Open system
From Free net encyclopedia
An open system may refer to more than one thing:
- In computing, an open system (computing) is a computer operating system that provides interoperability, portability or both, particularly Unix systems.
- In the computer sciences, An open system is a collection of interacting software, hardware, and human components
- designed to satisfy stated needs
- with interface specifications of its components that are
- fully defined
- available to the public
- maintained according to group consensus
- in which the implementations of the components conform to the interface specifications
- In management science, an open system (system theory) is a system that takes in (raw materials, capital, skilled labor) and converts them into goods and services (via machinery, human skills) that are sent back to that environment, where they are bought by customers. Contrarily a closed system is self contained, does not interact with its external environment and risks to experience entropy.
- In the physical sciences, an open system (system theory) is a system where matter or energy can flow into and/or out of, in contrast to a closed system, where no energy or matter may enter or leave. See also closed system.
- See also