  After compilers and operating systems, TSIAs are the third advance in
application support. A compiler supports a high level application definition in
a programming language. An operating system supports a high level interface to
the resources used by an application execution. A Task System and Item
Architecture (TSIA) provides an application with a transparent reliable,
distributed, heterogeneous, adaptive, dynamic, real-time, interactive,
parallel, secure or other execution. In addition to supporting the application
execution, a TSIA also supports the application definition. This run-time
support for the definition is complementary to the compile-time support of a
compiler. For example, this allows a language similar to Fortran or C to
deliver features promised by functional computing. While many TSIAs exist, they
previously have not been recognized as such and have served only a particular
type of application. Existing TSIAs and other projects demonstrate that TSIAs
are feasible for most applications. As the next paradigm for application
support, the TSIA simplifies and unifies existing computing practice and
research. By solving many outstanding problems, the TSIA opens many, many new
opportunities for computing.
