard to imagine a person who would not have come across a concept such as “A software package that provides interaction between a person and a computer” from school. Let’s try to figure out what it is, and which elements are included in its composition.
What is the name of the software package that controls the computer?
So, the very concept of such a package arose at the dawn of the development of computer technology and related technologies.
Today it is considered that in the broadest sense of the term, a software package that controls the operation of the computer and ensures the functioning of the computer itself, as well as the performance of certain tasks by the user, is nothing more than an operating system with all its elements. Some people mistakenly believe that this is only a specific OS with system-level programs. However, so to speak, “clean” systems are hardly ever found today.
What is included in the concept of an operating system?
As for the understanding of operating systems or, as they are sometimes called, “operating systems”, this is not only the system part.
The latter is an exclusively software package that controls the operation of the computer and ensures its correct functioning. That's all. Based on the understanding of a “clean” system, it is not designed to perform any third-party tasks that are in no way connected with the “OS”. The creation of such systems would be completely impractical, since their use for some specific purposes (at the dawn of computer technology - the usual calculation using mathematical, algebraic or trigonometric actions) would be simply impossible. Therefore, today systems are created that have tremendous opportunities, albeit not for all occasions, but at least for most of them.
Yes, and you can find quite a lot of operating systems today: Windows, Mac OS X, Free BSD, Linux, UNIX, etc. In addition to the system part, they have impressive sets of completely different applications, for example, for processing graphics, listening to music , watching videos, etc. Naturally, these are just some of the elements, not a complete set.
What is software generally understood?
As for what is usually called software, it is, in essence, the totality of absolutely all programs that are installed by default or by a user in a particular computer system.
In other words, this is a software package that controls the computer in the broadest sense: the operation of the operating system itself, the correct functioning of hardware devices (motherboards, graphics cards, sound adapters, network devices, disk drives, USB ports and devices, various modules wireless communications, monitors, etc.), ensuring interaction between the computer and the user (graphical interface), as well as the ability to combine several machines into local or virtual networks, access to the World Wide Web duck, and much more.
A system package of programs that control the operation of a computer and provides interaction related to a given task of a user and a response to the execution of the operating system itself may not always work, in particular with regard to user portable programs that are not connected in any way with the system.
If we talk about applications that allow the user to use all the explicit and hidden features of the system, here the first place is taken by the graphical interface. It is through him that a person gains access to all functions and capabilities. But it was not always so. For the first time, an interface of this type was created using object-oriented programming technologies when the revolutionary Windows OS 3.1 was released at that time.
Prior to this, only systems focused on the execution of commands were used. These were the so-called DOS-systems, in which access was carried out through the command line or using the function key combinations. At that time, many remembered the fact that the first Norton Commander was not only a file manager (as many people think), but a powerful tool for editing text information and even viewing some graphic formats.
Nevertheless, today the system software package that controls the computer includes a lot of elements. So, for example, in addition to applications that ensure the functioning of the OS itself, this concept includes device drivers, which are special programs or dynamic libraries that provide interaction between the devices themselves and the operating system. Without a driver, not a single “iron” component will work - the system simply does not recognize it.
In addition, this list can also include special features for changing the configuration of a computer system, controlling access to certain functions, setting up the simultaneous use of a specific local or network user account when entering a system with several registered users on one terminal or several terminals located in the local or virtual network, etc.
General concept of application programs
In addition to the system part, one can also single out a specialized software package that controls the operation of the computer and provides any user with the opportunity to perform a specific task. Such programs are called application programs.
Naturally, today the range of tasks that modern computer systems are capable of fulfilling has expanded significantly. For example, using special mathematical packages, one can easily solve complex problems up to tensor equations.
New opportunities
Modern applications related to physics or chemistry can even simulate some situations that have not yet reached their embodiment in real life. Software packages such as AutoCAD provide the broadest possibilities for designers of various systems in completely different areas of technology science.
And what about sound and video? Previously, it all came down only to viewing and listening, but today you can easily find some kind of professional software package that controls the computer and provides not only recording music or vocals at the studio level, but also allows you to create music without using any tools at all. At the same time, sounds in such applications are no different from “live” instruments.
The same goes for video processing. Look, after all, the same battle between Neo and Morpheus from the first part of the Matrix movie trilogy was modeled precisely in the program, and not filmed live. However, the list goes on and on.
Standard Windows Programs
It goes without saying that every known operating system today has its own standard software package that controls the operation of the computer and provides the user with everything necessary to perform the other most common tasks. Since the most used are the modifications of the Windows OS, we will consider this particular set.
Here you can find a standard file manager called “Explorer”, means for viewing and editing graphic images, a player for video and music, text editors, system administration tools and configuration settings in the form of a “Control Panel”, a built-in browser for accessing the Internet, tools for setting up local or virtual networks, special tools for people with disabilities (for example, for those who have low vision, the system suggests using a magnifier to increase image) and much more.
Associated Programs and Features
Among some additional components, it is worth noting the software package that controls the operation of the computer and ensures the security of the system. In Windows, such applications are commonly referred to as firewalls or firewalls.
In addition, almost all users today use anti-virus software designed specifically to protect computers from virus attacks or the penetration of malicious codes, spyware or unwanted programs that can not only significantly disrupt the entire system as a whole, but also lead to its complete “crash” ".
Instead of an afterword
As you can see, the software package that controls the operation of the computer is not only an “OS” that provides interaction between a PC and a person, but also many additional elements that allow you to focus on the performance of a specific task. So it’s simply not necessary to say that this is exclusively an “OS”. Here the understanding of such a term is much wider. And if you take into account the rapid development of computer technology, who knows, maybe in the near future such systems will generally go beyond our current understanding and will be intended for completely different, as yet unpredictable purposes.