System Media Assignment
Georgiana Thomas
HCS/482
April 10th, 2013 Michele Baham

System Media Assignment
Word processor; this is a software program. It is capable of creating, storing, and printing documents. It processes words, paragraphs, pages and entire papers. It enables one to create a document and store it electronically on a disk. It also has the capacity to display it on a screen; it can modify documents by entering commands and characters from the keyboard and printing such from a printer. Some examples of word processor includes: Microsoft word, word perfect (windows only), Apple works (Mac only) and open office. Org., Microsoft office, Microsoft works, Corel word perfect, and Sun star office. Some of the features are used to customize the style of the text, and change the page formatting. It also has the ability to add headers, footers, page numbering, word count, cut, copy, and paste, insert and delete text.
Hierarchical database; this is a ranked database, which purpose is to organize data to form a treelike structure, in a pyramid opposite. All access to the data starts from the hierarchy and moves downward. The hierarchy of parent and child data segment is an example. IMS is the most popularly used. It is developed by IBM and windows Registry by Microsoft. The Hierarchical database collects all instances of a specific record together as a record type. It also allows repeating information.
Flat database; this is also called a flat file. It represents a plain text or mixed text and binary file which usually contain one record per line or 'physical' record. It describes any of various means to encode a data model (most commonly a table) as a plain text file. Some examples of flat files are /etc/passwd and /etc/group on Unix-like operating systems. A name-and-address list with the fields "Name", "Address", and "Phone Number" would be another example. The flat file is used to put all database information in one table, or list, with fields to represent all parameters. This also offer the functionality to store information, manipulate fields, print or display formatted information and exchange information with others, through email and over the Internet.
Object-oriented database (OODB); is a system offering DBMS facilities in an object-oriented programming environment. Data is stored as objects and can be interpreted only using the methods specified by its class. The relationship between similar objects is preserved (inheritance), as are references between objects. Queries can be faster because joins are often not needed (as in a relational database). This is because an object can be retrieved directly without a search, by following its object id. OODBs typically provide better support for versioning. An object can be viewed as the set of all its versions. Also, object versions can be treated as fully-fledged objects. OODBs also provide systematic support for triggers and constraints, which are the basis of active databases. Most, if not all, object-oriented application programs that have database needs will benefit from using an OODB. Some examples are Microsoft MS visual Fox Pro Professional edition- V. 90, Garmin Map Source Topo, Mark Lutz- programming Pyton, Windows XP & X box 360.
Stand alone information system; this is a system that does not require a connection to any other computer for it to use a word processor or a spreadsheet program; instead, the application programs stored on its hard drive are used. A standalone computer may be equipped with a printer, scanner, or external zip or hard drive. Stand-alone information system can be used to view data store on external devices such as DVD RW Drive (E:), Removable Disc (G:) and flash drive. It is also used as a security device that prevents hackers from hacking information. Some examples of stand-alone information system: