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lecture 3

Uploaded by

davidonurse
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Topic 3

1
DEFINITION
 Computer software refers to a set of
instructions that direct a computer on what
to do.
 Software can be classified into two broad

categories namely system software and


application software.
 System software: performs the
fundamental operations that avails the
computers resources to user applications.
There are four types of system software
namely operating system, utility
programs, networking software and
firmware. 2
CONT’ED
 Operating systems: is a program that manages
the computer hardware resources and controls the
execution of application programs. Some examples
of operating systems include Microsoft Windows,
LINUX, UNIX, MacOS etc.
 Utility Programs: also called service programs, are
special programs used to enhance performance of
the system. System level utilities optimize system
performance while application level utilities help
in the smooth running of application software. E.g.
antiviruses, disk defragmentation, screen saver,
back up, sorting, merging, disk compression, etc.
 Networking Software: enables computers and
other peripheral devices connected on a network to
communicate and share resources. E.g Novell
Netware,dukto
 Firmware: also referred to as stored logic, is a
combination of both the hardware and software
etched on a single silicon chip. 3
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software
 These are programs that are designed to meet
user-specific needs. Application software can be
classified according to purpose and acquisition.
Classification according to purpose
 Classified according to purpose, application
software can be either a general purpose or
special-purpose software. General purpose
software such as word processors,
spreadsheets, database and presentation
software are packaged and made available for
general use.
 On the other hand, special-purpose
applications such as desktop publishing,
video editing and photo editing software are
used to carry out specialized tasks. 4
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO
ACQUISITION
Classification according to acquisition
 Classified according to acquisition, an
application software can be either in-house
developed or an off-the-shelf software. In-
house developed software are tailored to meet
specific needs within the organization.
 On the other hand, vendor off-the-shelf
software is developed and packaged for sale.
Off-the-shelf packages are widely used
because:
 Ittakes less time to assess company needs, buy
and install them.
 They are less to acquire and maintain.
 They are readily available for almost any task.
 They are thoroughly tested before being released
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hence less chances of errors.
CONT’ED
 However, there are some drawbacks of off-the-
shelf packages such as:
 They may have some features not needed by the user
which may take extra storage.
 They may require the user to change its processes and
hardware for compatibility which may in turn be
expensive.
Criteria for selecting computer system
 Before acquiring computer hardware and software
there is need to consider a number of factors.
Hardware considerations
 Processor type and speed; the price of a
computer is dictated by the type of microprocessor
installed and its clock speed. Currently the models
available on microcomputers include the Pentium,
Celeron, AMD Athlon and Cyrix. Consider the speed 6
of not lower than 800MHz.
CONT’ED
 Memory capacity; the operating system and the
application that can run efficiently on the computer.
 Warranty; the hardware bought must have
warranty cover and must be guaranteed for a
specific period of time. In most cases, the longer
the warranty, the better the hardware.
 Cost; a good market survey would enable purchase
of genuine components at a reasonable cost.
 Compatibility and upgradability; the hardware
bought must be compatible across platforms and
easily upgradeable.
 Special needs; the hardware must be able to take
care of the special needs of the user. If the user is
physically challenged, special hardware may be
required. 7
CONT’ED
 Portability; portable computers are ideal for
people who do not take most of their time in
an office.however, these are expensive.
 Display; flat-panel display monitors are

becoming more popular and are gradually


replacing the traditional CRT monitors.
 Other considerations; include available

ports, wireless connectivity, multimedia and


the system unit form factor(whether tower
type or desktop)

8
SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS
 Authenticity: authenticity of software must
be considered to avoid purchasing pirated
software. Authenticity is established by having
the manufacturer’s certificate of authenticity.
 Documentation: software documentation
includes user manuals, troubleshooting and
installation guides as well as online help. A
good software product must be accompanied
with this documentation.
 User needs: before purchasing a software

product or engaging in developing one, one


should analyze the users’ needs.
 Reliability: good software must be reliable

and secure. 9
CONT’ED
 User-friendly: the graphical user-interface have made
modern software that are more user-friendly. However,
GUI-based software may be difficult to use.
 Cost: software tend to be more expensive that
hardware. The cost of acquiring a software product
must be carefully considered before acquiring it
against the benefits that is likely to bring. It is not also
advisable to go for products which are freely available
of the internet because some of them may be
malicious programs.
 Compatibility and upgradeability: a software
product must be compatible with the existing
hardware, operating system or application programs
and should be readily upgradeable.
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