SOFTWARE

APPLICATION AND SYSTEM SOFTWARE

 Software

► Software is the general name given to all the

programs (set of instructions) that computers use
to perform different tasks. Software can be
classified into two major types: Application
Software and System Software.
 Application Software

These are programs developed to carry out specific

tasks or solve particular problems. For example, if
you want to type a letter, you would need to use a
word processor. To create highly decorated
birthday card would require some type of graphics
package. Word processor and graphics packages
are example of application software.
 Types of Application Software

► General Purpose Software

► Integrated Software
► Specialised Software
► Customised Software
► Custom Written Software
General Purpose Software

The most popular applications are those that are not

specific to any organization or business and can be used by
anybody. The programs you use at school or home – for
word processing, databases, spreadsheets, presentations,
drawing and painting – will be such programs. These
programs are known as general-purpose software, because
the user decides what to use the software for. For
example, you might want to use a word processor to write
a letter, or to design a poster for a school play.
 Customised and Custom-written
software

Customised software is general –purpose software

that has been modified to perform specific tasks for
the user. Word processing, spreadsheet and
database programs are examples of general purpose
software that can be customised.
Specialised Software

This is software written solely for a specific task

rather than a range of functions. Examples include
the software on your mobile phone for your
camera. It will only allow you to manipulate and
share the photos. Another example would be an
online card game, which would only allow you to
play that particular game.
 Integrated Software

Many computers are sold with integrated software

already installed. Integrated software is the term
for a program that includes all the major types of
application (for example word, processing,
spreadsheet, and database) and brings them
together into a single software package. Microsoft
Office and Adobe Creative Suit are examples of
integrated software.
Custom Written Software

This is software written to meet the specific needs of a

company. Every company is unique and may have unique
needs, which is why a solution tailored to achieve a
company’s goals, based on their specialised requirements,
offers many advantages when compared with general
purpose pre-packaged applications. Custom written
software may be written by programmers within the
company, or it may be contracted out to a software house.
 System Software

System software is the name given to the software

that controls the hardware and how all other
software works. It enables the running of the
application software and the management of the
system resources.
 Types of System Software

► Operating System
► Utility Programs
► Language Translator
Operating System

An Operating system (OS) is a software which acts as an interface between the

end user and computer hardware. 
An operating system in its most general definition is the software that allows a
user to run crucial applications on his/her computing device. It helps to manage a
computer’s hardware resources. It helps to support basic functions like scheduling
tasks, and controlling peripherals.
 Utility Programs

This software aims to protect and maintain the integrity of the computer system
software. Example:  backups, computer viruses, copying of files, recovery of files after
software ‘crashes’.
 Language Translator

Language Translator (assemblers, compilers and interpreters)

translate a program written by a programmer into machine language
(the language the computer can understand).
 Processing Modes

Data must be processed by the most suitable

means. It can then be transferred to one or more
computer systems for more processing, for output
or for storage.
 Different Types of Processing Modes

► Time Sharing
► Batch Processing
► Real Time Processing/Online Processing
 Time Sharing

Time sharing is one method that can be used in multi-access

systems. It makes many users believe they have the undivided
attention of the CPU. To accomplish this, the CPU allows each
terminal in turn a small amount of processing time (time slice)
before it goes onto the others. The process happened so quickly that
every user on the system thinks he/she has the continuous use of the
CPU. The Unix operating system is used for multi-access
time-sharing systems, for example in universities, where many
students and professors may be connected to the central CPU at one
time from different terminals.
 Batch Processing

A batch processing system is one where programs and data are

collected together in a batch queue before processing starts. Batch
processing is normally done on large mainframe computers. Each
piece of work the computer will do is called , simply a job. Batch
jobs can be stored up during working hours and then executed
whenever the computer is least I use. Once a batch job starts, it
continues until it is done or an error occurs. There is no interaction
with the user while the program is being run. Batch processing can
be used for fairly automatic tasks, for example, weekly or monthly
payroll processing, processing utility bills (water,electricity, etc) and
credit card billing.
 Real-time/Online Processing

Computers and peripheral devices are online when they are connected to a main
processor and turned on so that the operator can interact with them. Printers are
online, for example, when they are ready to receive data from the computer to
print. Most printers have an online button you can press to turn the machine on.
If it is turned off, then you are offline.
A real-time processing system processes data without significant delay, making, it
always up-to-date. Since a processing system must be connected to one or more
computers to process data, then it must also be online. However, note that online
does not necessarily imply that processing is real-time since there may be some
delay with an online system. Examples of real-time processing systems include
aeroplane landing control systems, electronic fund transfer systems and ticket
reservation systems.
 User Interface

The user interface is the user-controllable part of the

operating system which allows you communicate or
interact with it.
 Types of User Interface

► Command Driven Interface

► Menu Driven Interface
► Graphical User Interface
Command Driven Interface

Command-line interface require you to type in commands using a

special language. This special language makes command-line
interfaces difficult to use, especially for new computer users. In
recent versions of Windows, it is called Windows Powershell.
 Menu Driven Interface
A menu is a list of options from which you can choose what you
want to do. Application programs use menus as an easy alternative
to learning program commands. Menu-driven interfaces were
developed to try to make the interface friendlier and easier to learn.
You can control the computer by choosing commands and available
options from a menu, using the keys on a keyboard or a mouse.
 Graphical User Interface
All computers now supplied with a graphical user interface (GUI) installed because it is
presently regarded as the type of user interface which is easier to use. The main features of
a GUI include its ease of use for beginners, and ability to cut and past or drag and drop data
and files among applications. However GUI requires a lot of memory, which can slow
processing time.
GUI comprises of Windows, Icons,, Menus and Pointers also called WIMP.
 The Windows Desktop

The windows desktop is almost certain to be the starting

place for your use of computers. From here you will perform
tasks and functions such as:
► Interacting with the CPU and the hard drive
► Opening software programs
► Managing files, folders and directories
► Creating documents
► Printing Photos
► Listening to music
 File Management

File need to be saved, copied, renamed and

deleted.. File manager checks the amount of
memory needed to perform these tasks, and
manages the organization of the files in secondary
storage.
 Terms associated with file management

► File - Every document that you used is called a file. So the program that is
used to start an application or the document you typed are both called files.
► Folder – Just as you would have a folder to keep notes or documents together,
files are grouped together in folder (also called directories).
► Drive – Your computer may have many storage devices such as the hard drive,
floppy drive or CD drive. These devices contain the files and folders that you
work with. Each drive is given a specific drive letter to distinguish it from the
other drives. For example, the floppy drive is usually called drive A. If there
is another floppy drive then it is called drive B. The hard drive is called drive
C and so on.
► Path – To locate a file, you may have to select the drive and then one more
folders. This sequence to get to the specific folder or file is called the path.
 Naming a File

Each file on your computer has to be given a name to

identify it. A file name usually consists of two parts: the
name and the extension, separate by a dot. Foe example,
the file name RESUME.DOC has RESUME as the names
DOC as the extension. The extension tells you and the
company what type of file it is, in this case a DOCument.
When you now click the file to open it, the computer then
know which application is needed. The RESUME. DOC
file is opened by Microsoft word, since DOC is a common
file extension for documents.
 Examples of other file extensions are:

► PDF – Portable Document Format – a file type that displays

finished text and graphics in an application such as Acrobat
Reader.
► TXT – Text files - Associated with the note pad program
► BAT – Batch files containing a series of DOS commands
► SYS – Various types of system files – usually drivers to
control devices
► COM – Executable command files
 Differentiate between directories and
folders

Directories or folders are used to hold documents, program, files and

even further sub-directories and folder. Directories allow you to
group files that are in some way related, placing them in one
location. For example in your computer you may have assignment
documents for the different subjects you are doing in school. These
might be stored in drive C, in the “My documents” folder. You may
have English documents, Social Studies documents and so on. Each
type of document can be stored in an individual folder
corresponding to a particular subject.
 Creating a Folder

To create a folder on desktop:

► Right click on any clear area on the desktop.
► When the pop-up menu appears select new.
► Select folder from the menu that appears
► A folder icon appears on the desktop and you can give it
a name.
 Assignment

In groups of five create a 10 minutes Google slide presentation

on:
► Application Software
► System Software
► User Interface
► File Management
► Processing Modes

Due October 15, 2020