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SOFTWARE

Explore the significance of system software in enabling computer interaction; learn about operating systems, device drivers, utility programs, and their roles in managing computer resources efficiently. Discover the crucial functions of operating systems, including booting, CPU management, file management, task management, and security management. Get insights into common operating systems like Mac and PC platforms, and legacy systems such as DOS. Gain knowledge on the user interface features, including GUI elements like desktop, icons, menus, and toolbars. Uncover the importance of device drivers and utility programs for seamless computer operation.

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SOFTWARE

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  1. SOFTWARE 3 Chapter

  2. Chapter Topics 3.1 System Software 3.2Common Features of the User Interface 3.3Common Operating Systems 3.4Application Software 3.5 Word Processing Software 3.6Spreadsheet Programs 3.7Database Software

  3. 3.1 System Software The Power behind the Power

  4. Application Software • Software developed to solve a particular problem for users • Either performs useful work on a specific task • Or provides entertainment • We interact mainly with this software • System Software • Enables application software to interact with the computer • Helps the computer to manage its own internal and external resources

  5. System Software has 3 basic components • Operating System —The principal component of system software • Device Drivers — Help the computer control peripheral devices • Utility Programs — Used to support, enhance, or expand existing programs in the computer

  6. Operating System (OS) • Low-level, master system of programs to manage basic computer operations • Every general-purpose computer must have OS to run other programs • OS allows users to concentrate on applications rather than on complexities of the computer • Each application program is written to run on top of a particular OS • Some OS functions: booting, CPU management, file management, task management, security management

  7. Booting • The process of loading an OS into the computer’s main memory • Booting involves four steps: • Turn the computer on • Test the main memory, CPU, and other hardware • Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) programs are copied to main memory • BIOS contains instructions for operating the hardware • The computer needs those instructions to operate the hardware and find a copy of the OS • Boot program obtains the OS and loads it into computer’s main memory

  8. Central Processing Unit (CPU) Management • Supervisor is the software that manages CPU • Remains in memory while the computer runs • Memory Management • OS keeps track of memory locations to prevent programs and data from overlapping each other • Swaps portions of programs and data into the same memory but at different times

  9. File Management • A file is either a • Data File: a named collection of data • Program File: a program that exists in a computer’s secondary storage • The file system arranges files in a hierarchical manner • Top level is directories (folders) • Subdirectories come below folders • Find files using their pathname. Example: C:/MyDocuments/Termpaper/section1.doc

  10. Task Management • Computers are required to perform many different tasks at once—to do task management • Task: An operation such as storing, printing, or calculating • Multitasking: Handling more than one program concurrently • Example: You do word processing while playing music on your computer • OS directs processor to alternate time on each program until processing is complete

  11. Security Management • Operating Systems permit users to control access to their computers • Users gain access using an ID and password • You set the password the first time you boot up a new computer • After that, when you boot up, you’ll be prepared to type in your user name and password

  12. Device Drivers • Specialized software programs that allow input and output devices to communicate with the rest of the computer system • When you buy a computer, many device drivers come with the system software • Device drivers also come with new hardware (on CDs/DVDs) or can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website • Utilities • Service programs that perform tasks related to the control and allocation of computer resources • Some come with the OS, others can be bought separately like (e.g., Norton SystemWorks, McAfee Utilities)

  13. 3.2 Common Features of the User Interface

  14. Graphical User Interface (GUI) • Allows you to use a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus • Three main features of GUI are desktop, icons, and menus • Desktop: The system’s main interface screen • Icons: Small pictorial figures that represent programs, data files, or procedures • Menus: Lists of built-in commands and/or options from which to choose

  15. Most Operating Systems have the following: • Title Bar: runs across the top of the display window • Menu Bar: shows the names of the pull-down menus available • Toolbar: Displays menus and icons representing frequently used commands • Taskbar: The bar across the bottom of the Windows screen that contains the Start button • A window: A rectangular frame on the computer screen through which you can view a file of data or an application

  16. 3.3 Common Operating Systems

  17. Platform • The particular processor model on which a computer system is based • Two principal systems are • Mac platforms—run Apple Macintosh • PC platforms—run Microsoft Windows (e.g. XP, Vista, 7) • Some legacy systems still used—outdated but still functional • DOS (Disk Operating System) • Original Microsoft OS—hard-to-use command-driven user interface

  18. 3.4 Application Software

  19. Types of Application Software(Not standard) • Entertainment • Games • Education • Encyclopedias • learning programs • Productivity • Word processing • Spreadsheets • Databases • Specialized uses • Financial • Drawing & painting • Video editing • Animation

  20. 3.5 Word Processing Software

  21. Word Processing: uses computers to create, edit, format, print, and store text • Microsoft Word best known • Others: • Corel WordPerfect, Apple iWork Pages, Google Apps, Open Office, Zoho Writer

  22. Editing Documents—Making alterations in content • Inserting: adding text to documents • Deleting: removing text from documents • Find & Replace • Find: lets you go straight to any text in your document • Replace: lets you automatically replace it with something else • Cut, Copy, & Paste • Select the text you want to move • Copy (or cut) to clipboard, then paste in new location

  23. Spelling Checker: tests for incorrectly spelled words • [Note:Do not rely on spelling and grammar checkers to be 100% accurate!] • Grammar Checker: highlights poor grammar, wordiness, incomplete sentences, and awkward phrases • Thesaurus: offers suggestions for alternative words with the same meaning

  24. 3.6 Spreadsheet Programs

  25. Spreadsheets: to create tables and financial schedules • Enter data and formulas into rows and columns on screen • Programs; Microsoft Excel, Corel Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3 • Organized into columns and rows on a worksheet • Labels are descriptive text • Cells are where a row and a column meet • Cell address is the position of the cell • Range is a group of adjacent cells • Values are numbers or dates entered into a cell • See Microsoft Excel

  26. Analytical Graphics: Creating Charts • Spreadsheets allow you to automatically create graphs • Analytical graphics: graphical forms that make numeric data easier to analyze • Examples of types of analytical graphics: • Column charts • Bar charts • Line graphs • Pie charts • Scatter charts

  27. 3.7 Database Software

  28. Database: structured collection of interrelated files in a computer system • Database software: sets up and controls the structure of a database and access to data • Principal microcomputer databases: Microsoft Access, Corel Paradox • Benefits databases: • Data redundancy is minimized • Data is integrated and stored in a structured fashion • Data in databases has more integrity • Data may include text, numbers, and graphics

  29. Relational database: data organized into related tables • Each table contains rows (records) & columns (fields) • Key is field used to sort data • Most frequent key field is social security number • Tables with the same key field are linked together • Querying and displaying records • Database software offers a quick way to locate records • Saving, Formatting, Printing, Copying, Transmitting • Can save results, format them in different ways, print as reports, copy to other documents, & transmit as email

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