Chapter Computer Software software is a set of computer programs, documentation related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do. It acts as an interface between the user and the computer hardware. Itis responsible for controlling, integrating and managing the hardware components of a computer system and for accomplishing specific tasks. Types of Software Software can be divided into t2v0 major categories 1. System Software It consists of several programs, which are directly responsible for controlling, integrating and managing the individual hardware components of a computer system. System software also provides the interface between the user and components of the computer. Depending on the functionality, the system software can be further divided into following categories : 1. Operating System It consists of programs which control, coordinate and supervise the activities of the various components of a computer system. Its function is to provide link between the computer hardware and the user. It provides an environment to run the programs. eg., MS-DOS, Windows XP/2000/98, Unix, Linux, etc. The operating system performs some of the following ‘functions © It recognises input from keyboard, sends output to the display screen. © Itmakes sure that programs running at the same time do not interfere with each other. ® Its also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorised users do not access the system. BIOs The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is commonly known as System BIOS. The BIOS controls various electronic components within the mai The initial function of the BIOS is to ys devices such as the RAM, hard disk, CD/DVD drive, video display card and other hardwares. 2. Device Drivers A software, which is written with the objective of making a device functional when it is connected to the computer is called device driver. It is a system software that acts like an interface between the device and the user. Every device, whether itis a printer, monitor, mouse or keyboard has a driver program associated with it for its proper functioning 3. Language Translator It helps in converting programming languages to machine language. The translated program is called object code. There are three different kinds of language translator : ‘Assembler, Compiler and Interpreter. 2. Application Software It is a computer software designed to help the user to perform single or multiple tasks. It isa set of instructions or programs designed for specific uses or applications. It enables the user to interact with a computer. Application softwares are also called the end-user programs. These programs do the real work for users. There are two types of application software 1. General Purpose Software ‘These softwares are those softwares which are used for any general purpose. They allow people to do simple computer tasks. Some of the general purpose software areas follows 1. Word Processing Software A word processor is a software program capable of creating, editing storing and printing documents.Prep Guide MAH-MICA CET & g., Microsoft Word, WordPerfect (Windows only), AppleWorks (Mac only), OpenOffice.org Writer, ete. 2. Electronic Spreadsheets Spreadsheet applications (sometimes referred to simply as spreadsheets) are the computer programs that accept data in a tabular form and allow you to create and manipulate spreadsheets electronically. eg, Microsoft Excel, Corel Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, OpenOffice.org Cale, ete. 3. Presentation Software Presentation is the practice of showing and explaining the contents of a topic to an audience or a learner visually. These types of software helps to create and modify such presentation. eg. Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel Presentations, Lotus Freelance Graphics, OpenOffice.org Impress, etc 4. Database Management System (DBMS) A DBMS refers to the software that is responsible for sorting, maintaining and utilizing a database. eg., Microsoft Access, Corel Paradox, MySQL, ‘OpenOffice.org Base, et. 5. Desktop Publishing (DTP) Software It isa tool for ‘graphic designers and non-designers to create visual communications for professional or desktop printing as well as for online or on screen electronic publishing. €g-, Quark XPress, Adobe PageMaker, 3B2, CorelDraw, Corel Ventura, Hlustrator, etc. 6. Graphics Software (Image Editing) It is an application program that enables a person to manipulate visual visual images on a computer system. e.g, DirectX, Adobe Photoshop, piZap, Microsoft Publisher, Picasa, etc. 7. Multimedia Software Multimedia includes a combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video or interactivity content forms. ¢g., Macro-Media Flash, Xilisoft Video Converter, VLC Media Player, Nimbuzz, ete. 2, Specific Purpose Software/or Customised Software ‘These softwares are designed to perform specific tasks. This type of application software generally has one purpose to execute. ‘Some of the specific purpose application softwares are described below 1. Inventory Management System Inventory is alist of goods and materials available in a stock. Inventory management system is generally used in departmental stores or in an organisation to keep the records of the stock of all the physical resources, eg., Fishbowl, AdvancePro, ete. Payroll Management System It is used by all modern organisations to encompass every employee of the organisation who receives a regular wages or other compensation. eg., Namely, UltiPro, ete. 3, Hotel Management System It refers to the ‘management techniques used in the hotel sector. These can include hotel administration, accounts, billing, marketing, housekeeping, front office or front desk etc. e4., Djubo, Aatithya HMS, Hotelogix PMS, etc. 4, Reservation System A reservation system is used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel, hotels, car rental or other activities. Today, number of websites like www.yatra.com, www.makemytrip.com provide online booking for tourists. 5. Report Card Generator It is an application software which is commonly used in schools by the examination department to prepare and generate the report cards of the students. 6. Accounting Software It is an application software that records and processes accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and trial balance. eg., Tally. ERP9, HDPOS, MARG, Profit book, ete. 7. Billing System It refers to the software that is used to perform the billing process. It handles the tracking of labled products and services delivered to a customer or set of customers. eg,, Billing Manager, Billing Tracker, KBilling, etc. System Utilities ‘These programs perform tasks related to the maintenance of the computer system. These are the packages which are loaded into computer during time of installation of ‘operating system. They are used to support, enhance, expand and secure existing programs and data in the computer system. System utility mainly consists of the following functions 1, Disk Compression It increases the amount of information that can be stored on a hard disk by compressing all information stored on a hard disk. e4., DiskDoubler, SuperStor Pro, DoubleDisk Gold, ete, 2Computer Concepts Computer Software 2. Disk Fragmenter It detects computer files whose contents are broken across several locations on the hard disk and moves the fragments to one location toincrease efficiency. It can be used to rearrange files and unused space on your hard disk, eg MyDefrag, Diskeeper, Defraggler, etc. 3. Backup Utilities It can make a copy of all information stored on a disk and restore either the entire disk or selected files. 4, Disk Cleaners It is used to find files that have not been used for a long time. This utility also serves to increase the speed of a slow computer. eg., Bleach Bit cleaner, etc. 5. Anti-virus It is the utility which is used to scan computer for viruses and prevent the computer system files from being corrupt. eg., Kaspersky, AVG, McAfee, Avira, ete. 6. Text Editor It is a program that facilitates the creation and correction of text. A text editor supports special commands for text editing, i,, we can write, delete, find and replace words, lines, paragraphs, etc. eg., MS-Word, WordPad, Notepad etc, in which Notepad is the most popular text editor. Concept of Open Source Software/Technology Open source refers to something that can be modified are shared as its designed publicly accessible. Open Source Software (OSS) is any computer software that is distributed with its source code available for modification. Examples of Open Source Software are Linux, Unix, MySQL, ete. To be considered as open source software by the software development industry, certain criteria must be met as follows : * Software must be available free or at a low cost. * Source code must be included. * Anyone must be allowed to modify the source code. ‘Modified versions can be redistributed. Firmware Itis a software program permanently onto hardware devices and controls their basic functionality. Each device's firmware code is specific to its characteristics and hardware components. Its typically stored in the flash ROM (Read Only Memory) of a hardware device. It can be erased and rewritten. Firmware was originally designed for high level software and could be changed without having to exchange the hardware for a newer device. Firmware also retains the basic instructions for hardware devices that make them operative. Without firmware, a hardware device would be non-functional. Human-ware It refers to the user of the computer hardware and software. It is about the individual that uses the computer for productive or entertainment purposes. The design of human-ware often begins with understanding the needs and limitations of the end user and working bottom up to design a product that is ultimately useful. For example, in a traditional desktop system, human ware might involve changing the visual interface to make it more accessible to those with low computer literacy.EXERCISES Ef Chapter Challenges 1. The term used to describe the intangible instructions that tell the computer what to do is (@) hardware (0) software (©) storage (2) input/output 2. Software refers to (@) the physical components that a computer is made of (©) firmware (©) set of programs (d) people ware 3. The primary purpose of software is to tur data into (@) information (©) programs (6) objects (@) charts, 4. The steps and tasks needed to process data, such as responses to questions or clicking an icon, are called (a) instructions (© application software 5. System software (@) allows the user to diagnose and troubleshoot the device (©) is a programming language (0) is a part of productivity suite (@) helps the computer manage internal resources 9. The programs designed to govern the computer hardware system are called the (@) system software (©) application software (©) utility software (@) All of these 7. JAM ssoes.ee- 18 a software that helps a computer control to operate efficiently and keep track of data (@) Application system (©) Software system 8. A computer cannot ‘boot’ if it does not have the (a) compiler (b) loader (© operating system (4) assembler 9. What does the acronym BIOS stand for? (@) Basic Input/Outer System (b) Basic Internal Output System (©) Basic Inner /Output System (d) Basic Input/Output System () the operating system (4) the system unit (b) Hardware system (@) Operating system includes boot firmware and power 10... management. (a) CD-ROM (b) Internal buses (© Bios (d) Chip Set 11. In order for a peripheral to operate correctly, its .. must be installed. (a) device driver (©) user interface (©) internet connection _(d) operating system helps in converting programming language to machine language. (@) Operating system —_(b) Device driver (© Language translator (4) Linker 13. A linker program {@) places the program in the memory for the purpose of execution (©) relocates the program to execute from the specific memory area allocated to it (©) links the program with other programs needed for 12. its execution (@) interfaces the program with the entities generating its input data 14, The main purpose of ... is to resolve references among files. (a) text editor (b) loader (©) antivirus (2) linker 15. Which of the following system software resides in main memory always? (@) Text editor (b) Assembler (©) Linker (a) Loader 16. A kind of system software, which is responsible for loading and relocating of the executable program in the main memory (@) loader (b) linker (©) translator (d) presentation software 17, Software designed for a specific purpose/ application such as pay calculations, processing of examination result, etc are known as (a) utility software (b) system software (©) application software (@) customised softwareComputer Concepts Computer Software 418, Application software is used to control the operating system (0) is designed to help programmers (© performs specific task for computer users (@)is used for making design only 49. The software that is used to create text-based. documents are referred to as (@) DBMS () suites (©) spreadsheets (a) Word processors 20, Which of the following general purpose softwares allow you to do mathematical or financial calculation? (a) Word processing program (b) Spreadsheet program (©) Presentation program (d) Database program 21. Which software is used to create presentations to show to customers or staff members? (@) Report Generation _(b) Graph Generator (©) Presentation software (4) Picture generator 22. Database software is used to (@) discard sales records (b) text documents (©) keep customer records (4) None of these 23. DTP is a tool for graphic designers and non-designers to create visual communications for professional. DTP stands for (@) Device Transfer Protocol (b) Desktop Publishing (©) Device Transfer Programs (4) All of the above 24, Which among the following is not an example of a system software? (@) Operating system _(b) BIOS (©) Device Driver (a) Adobe Photoshop 25. Which application software is used for a special purpose like reservation and accounting etc? (a) General purpose software (b) Special purpose software tf 26. Which of the following techniques can be used to store a large number of files in a small amount of storage space? (a) File adjustment (b) File copying (©) File compatibility (d) Alll of these 27. What type of software creates a smaller file that is, faster to transfer over the Internet? (a) Compression (b) Fragmentation (6) Unzipped (4) Abstraction is a Windows utility program that locates and climinates unnecessary fragments and rearranges files and unused to disk space to optimise operations. (a) Backup (©) Disk defragmenter (b) Disk cleanup (d) Restore 29. When files are broken up into small parts on a disk they are said to be (@) fragmented (©) contiguous (© sectored (4) disbursed 30. It can make copies of all information stored on a disk or either restore the entire disk (a) Restore utility (b) Disk cleaner (©) Backup software (4) Defragmenter 31. A .....ses. backup contains a copy of every program, data and system file on a computer. (a) restoration (b) bootstrap (©) differential @) full 32, They can find files that are unnecessary to computer operation, or take up considerable amounts of space. (@) Antivirus (©) Disk cleaner (b) Sweep (d) Disk Formatting > previous Years’ Questions (PYOs) 33, What type of errors are not detected by assemblers? om tage placid (@) Syntax error (©) Run time error 7 (6) Logical error (@) All of these 2% Count Your Score Chapter Challenges 1o]26@}ae@ | eo | sof] am | 2@] so |a@l|we n@ /2o |ono fue ls@fww |ro |weo |w@ | oo ane |2o fa@ila@olsoloe@ilae |xo law |omo 31. @) 32. (e) Previous Years’ Questions (PYQs) wo |