Technical information

ICT in the science department 1632 © CLEAPSS 2005
Where a base station is located in the same room as the computers, or in a nearby
room, the radio-frequency power levels are considerably lower than those produced by
cellular mobile phones. However, it is good practice to reduce the body’s exposure to
radio-frequency radiation, where reasonably practicable. Therefore, we would recom-
mend that wireless-enabled laptops are used on the bench - not on the lap. Also it is
good practice to site the wireless base station away from where people spend consider-
able amounts of time. A good location might be over the entrance door to the room.
16.8 Software
Software is the program code needed to operate a computer. Traditionally, this is
supplied on disc or via the Internet and is loaded into the computer’s memory so that
it can perform specific tasks.
Computers usually require two main types of software.
16.8.1 The operating system
This software controls the whole computer and is the ‘platform’ on which applications
run. There has been a number of operating systems used in science department comp-
uters over the years.
For IBM PCs:
MS-DOS (Microsoft Disc Operating System);
MS-Windows (Microsoft Windows).
For Acorn
computers:
Acorn Risc OS (Reduced Instruction Software Code Operating System);
MOS (Machine Operating System), as found on the BBC Micro range.
For Macintosh
computers:
Mac-OS (Apple Macintosh Operating System, various versions).
For palm-top
computers:
Windows CE Windows Compact Edition;
Windows Pocket;
Palm-OS;
Psion-OS.
16.8.2 Applications
Applications are software programs to enable a specific use to be made of the computer,
eg, word processing.
The increasing dominance of Microsoft products, particularly in the office and home,
has directed the majority of schools to choose applications that run with Microsoft
operating systems. As a result, most UK educational suppliers have tended to focus
most of their development of applications on the MS Windows environment. However,
there is a significant amount of science software available for Macintosh computers,
although it is sometimes not widely advertised. Schools should check with suppliers
for availability.