№1088

Most of us will agree that computers have become an integral part of society.We can touch them and see the results of their seemingly endless capabilities. But the computer-literate person recognizes that hardware is useless without software,andsoftware is useless without hardware.System software is more general than applications software and is usually independent of any specific application area. System software programs support all application software by directing the basic function of thecomputer. For example, when the computer is turned on, an initialization program prepares and readies all devices for processing. Software that permits us to write programs in COBOL and BASIC is also system software. The operating system, too, discussedlater in this chapter, is classified as system software.