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