Week 5 - Software Operations

There are multiple systems in a company like this that would need a variety of operating systems, from complicated ones like Windows to simpler ones that manage a workout machine and battery charge system. Computers in the headquarters doing business development and management would need the Windows or Mac operating systems, based on their functions. The marketing/advertising section would probably use Mac computers since they need more visual-based programs, while the finance department, for example should use a windows operating system.

Servers containing customer data, and energy production information would probably use Unix-based operating systems. The machines designed for harvesting the energy produced during a workout would have a simpler operating system; they would know just enough to calculate workout data, and process the energy, sending it to the generator/large battery. This operating system should also be able to send data of energy produced to a central location so energy generation statistics about each gym/machine can be stored, and used for future development.

Each OS would need all sorts of software. In fact, there is a wide variety of needed software depending on which operating system the computer uses/for what. Spreadsheet programs on any computer running Windows or Microsoft is important for any data-storage reasons, but it is absolutely necessary to have them on the servers, since they are there to store data. The most organized way would be in some sort of multi-cell document.

Utilization of high-performing Open Source software should be implemented as much as possible for cutting costs, and also to follow the trend of where technology is moving today. Open source is becoming more powerful as the community of developers in the world work together, and sometimes produce (now more often than before) better software than what is already out there. For example, Firefox has surpassed Internet Explorer in just a few years, and is becoming more popular among web developers. Even Google came to fame in less than a decade, and is continuing with its open source web browser, Chrome. Clearly, that is where the world is heading.