What is the main purpose of applications as defined in the text?

The main purpose of applications, as defined in the context provided, is to enable specific user groups to solve defined problems. This highlights that applications are designed with functionality and user engagement in mind, facilitating the resolution of real-world issues. They often involve complex interactions and workflows that allow users to analyze, manipulate, and derive insights from data in a way that aligns with their unique requirements and challenges.

In contrast, some of the other options focus on limited functionalities. Providing static presentations of data does not leverage the dynamic capabilities of applications where user interaction is essential. Similarly, serving as read-only data viewers implies a lack of interactivity and problem-solving capabilities, which is contrary to the primary objective of most applications. Generating automated reports may be a feature within an application but does not capture the broader user-oriented problem-solving aspect that is essential in application development. Therefore, the centrality of user engagement and problem resolution underscores option B as the correct focus of application purpose.