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Software Design and Development

Home > Software Design and Development > Core > Development & Impact of Software Solutions > Evolution of software

Answers

1. Construct your table using the format of the article. Make sure you have included the two characteristics of the fourth generation.
2. The timeline should commence with the 1940s and continue into the 2000s. The generations do not have a clear beginning and ending so make sure some overlap is shown in your diagram.
3. The early generations were defined by the software but later ones are defined more by the hardware and the use the community makes of it. You could argue that the role of software has therefore diminished. You could also argue that we are now even more dependent on particular types of software, for example Internet browsers, and so our reliance on software has dramatically increased. In this situation it is most important that software developers ensure their software is of high quality and reliable.
   Make sure you can give a good reason for your point of view.
4. I can certainly identify with the 5^th generation of Internet usage. The concept of the 6^th generation being the one of embedded technology is also observable — think of what you can do with a mobile phone now.
5. I would put this change at the 4^th generation with the emergence of networking. Without this the Internet generation would not have been possible. Do you agree? If not, make sure you have a reason for your point of view.