| From the time of machine code programming and | | | | need to conceptualise the problem at hand and |
| mechanical adding machines through | | | | communicate this appropriately to the computer |
| vacuum-based systems to very large integrated | | | | and leave the tedious work to the Control unit. |
| circuits and very high level programming | | | | The birth of mobile computing |
| languages, the main trend and focus has been the | | | | Gone are the days when end-users could not |
| same over time – empowerment of the | | | | conceptualise finalising an important project |
| end-user. Recent developments have seen this | | | | proposal without going to the office - because |
| initiative even improve further with several | | | | that was where the computer was! With the |
| advancements being made on how we perceive | | | | advent of laptops, mobile phones, wireless |
| the computer in the workplace. | | | | networks, and so on, company targets can still be |
| The shift from command-driven to Graphics User | | | | achieved even when people are separated by |
| Interfaces (GUIs) | | | | geographical boundaries from their workplace. This |
| In the past, the end-user was required to literally | | | | has given the term ‘office’ a new |
| understand the command set of many software | | | | meaning. The concept of the home office has |
| packages in the market like Dbase III+, Lotus | | | | been made a reality and now the corporate |
| 123, and WordPerfect 5.1. Operating systems | | | | manager can still compile his reports in time and |
| such as MS-DOS made extensive use of the | | | | watch his favourite TV show at the same time. |
| command prompt. MS-DOS had a host of both | | | | This concept of enhancing mobility has greatly |
| internal and external commands that the end-user | | | | empowered the end-user. With wireless |
| was required to master in order to use the | | | | communication, executives can get on-the-minute |
| computer competently. Their syntaxes, switches, | | | | updates on stock trends and country profiles of |
| parameters and the like had to be understood. | | | | prospective investing grounds long before their |
| This sidelined many with the urge to use the | | | | planes touch ground on their way to an |
| computer but the inability to master the intricacies | | | | investors’ meeting. This is made possible via |
| of software use. With the advent of Windows | | | | internet connectivity. |
| and Windows-based software, the user was given | | | | The emergence of new information technology |
| more flexibility and power to make maximum use | | | | infrastructures |
| of the computer. This saw many end-users begin | | | | Computing is no longer looked at in isolation. The |
| to appreciate computers in the workplace | | | | present day end-user perceives a computer in a |
| because easy to use GUIs demystified them. All | | | | different perspective. The mention of a computer |
| that end-users needed to know were the icons | | | | brings to mind inter-connectivity and remote |
| and menus to initiate processes and suddenly | | | | accessibility of pooled resources. This concept of |
| they would be involved in initiating complex | | | | networking has been there for sometime and the |
| processes such as linear and multiple regressions, | | | | terms LAN, WAN, CAN and MAN are common. |
| document merging, spell-checking and so on at | | | | Now a new concept in this area promises even |
| the mere click of a mouse button, giving them | | | | greater collaboration and networking – the |
| control over otherwise mysterious processes. | | | | new IT technologies take the concept of |
| The GUI has removed the need to know the | | | | networking a level further by combining several |
| underlying command sets needed to achieve a | | | | systems together to come up with a collection of |
| task by providing an interface that is user friendly | | | | interlinked heterogeneous systems. Points Of Sale |
| and easy to learn. The interface uses normal | | | | (POS), PDAs, cellular phones, LANS and mobile |
| English to request users for information that | | | | computing devices all operating on varying |
| would be required to complete a complex task. | | | | transmission protocols are inter-linked together |
| Now end-users need to only master a few basic | | | | with the sole objective of placing information at |
| processes to invoke very complex instruction | | | | the end-users’ palm. The end-user can now |
| sets that perform highly complex operations. The | | | | request for ambulance services by filling out and |
| banker, for instance, no longer needs to master | | | | sending an online form that is relayed to a hospital |
| let alone know COBOL to input customer | | | | database or emergency mobile unit that |
| transactions! This is easily achieved now through a | | | | dispatches the nearest assistance within a fraction |
| user-friendly window form thereby reducing time | | | | of time. In the comfort of a home PC the |
| consumed in punching out data sequences! | | | | end-user can shop on-line without a problem – |
| The emergence of Object-Oriented Programming | | | | a process that involves collaborative linkages with |
| (OOP) | | | | his bank, the supermarket, ISPs and security |
| From the days of machine to high level languages, | | | | agencies that ensure a clean transaction is |
| programming has seen significant developments all | | | | facilitated. |
| geared towards enabling the end-users achieve | | | | The arrival of the Internet. |
| targets in the shortest time possible – | | | | With the development of the Internet, the |
| especially in these times of highly capitalistic and | | | | so-called information superhighway, the end-user |
| competitive economies where time is money. By | | | | can not only communicate cost-effectively, but he |
| moving from binary notations to mnemonics and | | | | can engage in hi-Tec teleconferencing where |
| finally to object oriented programming where | | | | persons are pooled together in board meetings in |
| users only need to drag and drop pre-written | | | | virtual space. Technologies like Usenet, Internet |
| self-contained, reusable components, software | | | | Relay Charts (IRC) and e-mails have made |
| design is no longer entirely the preserve of | | | | communication so cheap and effective thereby |
| specialists – it has come closer to end-users. | | | | transforming the world into a global village. With |
| A computer operator can now use such objects | | | | the use of very user-friendly GUIs, users can |
| to enhance the performance of application | | | | navigate through hypertext with ease obtaining |
| software in the workplace through customisable | | | | very valuable information about the world in their |
| tasks made possible by macros. Talk of Rapid | | | | living rooms. The internet has allowed |
| Application Development (RAD) come home to | | | | organisations and corporations to start thinking |
| roost! | | | | beyond their offices and local markets – it has |
| By quickly glancing at the source code of a | | | | broken geographical boundaries allowing greater |
| program, one can easily make head and tail of the | | | | collaboration, communication, bi-lateral and |
| concept being developed – thanks to very | | | | multi-lateral trade. At the end of the day the |
| high level programming languages. The end user | | | | end-user gains the power of communication in a |
| no longer needs to spend hours coding | | | | way never imagined before. Gone are the days |
| sub-routines and functions that are part of a very | | | | of unreliable snail-mails that took ages and were |
| lengthy and tedious procedural activity, they only | | | | more costly and often times plagued by theft. |