INFS 214: Introduction to Computing - · PDF filetwo basic types of software: system software and application ... •This 16-bit operating system, with its text-based ... Linux, Windows

College of Education

School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 – 2016/2017

INFS 214:

Introduction to Computing

Session 7 – Computer Software

Lecturer: Dr. Ebenezer Ankrah, Dept. of Information Studies Contact Information: [email protected]

Session Overview

• Computer hardware cannot work without software. Software refers to programs, which are instruction codes that direct the computer to perform some actions.

• Software or programs are also used to perform certain activities or data processing for a user. In general, there are two basic types of software: system software and application software.

• This session explains the general concept of software, suites, pirated software and computer virus.

DR. EBENEZER ANKRAH Slide 2

Session Overview

• At the end of the session, the student will

– Be able to identify and explain the types of software

– Be able to differentiate between the types of operating systems

– Understand and apply the different methods for preventing virus from affecting the computer system.

– Understand the functions of operating systems

– Be able to differentiate between pirated software and copyrighted software


Session Outline

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

• Introduction to Computer Software

• Types of Operating Systems

• Functions of Operating Systems

• Software Issues


Reading List

• Hutchinson, S. E., & Sawyer, S. C. (2013). Computers: The user perspective. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. (Chapter 8)

• O’Leary, T. J., & O’Leary, L. I. (2014). Computer Today. Boston: McGraw Hill. (Chapter 5)

• Williams, B. K., & Sawyer, S. C. (2014). Using Information Technology: A practical introduction to computers and communications (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. (Chapter 4)


INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Topic One


Introduction to Computer Software

• Software is a set of instructions that direct the hardware to perform specified actions. Software is so important that even before the computer emerges from the Assembly Plant, it already has some software.

• This software is normally stored in the ROM. Software is a term used to describe a computer program, which is a set of instructions that tells the computer what to do. Software is divided into two broad categories: Systems Software and Application Software.



• Software is a set of instructions that direct the hardware to perform specified actions. Software is so important that even before the computer emerges from the Assembly Plant, it already has some software.

• This software is normally stored in the ROM. Software is a term used to describe a computer program, which is a set of instructions that tells the computer what to do. Software is divided into two broad categories: Systems Software and Application Software.



• Systems Software

• System software handles technical details of the computer. It is not a single program. But rather it is a collection or a system of programs that handle hundreds of technical details with little or no user intervention.

• System software is made up of the following:

– Operating System

– Utilities

– Device Drivers



• Systems software is a set of instructions that serves primarily as an intermediary between computer hardware and application programs, and may also be directly manipulated by knowledgeable users.

• Systems software provides important self-regulatory functions for computer systems, such as loading itself when the computer is first turned on, managing hardware resources such as secondary storage for all applications, and providing commonly used sets of instructions for all applications to use.

• Systems programming is either the creation or maintenance of systems software.



• Application Software

• Application Software is a programme (software) that is designed to perform specific tasks and functions. Application software consists of instructions that direct a computer system to perform specific information processing activities and that provide functionality for users.



• Application software is a set of computer instructions that provide more specific functionality to a user. That functionality may be broad, such as general word processing, or narrow, such as an organization’s payroll program.

• An application program applies a computer to a certain need. Application programming is either the creation or the modification and improvement of application software.



• Application programs primarily manipulate data or text to produce or provide information. Systems programs primarily manipulate computer hardware resources.

• The systems software available on a computer system provides the capabilities and limitations within which the application software can operate.


Questions

• Individual Assignment:

– Differentiate between the types of operating systems

• Forum Question:

– Discuss the general functions of the operating system


TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS Topic Two


Types of Operating Systems

• An Operating System can be defined as a set of programmes through which the computer manages its own resources. Every computer has an operating system.

• This is software that is usually hidden from the user. The operating system is often referred to as the software environment or platform.

• For example, software designed to run on Apple computers is compatible with the Mac OS environment.



• Operating systems are necessary in order for computer hardware to function. Operating environments, which add features that enable system developers to create applications without directly accessing the operating system, function only with an operating system.

• Operating systems (OSs) can be categorized by the number of users they support as well as by their level of sophistication.



• The types of operating systems are:

– Mobile device operating systems

– Desktop and notebook computer operating systems

– Departmental server operating systems

– Enterprise server operating systems



• Mobile device operating systems

• These operating systems are designed for a variety of devices, such as handheld computers, set-top boxes, subnotebook PCs, mobile telephones, and factory-floor equipment.

• The mobile device operating system market includes embedded Linux, Microsoft’s Windows CE and Pocket PC, Windows Embedded NT 4.0, and Palm OS from Palm.



• Desktop and notebook computer operating systems

• The Windows family is the leading series of desktop operating systems. The MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) was one of the original operating systems for the IBM PC and its clones.

• This 16-bit operating system, with its text-based interface, has now been almost totally replaced by GUI operating systems such as Windows 2000 and Windows XP.



• Departmental server operating systems • The major departmental server operating systems

include UNIX, Linux, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Novell NetWare.

• Although some of these are also desktop operating systems, all can serve as departmental server operating systems because of their strong scalability, reliability, backup, security, fault tolerance, multitasking, multiprocessing, TCP/IP networking (Internet integration), network management, and directory services.



• Enterprise server operating systems • Enterprise server operating systems (e.g., IBM’s OS/390, VM,

VSE, and OS/400) generally run on mainframes and midrange systems.

• Enterprise operating systems offer superior manageability, security, stability, and support for online applications, secure electronic commerce, multiple concurrent users, large (terabyte) databases, and millions of transactions per day.

• Enterprise server operating systems also offer partitioning, a method of segmenting a server’s resources to allow the processing of multiple applications on a single system.


FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

Topic Three


Functions of Operating Systems

• The main functions of the operating system are: – Manages the resources of the computer

– Provides user interface

– Runs applications

• Manages the resources of the computer – Start the computer (Starting or restarting a computer is called

booting the system. There are two ways to boot a computer: a warm boot and a cold boot.)

– Provides Security

– Monitors System Performance

– Schedules Jobs/Tasks



• Provides user interface

– Command-Line Interface (CLI) / Character based interface (type commands at a prompt)

– Graphic User Interface (GUI) (control the system by using a mouse to click graphical objects called icons.)



Features of the Operating System

• Icons – graphic representations for a program or function.

• Pointer – controlled by a mouse and changes shape depending upon its current function.

• Windows – rectangular areas for displaying information and running programs.

• Menus – provide a list of options or commands

• Dialog boxes – provide information or request input.

• Help – provides online assistance for operating system functions and procedures.


SOFTWARE ISSUES Topic Four


Software Issues

• SUITES

• A current development in the application software industry is a trend towards the sale of suites. A suite is a bundle of different types of application software (usually developed by the same company) packaged as a single unit.

• Examples of these are Microsoft Office (which includes Word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database and communication application software), Lotus Suite, Corel Word Perfect Suite etc.


Software Issues

• PIRATED AND FREE SOFTWARE

• Pirating of software is the unauthorised copying of software. Software can be classified as being in Public Domain, Shareware or Copyrighted software. In some instances, writers of certain software make them freely available to all or place them in Public Domain.

• This happens in cases where the author feels making the software available will promote the interest of public good. In most of the cases, this has to do with education or towards the promotion of some other social course.


Software Issues

• Shareware is also in public domain but the intention of the writer is for the users to like it well enough to voluntarily compensate them for it. This type of software could also be copied.

• Packaged software that is mostly used is copyright protected. This is to enable the writers to get the necessary financial remuneration for the time, effort and money that might have been invested in its production.


Software Issues

• The process of making illegal copies out of copyrighted software is known as software piracy. Copies of copyrighted software are said to be illegal if they are made with the intention of selling them, using them freely or distributing them freely.


Software Issues

• When copyrighted software is bought, one has a license to use it. It is allowed if you copy your licensed software in order to have a backup copy. Licenses to personal computer software are given for individual computers. It is therefore illegal to use the same copy on more than one computer even though they are both owned by the same user.


Software Issues

• If one intends to use the software on another computer, one has to apply for another license usually called site licensing. In this case, you may not be required to pay the full fee for second and subsequent licenses. Discounts are given depending on the number of licenses one intends to buy.

• In corporate environments, the usual practice is to buy a number of licences depending on the number of employees who would use the software. Discounts could also be given where the software is being used for some social good (educational purposes for example).


Software Issues

• There are two copy protection mechanisms employed by software producers to protect their software. These are hardware roadblocks and software roadblocks.

• These roadblocks prevent people from copying the software. The Hardware roadblock prevents one from installing the software or require hardware device to be attached to a port of the computer before the software can run.

• Software roadblock is the most widely used. The method requires a license number to be entered before the software runs.


References

• Hutchinson, S. E., & Sawyer, S. C. (2013). Computers: The user perspective. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill.

• O’Leary, T. J., & O’Leary, L. I. (2014). Computer Today. Boston: McGraw Hill.

• Williams, B. K., & Sawyer, S. C. (2014). Using Information Technology: A practical introduction to computers and communications (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.


Documents

INFS 214: Introduction to Computing - · PDF filetwo basic types of software: system software and application ... •This 16-bit operating system, with its text-based ... Linux, Windows