INF101 – Business

Information Systems

Week 4 - Software and Mobile

Application (Chapter 4)

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Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
Identify and briefly describe the functions of two basic kinds of
software
Define the term “sphere of influence,” and describe how it can be
used to classify software
Define the basic functions performed by the operating system
Identify current operating systems that are used for personal,
workgroup, and enterprise computing
Discuss the role of the OS in embedded systems

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Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to (cont’d):
Discuss how application software can support personal,
workgroup, and enterprise business objectives
Identify three basic approaches to developing application
software and discuss the pros and cons of each
Identify programming languages in use today
Identify several key software issues and trends that have an
impact on organizations and individuals

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 An Overview of Software

• Software
• Consists of computer programs that control the workings of computer hardware
• Software can be divided into two types:
• System software – includes operating system (OS), utilities, and middleware that
coordinate the activities and functions of the hardware and other programs
• Application software – programs that help users solve particular computing problems

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Software Sphere of Influence

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 Systems Software

• Controls the operations of computer hardware

• Supports the application programs’ problem-solving capabilities
• Types of systems software
• Operating systems
• Utility programs
• Middleware

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 Operating Systems

• A set of programs that controls computer hardware and acts as an interface

with application programs
• Combinations of OSs, computers, and users:
• Single computer with a single user
• Single computer with multiple simultaneous users
• Multiple computers with multiple users
• Special-purpose computers

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Operating Systems

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 Operating Systems

• Kernel
• The heart of the operating system
• Controls the most critical processes of the OS
• Ties all of the OS components together and regulates other programs
• Rescue disk
• A storage device that contains some or all of the OS and can be used to start the
computer if having trouble with the primary hard disk

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 Operating Systems

• Functions performed by the OS

• Control common computer hardware functions
• Provide a user interface and input/output management
• Provide a degree of hardware independence
• Manage system memory
• Manage processing tasks
• Provide networking capability
• Control access to system resources
• Manage files

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 Operating Systems

• Common Hardware Functions

• Get input from keyboard or another input device
• Retrieve data from disks
• Store data on disks
• Display information on a monitor or printer
• User Interface and Input/Output Management
• A user interface allows individuals to access and interact with the computer system
• A command-based user interface requires text commands
• A graphical user interface (GUI)
- The user interacts with icons and menus to send commands to the computer system

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Operating Systems

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 Operating Systems

• Other user interfaces:

• A natural user interface (NUI) or multitouch interface
• Speech recognition
• Sight interfaces
• Brain interfaces
• Hardware Independence
• Application program interface (API): a set of programming instructions and standards
for one software program to access and use the services of another software program
• Hardware independence allows software development without concern for the
specific underlying hardware

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 Operating Systems

• Memory Management
• Allows the computer to execute program instructions effectively and to speed
processing
• Virtual memory: hard disk space is allocated to supplement the immediate, functional
memory capacity of RAM
- Paging

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 Operating Systems

• Processing Tasks: Five basic task management techniques

• Multiuser: allows two or more users to run programs at the same time on one
computer
• Multiprocessing: supports running a program on more than one CPU
• Multitasking: allows more than one program to run concurrently
• Multithreading: allows different threads of a single program to run concurrently
• Real time: responds to input instantly

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 Operating Systems

• Networking Capability
• Allows computers in a network to send and receive data and share computing
resources
• Access to System Resources and Security
• Provides protection against unauthorized access to the users’ data and programs
• Establishes a logon procedure
- May control access to specific system resources
• Tracks who is using the system, length of use, and attempted security breaches

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Current Operating Systems

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 Personal Computing Operating Systems

• Apple Computer OS
• Mac OS X has been upgraded multiple times
• First eight versions were named after big cats
• Latest versions are named after places in California
• Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan is the latest version
• Mac users can set up their computers to run both Windows and Mac OS X

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Personal Computing Operating Systems

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 Personal Computing Operating Systems

• Linux
• Open-source operating system
• Three of the most widely used distributions come from software companies:
- Red Hat
- SUSE
- Canonical
• openSUSE is the distribution sponsored by SUSE

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 Personal Computing Operating Systems

• Google: Android and Chrome

• Chrome OS
- Linux-based operating system designed for netbooks and nettops
- Designed to run on inexpensive low-power computers
• Chromium OS: an open-source version of Chrome OS
• Android: an operating system for mobile devices
- 80 percent of mobile phones worldwide use Android

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 Workgroup Operating Systems

• Windows Server provides:

• A powerful Web server management system
• Virtualization tools that allow various operating systems to run on a single server
• Advanced security features
• Robust administrative support
• UNIX
• Can be used on many computer system types and platforms

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 Mobile Operating Systems

• Smartphones employ full-fledged computer OSs

• Google Android
• Apple iOS
• Microsoft Windows Phone

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 Embedded Operating Systems

• Embedded system: a computer system (including a processor) implanted in and

dedicated to the control of another device
• Popular OSs for embedded systems
• Windows embedded
• Proprietary Linux-based systems: Sony’s Wii; and OSs in e-book readers, ATMs,
smartphones, networking devices, and media players

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 Utility Programs

• Hardware utilities
• Security utilities
• File-compression utilities
• Spam-filtering utilities
• Network and Internet utilities
• Server and mainframe utilities
• Other utilities: mobile device management (MDM), defraggers, system
cleaners, etc.

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 Middleware

• Middleware
• Software that allows different systems to communicate and exchange data
• Can also be used as an interface between the Internet and private corporate
systems
• Enterprise application integration (EAI): tying together of disparate applications
• Service-oriented architecture (SOA): a software design approach using modules
to provide specific functions as services to other applications

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 Application Software

• Application programs’ primary function

• To apply the power of the computer to enable people, workgroups, and the entire
enterprise to solve problems and perform specific tasks
• Many software options are available
• Software can be selected that best meets the needs of the individual, workgroup, or
enterprise

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 Overview of Application Software

• Proprietary software: a one-of-a-kind program for a specific application

• Owned by the company, organization, or person that uses it
• Off-the-shelf software: software mass-produced by software vendors
• Addresses needs that are common across businesses, organizations, or individuals

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Overview of Application Software

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 Overview of Application Software

• Cloud service providers

• Companies that provide software, data storage, and other services via the Internet
• Software as a service (SaaS)
• Businesses subscribe to Web-delivered business application software
• Vendors include Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce, and Google
• Amazon is considered one of the leading public cloud service providers because
of Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform

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 Personal Application Software

• Word Processing
• Create, edit, and print text documents
• Spreadsheet Analysis
• Perform statistical, financial, logical, database, graphics, and date and time
calculations using a wide range of built-in functions
• Database Applications
• Store, manipulate, and retrieve data

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Personal Application Software

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 Personal Application Software

• Other Personal Application Software

• TurboTax: tax-preparation program
• Software for creating Web pages and sites, composing music, and editing photos and
videos
• Educational and reference
• Entertainment, games, and leisure
• Computer-assisted design (CAD)
• Statistical software: SPSS and SAS

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Personal Application Software

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 Enterprise Application Software

• Enterprise application software

• Software that benefits an entire organization
• Helps managers and workers stay connected
• Cost, installation and ability to integrate with other software are major considerations
in selecting this software
• Usability on smartphones and mobile devices is also an important factor

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Enterprise Application Software

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 Application Software for Transaction Processing, Business
Analytics, and Competitive Advantage

• Available in every industry

• Examples:
• Blackboard and other learning management software
• Software to visualize and analyze the human genome
• Natural resource planning

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 Programming Languages

• Programming languages
• Sets of keywords, commands, symbols, and a system of rules for constructing
statements
• Allows humans to communicate instructions to a computer
• Syntax: a set of rules associated with a programming language

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 Programming Languages

• Compiler: a special software program that converts the programmer’s source

code into the machine-language instructions
• Software development kits (SDKs) and integrated development environments
(IDEs) have made software development easier than ever
• IDE combines all the tools required for software engineering into one package
• SDKs often serve the purpose of an IDE for a particular platform

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Programming Languages

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 Software Issues and Trends

• Software issues:
• Software bugs
• Copyrights and licensing
• Freeware and open-source software
• Upgrades
• Global software support

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 Software Bugs

• Software bug: a defect in a program that keeps it from performing as it should

• Tips for reducing the impact of software bugs
• Register all software
• Check read-me files for solutions to known problems
• Access the support area of the manufacturer’s Web site for patches
• Install the latest software updates
• Make sure you can recreate the bug and then call the manufacturer’s tech support
line

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 Copyrights and Licenses

• Most software products are protected by law using copyright or licensing

provisions:
• In some cases, you are given unlimited use of software on one or two computers
• In other cases, you pay for your usage; if you use the software more, you pay more
• Some software now requires that you register or activate it before it can be fully
used
• Single-user license
• Permits you to install the software on one or more computers, used by one person

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Freeware and Open-Source Software

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 Freeware and Open-Source Software

• GNU General Public License (GPL) grants you the right to:
• Run the program for any purpose
• Study how the program works and adapt it to your needs
• Redistribute copies so you can help others
• Improve the program and release improvements to the public

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 Summary

• Software is valuable in helping individuals, workgroups, and entire enterprises

achieve their goals
• The OS is called the “soul of the computer” because it controls how you enter
data into your computer, perform meaningful work, and display results
• Organizations typically use off-the-shelf software to meet common business
needs and proprietary software to meet unique business needs
• The software industry continues to undergo constant change; computer users
need to be aware of recent trends and issues in the software industry to be
effective in their business and personal life

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