Application Software Trends

The trend in computer application software is toward multipurpose, expert-assisted packages with natural language and graphical user interfaces. There are two major trends:

Off-The-Shelf Software Packages

There is a trend away from custom-designed one-of- a-kind programs developed by the professional programmers or end users of an organization.
Instead, the trend is toward the use of the "off-the-self" software package acquired by end users from software vendors. This trend accelerated with the development of inexpensive and easy-to-use productivity software packages for microcomputers, and it continues to grow.

Nonprocedural, Natural Languages

There is a major trend away from technical, machine-specific programming languages using binary-based or symbolic codes and from procedural languages, which use English-like statements and mathematical expressions to specify the sequence of instructions a computer must perform.
Instead, the trend is toward nonprocedural, natural languages that are closer to human conversation. This trend has accelerated with the creation of easy-to-use, nonprocedural fourth- generation languages (4GL). It continues to grow as developments in graphics and artificial intelligence produce natural language and graphical interfaces that make software packages easier to use.