Software Portmore Community College

Objectives
• Upon successful completion of this unit, learners will be
able to:
– define the term software
– distinguish between application software and system
software
– differentiate between an operating system and a utility
programme
– list examples of operating system
– list categories of utility programmes
– explain the functions of an operating system
– discuss emerging technologies (software under three
years old)
 What is Software?

• Computer hardware is useless without

software.
• Software is the set of instructions and
associated data that direct the computer
to do a task.
• Software, also called a program, tells
the computer what tasks to perform and
how to perform them
 Categories of Software
• Software is often divided into two
categories:
– Systems software
– Applications software
 Software

Application System
Software Software

❖ Operating System
❖ Utility Programs
 Categories of Software?
• Systems software
– Set of programs that coordinates activities
and functions of the hardware and various
other programs

• Application software
– Programs that help users solve particular
computing problems
 Software

Operating
Applicatio
and
n
systems
software
software

Users

Hardware
 System Software
• Manages the fundamental operations of
the computer, such as:
– loading programs and data into memory
– executing programs
– saving data to disks
– displaying information on the monitor
– and transmitting data through a port to a
peripheral device.
 Application Software
• This is a program or group of programs
designed for end users.
• Application software has a variety of uses:

– To make business activities more efficient

– To assist with graphics and multimedia
projects
– To support home, personal, and educational
tasks
– To facilitate communications
 Application Software Types
• Proprietary
– Designed to solve a unique and specific problem
• In-house
– Development of application software using the
company’s resources
• Contract
– Developed for a particular company
• Off-the-shelf
– An existing software program that can be used
without considerable changes expected
 Popular Productivity
Software
• Word Processing Software: Examples are
MS-Word, WordPad, Notepad.
• Database Software: Examples FoxPro, Oracle,
MS Access.
• Spreadsheet Software: Excel, Lotus 1-2-3
and Apple Numbers.
• Multimedia Software: Examples Real Player
and Media Player.
• Presentation Software: Example Microsoft
PowerPoint.
 Utility Programs
• Performs a specific task, generally related
to managing a computer, its devices and
programs.
• Programs used to:
– merge and sort sets of data
– keep track of computer jobs being run
– compress files of data before they are stored
or transmitted over a network
– and perform other important tasks
 Operating System
• The operating system (OS) is the most
important program that runs on a computer.
• Computer operating systems perform basic
tasks, such:
– recognizing input from the keyboard
– sending output to the display screen
– keeping track of files and directories on the storage
drives
– and controlling peripheral devices, such as printers.
 Operating System
• Collection of computer programs that control the
interaction of the user and the computer hardware.
• Responsible for directing all computer operations and
managing all computer resources.
• Controls basic input and output, allocates system
resources, manages storage space, maintains security,
and detects equipment failure.
• A part of the operating system code is stored in a ROM
and the rest of it resides on a disk.
• Loading the operating system into memory is called
booting the computer and the OS remains in memory
until you turn the computer off.
 Responsibilities of OS
• Communicate with user, receive and execute
commands, show error messages.
• Manage allocation of memory, processor time and other
resources.
• Collect input from keyboard, mouse, and provide data to
running programs.
• Convey program output to screen, printer, or other
output device.
• Access data from secondary storage.
• Write data to secondary storage.
• Maintains security (checks user-name , password, virus
infection)
 Functions of the Operating System

• Managing the computers resources

• Providing a user interface
– Menu driven
– Command line
– Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Managing files and memory
• Managing tasks
• Managing security
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• A graphical user interface (GUI), you
interact with menus and visual images by
touching, pointing, tapping, or clicking
buttons and other objects to issue
commands.
 Command Line
A command-line interface, a user types
commands represented by short keywords or
abbreviations (such as dir to view a directory,
or list of files) or presses special keys on the
keyboard (such as function keys or key
combinations) to enter data and instructions.
 Menu-driven Interface

• A menu-driven interface is an easier way of navigating

the devices and programs we interact with on a daily
basis.
• It provides you with a range of commands or options in
the form of a list or menu displayed in full-screen
 Managing Resources
• Allows for application software to
communicate with the computer’s
hardware
• Acts as an interface between the
application programs (software) and the
hardware
Managing Files and Memory
• Manages all files on the computer and keeps
track of where programs and data are stored
• Allows for files in secondary storage to be found
easily
• Other functions of file management include:
– Copy
– Erase
– Rename
– backup
 Managing Tasks
• Computers can perform multiple tasks
simultaneously (at the same time) by
multitasking
– Multitasking is the ability of the computer to
run more than one programs at the same time
• For example: listening to music on the
computer whilst typing a document in
Microsoft Word
 User Interface
• Operating system functions are never obvious
on the screen. The user interface is what is
seen.
• There are three types of OS
– Command line/ command driven
• Operates with DOS – typing codes or words in a command
prompt or display screen
– Menu driven
• Mouse over or make selections from menu – dropdown
menu in word
– Graphical user interface (GUI)
• Use of graphic images – folders on desktop
 Maintaining Security
• Keeps a register of persons login
credentials
– Username
– Password
• Validates and prevents unauthorized
access
 Types of Operating Systems
• Windows 98
• Windows XP
• Linux
• Windows 2000
• Unix
• DOS
• MAC
Software Interaction
 Functions of the O/S
Instruction from
O/S to start
sending Excel
Printer document

O/S select printer Command print

Operating
System
Document sent to Document sent to
printer programs in O/S
 Test Your Smarts
Type of software which is designed for
users to customize programs is
A. freeware
B. open-source software
C. shareware
D. macros
 Test Your Smarts
The physical devices of a computer
A. Software
B. Package
C. Hardware
D. System Software
 Test Your Smarts
GUI Stands for ____________________
A. Graphical User Interface
B. Greater User Interface
C. Graphical Utility Icon
D. Graphical Utility Interface
 Test Your Smarts
Which of the following is designed to control
the operations of a computer?
A. Application Software
B. System Software
C. Utility Software
D. User
 Test Your Smarts
Which of the following is not an example of
system software?
A. Language Translator
B. Utility Software
C. File Management Software
D. Word Processors
 Test Your Smarts
___________________ is designed to
solve a specific problem or to do a specific
task.
A. Application Software
B. System Software
C. Utility Software
D. User
 Test Your Smarts
What is the name of a utility that protects
your computer against downloading
malicious code?
A. file compression program
B. antivirus program
C. backup program
D. troubleshooting program
 Test Your Smarts
Operating system comes under:
A. System Software
B. Application Software
C. Utilities
D. None of the above
 Test Your Smarts
Operating System is a:
A. General Purpose software
B. Application software
C. System Software
D. None of the above
 Test Your Smarts
Which of the following is not an operating
system?
A. Microsoft Access
B. Linux
C. DOS
D. Windows XP
 Test Your Smarts
…………….. is the program that manages
CPU, memory, storage devices and input/
output devices.
A. Super system
B. Application software
C. Operating system
D. Control system
 Additional Questions
• Define the terms:
– operating system and list the functions of an operating system
– user interface
• Distinguish between GUI, Menu Driven, and command-line
interfaces
• What is the role of the operating system?
• Why do some users find command-line interfaces difficult to use?
• How is an operating system different from an application
software?
• What are three applications you have used?
• List four types of utility programs and explain each one’s purpose.
• Questions
and
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