Final answer:
Object-oriented programming is an innovation from the 1970s and 1980s that is based on objects containing data and methods. It enables effective collaboration among programmers and structures the code in a modular fashion. It is not a tool for translating between programming language levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of object-oriented programming (OOP) include several key concepts:
It was an important innovation in programming languages in the 1970s and 1980s, which introduced a new paradigm for writing software.
It is structured around parts known as objects, which are encapsulations of data and the programs, or methods, that operate on that data.
OOP allows programmers to collaborate more effectively, as it provides a clear modular structure for programs.
Contrary to one of the options provided, object-oriented programming is not used to translate programs from low-level to high-level languages; that is the function of a compiler or interpreter.
Popular object-oriented programming languages, like Python and others such as Systems Programming with Modula-3, THE SCHEME PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, ANSI SCHEME, SECOND, and Squeak, offer robust environments for applying these OOP principles to develop scalable and maintainable software systems.