BUSINESS COMPUTER

APPLICATIONS

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

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Today’s Topics

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 Objectives
 Types of Software
 List the two major components of system
software.
 Explain why a computer needs an
operating system.
 List the five basic functions of an
operating system.
 Explain what happens when you turn on a
computer.
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 Objectives
 List the three major types of user
interfaces.
 Explain the strengths and weaknesses of
the most popular operating systems.
 List system utilities that are considered to
be essential.
 Explain data backup procedures.

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 Lecture Objectives
❑Understand how system software supports
application software.
❑Describe the most popular types of
general-purpose applications.
❑Explain the advantages and disadvantages
of standalone programs, integrated
programs, and software suites.
❑Explain the advantages of Web-hosted
technology and file compatibility.
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 Lecture Objectives
❑ Explain the concept of software versions and
software upgrades.
❑ Understand how commercial software,
shareware, freeware, and public domain software
differ.
❑ Describe the essential concepts of application
software and the skills needed to use it.
❑ Identify the key features of widely used graphics
and multimedia programs
❑ Describe the learning aids available for
application software

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 Computer Software
 Computer software, or just software, is a
collection of computer programs and
related data that provides the instructions
for telling a computer what to do and how
to do it.
 Software are programs, with instructions
which guide the computer to performing
tasks that are associated with using and
controlling hardware.
 Generally, software exists on storage media.
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 Computer Software
 Overall, a software is one of the
major intangible components of
any information technology
systems;
◦ they are so created to aid us in
performing tasks using the computer
as well as using hardware features
and functions to assist us.

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 Computer Software
❑Based on our needs, software is
categorized as follows;
▪ System software
▪ Interfaces (acts as a means of
communication) between the user, the
applications, and the hardware of a
computer system

• Application software
• consist of functions that
perform specific or human related tasks for us users
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Computer Software

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 Computer System Software
• System software consists of all the
programs that enable the computer and its
peripheral devices to function smoothly.

Operating Utility
systems Programs

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 Computer System Software
 Enables application software to interact
with the computer
 Helps the computer to manage its own
internal and external resources
• System software is divided into two main
categories:
– The Operating System (OS)
– System Utility Programs

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 Computer System Software
❑ Operating System (OS)
▪ The principal component of system software
▪ Must be installed before application software
▪ Some hardware requires specific OS
➢Macintosh computers run Macintosh OS
➢PCs run Microsoft Windows, Linux and
Unix
❑ Utility Programs
▪ Used to support, enhance, or expand existing
programs in the computer

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 Operating System (OS)
 Management of the resources of a computer
are performed by the computer’s operating
system (OS).

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 Operating System (OS)
 The coordination of the functions of a
computer’s hardware is the prime responsibility
of the operating system.

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 Operating System (OS)
❑Five Primary functions of OS
1. Starts the computer
2. Manages applications
3. Manages memory
4. Handles input and output device
messages
5. Provides a user interface for
communication

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 The Operating System
❑OS Function –Starts the computer -Involves
six steps.

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 The Operating System

❑Starting the computer …

◦ Booting—loading the OS into RAM
 Cold boot: Starting computer when it
has not yet been turned on
 Warm boot: Restarting a computer that
is already on

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 The Operating System
 Step 1: Activate the BIOS and Setup Program
◦ BIOS (Basic Input/output System)
 Bios is encoded on ROM (read-only memory)
 Does not control external devices
◦ The BIOS‘s function is to handle the system setup
process including driver loading and operating system
booting
◦ It manages data flow between the computer's operating
system and attached devices such as the hard disk, video
adapter, keyboard, mouse and printer.

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 The Operating System
 Step 2: Initiate the Power-On Self-Test
◦ Power-on self-test (POST)—to confirm that
both the computer and its peripheral devices are
working properly
◦ If the POST fails:
 A beep will sound.
 An error message will appear on the monitor.
 The computer will stop.

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 The Operating System
 Step 3: Load the Operating System
◦ BIOS
 Looks for the operating system
 Loads the kernel into memory—the
central part of the operating system
◦ The operating system loads the system
configuration information.

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 The Operating System
 Step 4: Configure the System
◦ Operating system
 Checks the registry that checks the Database that
stores information about software and peripherals
devices, for configuration information.
 Checks the configuration for drivers
 Utility programs containing instructions for the
proper functioning of peripheral devices.
 Automatically detects plug-and-play (PnP) devices
 Checks for conflicts between devices
 Installs and loads needed drivers

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 The Operating System
Step 5: Load System Utilities Examples
 Antivirus software,
 Backup software,
 Disk Cleanup,
 File Compression
 Disk Space analyzer,
 Disk defragmenters
 File manager,

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 The Operating System
 Step 6: Authenticate a User
◦ Verifies authorized users
 Enter an authentication/login user name and password
◦ Profile—a record of a specific user’s preferences
for the desktop theme, icons, and menu styles
◦ Account—for multiuser computer systems each user has
an account
 Consists of user name, password, and storage space
 Created by server/computer administrator

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 The Operating System
 OS Function –Manages applications.
◦ Single-task operating systems from the
past were only able to run one application
at a time.
◦ Multitasking operating systems permit
more than one application to be used at a
time.
 The foreground application is the active one.
 Background applications appear inactive.

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 The Operating System
 OS Function –Manages memory.
◦ The operating system attempts to allocate
memory, RAM, to each program being
run without interference.
◦ Through the use of virtual memory,
where a portion of the hard disk is used
as an extension of RAM, additional
memory is available.

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 The Operating System
 OS Function –Manages input and output.
◦ The operating system uses drivers, programs
containing information regarding specific computer
input and output devices, to communicate with
those devices.
◦ Interrupts, signals created by input and output
devices, notify the operating system when an action
has been taken.

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 The Operating System
OS Function –Provides a user interface.
The user interface allows the user to:
◦ Start application programs
◦ Manage storage devices
◦ Safely shut down the computer properly

• There are three types of

user interfaces:
– Graphical user
interface (GUI)
– Menu-driven user
interface
– Command-line user
interface
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 The OS
❑User Interface ..
 The graphical user interface (GUI) uses
graphics called icons, small images that
represent various computer resources, to
initiate actions.
 These icons appear on the desktop, the
work area that is created once the operating
system has been loaded into memory.

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 The OS
❑User Interface ..
 The menu-driven user interface
provides text-based menus, which display
appropriate user options that are available.
 The command-line user interface
forces the user to type commands line by
line to instruct the operating system about
the desired action(s) to be taken.

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 Types of Operating Systems
❑Classification according to type of computers
and applications they support
i. Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
ii. Single-User, Single Task
iii. Single-User, Multi-Tasking
iv. Multi-User

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 RTOS
 Used to run computers embedded in
machinery, robots, scientific instruments and
industrial systems

 An important part of an RTOS is managing

the resources of the computer so that a
particular operation executes in precisely
the same amount of time every time it
occurs

 Examples: QNX, Real-time Linux

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 Single-User, Single Task
• OS designed to manage the computer so that
one user can effectively do one thing at a
time
Example: MS-DOS is an example single-
tasking single-user OS with a command line
interface.

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Single-User, Multi-Tasking
• Most Modern (Popular) Operating
Systems.
• Used by most of PCs and Laptops
• Lets a single user interact with several
programs, simultaneously
Example: Windows, Mac OS, Linux

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 Multi-User
• A multi-user OS allows many users to take
advantage of the computer's resources,
simultaneously

Example: MVS, OPENVMS, UNIX

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 Personal Computer (PC)
Operating Systems

 Window OS

 Linux/Unix OS

 Mac OS
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Exploring Popular OS

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Popular Operating Systems
❑Windows Operating Systems
▪Windows is an operating system designed by
Microsoft inc. intl.
▪Provides benefits in the areas of security, enhanced
Web server capabilities, administration, and
virtualization

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 Popular Operating Systems
 The Mac OS used on Macintosh personal
computers is favored by its users for the
operating system’s security, stability, and
simplicity.
 UNIX was developed to work in a secure
computer network, but unfortunately, its
many versions are not compatible and can be
hard to use.

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 Exploring Popular Operating
Systems
 Linux is a powerful open source
operating system that is freely available to
any user.
 MS-DOS (DOS), a disk operating system, is
a command-line user interface operating
system that is not user friendly.

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Mobile Operating Systems

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 System Utilities:
 System utilities (utility programs) are system
software programs that are essential to effective
management of the computer system.
 Service programs that perform tasks related to
the control and allocation of computer resources
 Practical Utility programs perform the following
tasks
 Virus protection
 Data compression
 Disk scanner & disk cleanup
 Backup
 Data recovery
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 System Utilities:
 Antivirus software provides protection from
computer viruses.
 The antivirus programs are:

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 COMPUTER
APPLICATION
SOFTWARE

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COMPUTER APPLICATION
SOFTWARE

❑Graphics and ❑Business Application

Multimedia Software Software

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 Background Information
❑How System Software supports Application Software?
➢ System Software Programs that control the operations of
the computer.
➢ Serves as the interface between the user, the application
software, and the computer’s hardware

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 Application Software
❑Application software consists of
programs designed to make users more
productive and/or assist with personal
tasks
▪ To make business activities more efficient
▪ To assist with graphics and multimedia
projects
▪ To support home, personal, and educational
tasks
▪ To facilitate communications

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 Application Software
❑Application software Is the general
designation of computer programs for
performing tasks.
◦ The application software may be general purpose
(word processing, web browsers.) or have a specific
purpose (Accounting (Tally), truck scheduling etc)

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 Application Software
❑ General-purpose applications are the
programs that enable users to complete
common tasks.
Examples: word-processing, spreadsheet
programs

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 Business Software
 Business software is application software that
assists people while performing business activities

Word
Spreadsheet Database Presentation
Processing

Personal Business Business

Note Taking Information Software for Software
Manager Phones Suites

Enterprise
Project Document
Accounting Computing
Management Management
Software

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 Business Software
➢ Word
processing
software allows
users to create
and manipulate
documents
➢ Clip art is a
collection of
electronic
drawings, photos,
and other images
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 Business Software
❑ Developing a word document

• Enter text and

Edit a
numbers document • Change appearance
• Insert images • Font
• Make changes to • Font size
• Perform other existing content
tasks
• Inserting, deleting,
Create a cutting, copying, Format a
and pasting
document document

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 Business Software
 Spreadsheet software allows users to organize
data in rows and columns and perform calculations

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 Business Software
❑ Charting depicts data in a Microsoft spreadsheet
in graphical form.

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 Business Software
❑Presentation
software allows
users to create visual
aids for presentations
to communicate
ideas, messages, and
other information to
a group.

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 Business Software
❑ A database is a collection of data organized in a manner
that allows access, retrieval, and use of that data.
❑ Database software allows users to create, access, and
manage a database.

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 Business Software
❑ Note taking software is application software that
enables users to enter typed text, handwritten
comments, drawings, or sketches anywhere on a page.

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 Business Software
❑ Scaled down versions of software are available to
work with smart phones and other mobile
devices

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 Business Software
❑Enterprises typically require special computing
solutions for various functional units

Human
Accounting Engineering Manufacturing
Resources

Customer
Marketing Sales Distribution
Service

Information
Technology

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General-Purpose Applications
❑Productivity programs Make it easier to
do work.
➢Examples
➢Word-processing software
➢Spreadsheet or database software
➢Presentation software
➢Project management software
➢Personal information management
software
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General-Purpose Applications
❑Compression/decompression
algorithms and Codecs – are included
in most multimedia software to reduce
space required by multimedia
documents.

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General-Purpose Applications
 Compressing files enables better use of
disk space and faster Internet transfer
speeds.

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General-Purpose Applications
 Animation programs give the user the ability to
create animation from images, as well as run the
animation. Examples , TikTok, Snapchat, imovie,
pencil 2D, Blender, etc

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 General-Purpose Applications
❑ Audio software is ❑ Standard sound file
used to capture and formats include:
process sound used in ➢MP3/4
multimedia ➢Windows Media Audio
presentations. (WMA)
❑ Sound files can be ➢WAV
saved in a number of ➢Musical Instrument
standard formats and Digital Interface (MIDI)
contain digitized data.

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General-Purpose Applications
❑Video editors enable the user to:
➢Modify digitized videos
➢Save those videos in at least one of
the following video file formats:
❑Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
❑QuickTime
❑Video for Windows

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General-Purpose Applications
❑ Multimedia
authoring systems
❑Used to create
multimedia presentations
❑Require a large amount
of disk space and
memory to run properly

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General-Purpose Applications
❑Internet programs
➢Help users communicate, learn, and
interact through the Internet
➢Examples include:
❑E-mail
❑Instant messaging software
❑Web browsers
❑Video conferencing programs
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 Communications Software
 Communication software is an application or
program designed to pass information
from one system to another.
◦ Such software provides remote access to systems and
transmits files in a multitude of formats between
computers

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 Communications Software
❑Popular Internet software –Examples
➢Google Chrome
➢Mozilla Firefox
➢Safari
➢Microsoft Edge
➢Internet Explore
➢Opera

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 Communications Software
❑ Internet software –Example
❑Popular mail Clients
Software includes:
➢MS Outlook Express
➢Mozilla Thunderbird
➢Windows mail
➢Mailbird
➢Postbox

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 Tailor-Made Applications
➢These are Software designed for
specific businesses or users.
➢Normally cost more than general-
purpose applications because of their
development costs.

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 Tailor-Made Applications
❑When an application is not available,
custom software, software
developed for a user’s specific needs,
may be necessary.
❑Packaged software is developed for
the mass market.

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 Standalone Programs, Integrated
Programs, & Software Suites
❑ A fully self-contained program is called a
standalone program.
❑ Advantages:
➢ Users can purchase and install standalone
programs separately.
➢ Standalone programs function by themselves.
❑ Disadvantages:
➢ Standalones take up a lot of storage space.
➢ Standalones do not share resources.

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 Standalone Programs, Integrated
Programs, & Software Suites
❑ Integrated programs provide all the leading
productivity programs in one package.
❑ Advantages:
➢Integrated programs are easy to learn.
➢Integrated programs share the same interface.
❑ Disadvantages:
➢The individual modules of integrated programs
usually have fewer features than are found in
standalone programs or software suites.

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 Standalone Programs, Integrated
Programs, & Software Suites
❑ A software suite is an interconnected
bundle of programs.
❑ Advantages:
➢ The programs within a suite share
resources.
➢ The programs within a suite are
designed to work together.
➢ These applications share common
program code, interfaces, and drivers.
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 Standalone Programs, Integrated
Programs, & Software Suites
❑ Microsoft Software suite, also called
office suites, usually include:
➢ Word processing programs
➢ Spreadsheet programs
➢ Presentation graphics programs
➢ Database programs
➢ Personal information managers (PIMs)

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Software Licenses & Registration

❑The contract included with purchased

software, which permits the user to
install the program on one computer,
is known as a software license.
❑The contract that gives organizations
the right to install copies of programs
on a precise number of computers is
known as a site license.
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 Software Licenses & Registration
❑ Commercial Software
➢Copyrighted – but available for free.
➢Pay on honor system.
➢Users must purchase before using
➢Examples:
❑Microsoft Office
❑Adobe Acrobat
❑ Shareware
➢You may try software before purchasing
➢If you like it, pay for it and continue use
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 Software Licenses & Registration
❑ Freeware
➢Free to users as long
as users do not sell it
to others
➢Copyrighted – but
available for free. Pay
on honor system

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 Software Licenses & Registration
❑ Public domain software ❑ Copy-protected
➢Copyright-free software software
➢Can modify or sell ➢Internal process
➢legal to copy prohibits making
unauthorized copies

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 Lecture Summary
❑System software supports application
software, the programs that give the user the
ability to complete work on the computer.
❑General-purpose software includes personal
productivity programs, multimedia and
graphics software, Internet programs, and
home and education software.
❑Office suites, which incorporate Web-hosted
technology, are gaining popularity with today’s
users.
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 Lecture Summary
❑New or updated versions of
software are usually cited with a
version number.
❑Small changes to software are
defined as patches, and larger
changes or fixes are known as
service packs or service releases.

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 Lecture Summary
❑Software can be categorized as
commercial, shareware, freeware, and
public domain software.
❑Users should learn to install applications,
start applications, select options, and exit
the applications to use their computers
effectively.

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