Week 7: Clear: System Software vs. Application Software

Application Software is a program that helps a user to perform a certain task such as creating a word document or sending an email. Examples of application software are Microsoft Word and Mozilla Thunderbird. These programs allow the user to use simpler instructions in order to complete a task.



System Software is a program that is designed to control computer hardware and maintain a platform for running application software. The system software is broken down into three categories: The Bios and Device Firmware, the operating system, and utility software. The bios and firmware provide basic functionality of the hardware connected to the computer. The operating system allows for the computers software to run together smoothly and the utility software maintains and fixes the computer and it's problems.

The system software is a must have for computing while application software is not. Although it is not needed it is necessary because it makes using a computer much easier and without it not many people would be able to use one. If application software didn't exist then users would have to learn computer programming and commands to use a computer which is extremely difficult.

The Business World

The business environment needs application software and system software because without it what good is a computer unless everyone in the company knows programming. In addition, in order for everyone to know programming a company would have to provide the education to do so which would raise the overall cost, therefore, raising prices. The software keeps the prices down in companies due to it allowing the not so intelligent users to use.

Related Link

Techterms.com has a great site that explains what system software is and how it is used. The site also has a link to application software. This makes it a great tool to use for learning because is distinguishes the two and is very easy to understand.

Week 6: Clear: The Convenience of Flash Drives

A flash drive is a storage device that has no moving parts. It is used to store data such as media files, programs, or just regular documents. Flash drives are also known as USB drives because they connect to a computer through the USB port. The data of a USB drive travels much faster than an optical drive or a magnetic drive.

Over the years flash drives, like everything else, have become smaller in size but larger in capacity. For instance flash drives started at 8 MBs and now can support up to 256 GBs. New technology has allowed companies to create flash drives that are disguised as something else. For instance you can order a flash drive online that looks like a lipstick case or one that looks like a cracker.


Flash drives have unlimited potential in their capabilities. For instance, in the future they will have many shapes and sizes and be able to hold a ton of information. They are very durable and very reliable compared to the other drives. Flash drives don't lose their information and are very hard to break. This is why they are much better than optical and magnetic drives.

The Business World
Flash Drives are very useful in the business environment because they are a convenient way of traveling with data. Flash drives can be easily taken on planes and stored in a suitcase. Unlike other forms of media if a flash drive gets scratched it wont matter because the data is stored on the memory. This is why business use flash media instead of disks.

Related Site
PC Support explains what a flash drive is and how it can be used. Also it explains the various types there are and what they're capable of. This is a good site to learn what a flash drive is if not understood.

Web 2.0 Project

Doing this Web 2.0 project has taught me a lot of stuff about using the web to broadcast information. I was surprised all I could do to show people about the best night of my life. In addition, I had no idea how easy Youtube is to use and much interaction i can get through various websites. This is seriously impressing.

I chose to tell about the night my baseball team and I won the state championship in 2007. It was the best night of my life and my biggest accomplishment. I also felt as it was the most proud my parents were of me. Winning the state championship taught me many things. For instance, it taught me that high rewards do happen if you practice and play hard. It was until this day that I believed my coaches when they said that. I always dream about that night and I wish I could relive it all over again.

I followed all the copyright rules with the video because I used 30 seconds from the state championship movie because that was shorter than 10%. Also, I produced the music in my apartment with my computer with my friend singing and if I need it I asked him for a written agreement to use the song. All the pictures were given to me by my mom with her consent of usage.

The Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajLmvjSM61k

Interaction: https://twitter.com/JKaufman7

Just leave me a comment on my twitter account. Thanks.

Week 5: Clear: Decreaing Memory = Decreasing Speeds

A computer's Random Access Memory (RAM), better known as memory, is a temporary storage system for instructions and data. This allows for the computer to get to it more quickly. Hence, the more RAM you have the less your computer has to retrieve files from your storage disk which is much slower. When memory is technically in "normal" mode it stores most of the operating system and the open applications.

When a computer starts running low on RAM it then gets noticeably slower. This is how freezes happen, when the computer locks up because it is so low on memory. Each operating system or application has their own requirement for RAM usages. Some however, require more than others so there is no set amount of memory a computer should have, it is solely based on the user and what they use.


For example, Windows 7 is an operating system that requires 1 GB of memory and Adobe Photoshop CS4 is an application that requires 512 MB of memory. Simple math adds these to 1.5 GB of memory that is required for the usage of both at the same time. However, if a computer has exactly 1.5 GB of memory capabilities then it will run extremely slow and potentially lock up. Therefore, it is necessary for a computer to have more memory built in it than the user will potentially use. This will allow for flexibility and a higher probability of a computer running smoothly.

Business World

In the business world memory is vital to say the least. If the computers that businesses use have low amounts of memory then the business will run much slower and wont be as efficient as is potentially could be. This would probably result in loss in business due to it being much slower than competitors. The way things are going now easily explains how the future will be for memory. Memory will become smaller in size but bigger in capabilities. This will result in the growing of businesses and the economy.

A Related Article

This link explaines what RAM is and how it is used. It also goes in depth about what it is capable of and the future of it. It also explains why random access is used. I think it is a good website to learn from if someone is having trouble understanding.