Empowerment Technologies

In general, when a machine is "online," it is turned

on and connected to other devices. For example,

when a network printer is online, computers

connected to that network can print from it. Other

devices, such as scanners, video cameras, audio

interfaces, and others are said to be online when

they are running and connected to a computer

system.
 Recently, however, the term "online" usually means being

connected to the Internet. The connection can be through a

phone line, using a dial-up or DSL modem, a cable line via

a cable modem, or through a wireless connection. A

computer can also be online via a connection to a

computer network. Technically, computers that are on a

network are online even if they are not connected to the

Internet. But most networks are routed to a T1 line or other

Internet connection anyway. When a computer or other

device is not online, it is said to be offline.

 1. Computer or device connected to a network (such as

Internet) and ready to use (or be used by) other computers or

devices.

2. Database, file, or webpage available for downloading or

reading.

3. Services such as ticket reservation systems, or capability such

as online help, available directly through a computer system or

under its direct control.

Read more:

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/online.html
A computer platform is a system that consists of a

hardware device and an operating system that an

application, program or process runs upon. An example of

a computer platform is a desktop computer with Microsoft

Windows installed on it. A desktop is a hardware device

and Windows is an operating system.

The operating system acts as an interface between the

computer and the user and also between the computer and

the application. So, in order to have a functional device, you

need hardware and an operating system together to make

a usable computer platform for a program to run on.

The hardware portion of a computer platform consists of a

processor, memory, and storage. The processor is a bit like

your brain and memory is like a scratchpad for your brain

to use while you're working out a problem.

It used to be that people referred to different computer

platforms by their physical size, from smallest to largest -

microcomputers (smallest), minicomputers (mid-size), and

mainframes (largest). The term microcomputer has fallen

somewhat out of favor - now most people just refer to these

machines as computers or personal computers.

 In personal Computing, a Platform is the basic hardware (computer) and software

(Operating system) on which software applications can be run.

What does Platform really mean?

A Platform is a group of Technologies that are used as a base upon which other

applications, processes, or technologies are developed.

In personal Computing, a platform is the basic hardware (Computer) and software

(Operating System) on which software applications can be run.

The operating system acts as an interface between the computer and the user and also

between the computer and the application

Computers uses specific central processing units (CPU's) that are designed to run

specific machine language code. In order for the computer to run software applications,

the application must be in the CPU's binary coded machine language.

 Thus historically, application programs written for one platform

would not work in a different platform.

Additionally, a "platform" is a system that can be programmed

and therefore customized by outside developers - users - and in

that way, adapted to countless needs and niches that the

platform's original developers could not have possibly

contemplated, much less had time to accommodate.

So, "The key term in the definition of platform is 'programmed'.

If you can program it, then it's a platform. If you can't, then it's

not."
 This type is primarily used by large organization for

various application including bulk data, process

control, industry and consumer statics and son on.

The term referred to as the large cabinets which is

called main frames. It was developed first in 1950s

and continued to evolve till now and today also in

use. It is optimized for computational speed and

handle very high volume data. Speed is expressed

in MIPS.
Personal computer is also known as microcomputer. It is relatively

small as computer to other types and not so expensive, especially

designed for a single user. As the term we also used microprocessor ,

so they are based on microprocessor technology which enables to

put an entire CPU on one chip. This used at home is for playing

games. Business persons also used to word processing, accounting,

desktop publishing, database management and so on.

PC first comes in 1970s which is one of the most popular personal

computer. In 1977s Apple II introduced first Apple computer. During

the 1970s and 1980s , new model and operating systems seemed to

existence. After that in 1981, IBM entered fray which is first personal

computer known by IBM PC.

This type of computer platform is smaller is size but posses most of

the features and capabilities of a large computer. Fill space between

the microcomputer and the mainframe computer platforms. It always

use midrange servers operating business as well as scientific

application. But now thesedays term is vanished or you can say

merged with server.

Minicomputer was developed by IBM Corporation and comes in mid

of 1960s. Used as the mid-range servers so that they can be operated

in software application and support great number of users at the

same time. It can also contain more than one processor they are

supporting multiprocessing and tasking. They are powerful then

microcomputers and workstation.

 In the computer world, a "platform" typically refers to a

computer's operating system. For example, a Dell computer

running Windows XP would be considered to be running

on a Windows platform. An iMac, on the other hand, runs on

the Macintosh platform. It is a more generic way of

referring to a computer's operating system than having to

specify, for example, Windows XP Professional SP 2, or Mac

OS X 10.3.5. The term platform is often used when referring

to what kind of computer systems a certain software

program will run on.

operating system is the set of programs

that controls a computer.

It provide a pleasant and effective

interface between the user and the

hardware

Makes the computer more convenient to

use
Process Management

Memory Management

File Management

Security management

Command Interpreter
 By process management OS

manages many kinds of activities

:-

All process from start to shut down

Creation and deletion of user and

system processes.
 The major activities of an operating regard

to memory-management are:-

Decide which process are loaded into

memory when memory space becomes

available.

Allocate and deallocate memory space as

needed.
 The file management system allows the

user to perform such tasks:-

Creating files and directories

Renaming files

Coping and moving files

Deleting files
 Bysecurity management OS manages

many tasks such as:-

Alert messages

Dialogue boxes

Firewall

Passwords
 A command interpreter is an interface

between system and the user. There are

two types of user interface:-

Command line

Graphical user interface

 With a command line user interface the user interact with the OS by typing

command to perform specific tasks

With a graphical user interface the user interacts with the OS by using a mouse to

access windows icons and menus