1Copyright © Prentice Hall 2000 Computer Software Chapter 2 Applications Software and Operating Systems

1Copyright © Prentice Hall 2000

Computer Software

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Applications Software and Applications Software and Operating SystemsOperating Systems


Software: Telling the Machine What to Do

•Software - the planned, Software - the planned, step-by-step set of step-by-step set of instructions required to instructions required to turn data into turn data into information.information.•Divided principally into Divided principally into systems and applications. systems and applications.


Applications Software

•Programs designed to Programs designed to perform specific tasks perform specific tasks and functionsand functions•Often found in the Often found in the mass market asmass market as

– packaged software or packaged software or – commercial softwarecommercial software


But What Would I Use It For?

•Office ApplicationsOffice Applications•GamesGames•HobbiesHobbies•Surfing the Surfing the InternetInternet


Acquiring Software

Freeware - authorized Freeware - authorized software released for software released for free, placing it in the free, placing it in the public domainpublic domain

Commercial - copyrighted Commercial - copyrighted software released for software released for price of purchaseprice of purchase

– This software may be This software may be piratedpirated, or used , or used illegally.illegally.


Some Task-Oriented Software

•Most commonly Most commonly known in the known in the workplace as workplace as productivity productivity softwaresoftware..•Intended for Intended for specific tasks specific tasks described in the described in the following slides:following slides:


Word Processing/Desktop Publishing

•Most commonly used Most commonly used productivity softwareproductivity software•Used to create Used to create memos, reports,, memos, reports,, minutes of meetings, minutes of meetings, other documents.other documents.•Can create, edit, Can create, edit, format, store, and print format, store, and print text and graphics from text and graphics from one document.one document.


Electronic Spreadsheets

•Just like a manual Just like a manual spreadsheet except the spreadsheet except the computer does the computer does the repetitive workrepetitive work•Allows the ability to ask Allows the ability to ask mathematical “What ifs?” mathematical “What ifs?” and then see the results and then see the results on the computer before on the computer before making costly decisions.making costly decisions.


Database Management

•Software used for Software used for the management of the management of a collection of a collection of interrelated facts.interrelated facts.•Useful for Useful for professions keeping professions keeping record of large record of large numbers of related numbers of related facts (i.e. Billing, facts (i.e. Billing, crime detection)crime detection)


Graphics

•Software used to Software used to create visual create visual images such as:images such as:

– drawings, drawings, – graphs, graphs, – charts, charts, – maps and maps and – many more.many more.


Communications

•Communications is now Communications is now mostly via the Internet, mostly via the Internet, butbut•Many businesses have Many businesses have long been heavy users of long been heavy users of communications, among communications, among them:them:

– weather forecastersweather forecasters– stock brokersstock brokers– the governmentthe government


Office Suites

•Typically include: Typically include: – word processing, word processing, – spreadsheet, spreadsheet, – databasedatabase

•Modern suites are Modern suites are feature-laden and feature-laden and require substantial require substantial hard disk spacehard disk space


Business Software

•Companies often use Companies often use a mix of off-the-shelf a mix of off-the-shelf and custom-made and custom-made softwaresoftware•An aircraft company An aircraft company may use spreadsheets may use spreadsheets heavily, butheavily, but•They will not find an They will not find an off-the-shelf package off-the-shelf package for designing planesfor designing planes


Vertical Market Software

Designed to serve Designed to serve the specific needs the specific needs of a group of similar of a group of similar businesses, such as businesses, such as auto repair.auto repair.


Software for Workgroups

•Groupware Groupware (collaborative (collaborative software) lets a software) lets a group of people group of people share information.share information.•These programs These programs may include email, may include email, scheduling and scheduling and database technologydatabase technology


Getting Software Help at Work

The company Help The company Help Desk may provide Desk may provide assistance with assistance with applications, applications, software selection, software selection, and network and and network and hardware repairhardware repair


Software for a Small Business

•AccountingAccounting•Writing and Writing and advertisingadvertising•Customer serviceCustomer service•Keeping up and Keeping up and making contactsmaking contacts•Making sales Making sales pitchespitches


Accounting

Companies may use Companies may use accounting software accounting software ranging from a ranging from a simple spreadsheet simple spreadsheet to a specialized to a specialized accounting package accounting package that prints checks that prints checks and has payroll and has payroll capabilitycapability


Writing and Advertising

Heavy users of:Heavy users of:•Word processingWord processing•Desktop publishingDesktop publishing


Customer Service

Customer service Customer service companies need companies need databases to store:databases to store:•AddressesAddresses•purchase purchase preferencespreferences•Example: a pet Example: a pet store.store.


Keeping up and Making Contacts

Business Business connections are connections are available from available from many sites on many sites on the Internetthe Internet


Making Sales Pitches

Presentation Presentation software can software can help you create help you create colorful colorful demonstrationsdemonstrations


Ethics and Applications Software

Incentives to pirate:Incentives to pirate:•Illegally copied Illegally copied software is identical software is identical to the original and to the original and works just as wellworks just as well•Illegally copied Illegally copied software may be software may be valued at several valued at several hundreds of dollarshundreds of dollars


OK If I Copy That Software?

Companies may be Companies may be at risk for litigation at risk for litigation if an employee if an employee installs illegally installs illegally copied software on copied software on his office computerhis office computer


Why Those Extra Copies?

Legal copying Legal copying includes making an includes making an archive copy in archive copy in case of disk failurecase of disk failure


Operating Systems: Hidden Software

•Operating systems Operating systems tell computer tell computer hardware what to dohardware what to do•An operating An operating system is a set of system is a set of programs that lies programs that lies between applications between applications software and the software and the computer hardwarecomputer hardware


Control of the Operating System (OS)

•The most The most important OS important OS program is the program is the supervisor programsupervisor program•The supervisor The supervisor program loads program loads other operating other operating programs into programs into memory as neededmemory as needed

Memory

Program2Program1

Supervisor


Functions of an OS

An OS has 3 main An OS has 3 main functions:functions:•Manage computer Manage computer resourcesresources•Establish a user Establish a user interfaceinterface•Execute and Execute and provide services for provide services for applications softwareapplications software


Operating Systems for Personal Computers

•Software is often written for one Software is often written for one particular OS, butparticular OS, but•Popular software is available for Popular software is available for more than one OS:more than one OS:

– WindowsWindows– Mac OSMac OS


Microsoft Windows

Windows is a Windows is a popular OS that popular OS that is often pre-is often pre-installed on installed on computers with computers with Intel processorsIntel processors


A Windows Overview

Windows includes:Windows includes:•Browsing capabilitiesBrowsing capabilities•Support for state-of-the-art Support for state-of-the-art hardwarehardware•Support for very large disk drivesSupport for very large disk drives•TV viewer and broadcast abilityTV viewer and broadcast ability•WizardsWizards


Windows NT

Windows NT (“new Windows NT (“new technology”) is a technology”) is a more robust, heavy more robust, heavy duty version duty version designed for use designed for use with networked with networked computers in a computers in a businessbusiness


Windows 2000

Windows 2000 will Windows 2000 will merge features of merge features of both the current both the current home user version home user version and Windows NTand Windows NT

Windows 2000 will Windows 2000 will use ordinary use ordinary language, rather language, rather than menusthan menus


Computers and People

Essential personnel Essential personnel required to run large required to run large computer systems computer systems include:include:•Data entry operatorsData entry operators•Computer OperatorsComputer Operators•ProgrammersProgrammers•Systems AnalystsSystems Analysts•Network ManagersNetwork Managers


Conclusion

•We have described computer We have described computer software and operating systems software and operating systems in general terms.in general terms.•Subsequent chapters will Subsequent chapters will describe computer hardware in describe computer hardware in more detailmore detail

Documents

1Copyright © Prentice Hall 2000 Computer Software Chapter 2 Applications Software and Operating Systems