STD V: COMPUTER

Chapter 2: Types of software

Syllabus: Hardware (Recall), Software, System software, Utility Software, Application Software

A computer is made up of two parts: hardware and software. Hardware is the physical machine that you see and touch. Software is a group of instruction that you give to the computer to make it work.

Hardware: All physical parts which you can see, feel and touch are called hardware of the computer. These devices are also known as peripheral devices. CPU, keyboard, monitor, mouse, modem, CD-ROM, etc. are all examples of hardware.

Input and Output Devices Input/output devices (known as I/O devices) provide the means of communication between the computer and its user.

Input Devices Input devices are used to enter (or input) data and information into a computer. Keyboard, mouse and scanner are common input devices. Let us read about some of the not-so-common input devices.

Drawing or Graphic Tablet A drawing tablet is similar to a whiteboard, except that you use a special pen called stylus, to write on it. A drawing tablet is connected to the computer. By moving the stylus on the tablet, you can draw on the

screen of the monitor, and save it on the computer.

Joystick A joystick is used to move the cursor and select different items on the computer screen. It is a control device that consists of a handheld stick which pivots around one end. It is most commonly used for playing games.

Touch Screen A touch screen is a computer screen that you can touch with your finger to enter information. You must have seen touch screens on a smart board, microwave or an ATM machine.

Bar-code Scanner A bar-code scanner scans a little label that has a bar code on it. The information is then saved/displayed on the computer. Bar code scanners are used in libraries to scan the bar- code on the back of books. You would also have seen sales people scanning the bar-codes from the labels of clothes and groceries at the time of billing.

Webcam A webcam is a low-resolution video camera which is used to provide a visual input. It is used for video conferencing.

Output Devices

As the word ‘output’ suggest, output devices are used to get information out of a computer. The most common output device is the monitor or screen, as we call it, on laptop computers. Let us read about some commonly used output devices.

Monitor A monitor or Visual Display Unit (VDU) is the screen on which words, numbers and graphics can be seen. Monitors may be differentiated on the basis of color and their capability to display quality graphics. Monitors are also characterised by the flatness of their screen. For example, TFT screens are commonly used nowadays.

Printer A printer is an output device that creates a hard copy of an electronic document onto the paper. Printers can print words, numbers or pictures. There are different types of printers. Commonly used printers are inkjet printers and laser printers. Printers differ in terms of technology, speed, cost and quality of printing.

Speakers A speaker gives you audio from your computer. Some speakers are present inside the computer and some are attached externally.

Headphones

Headphones give audio output from the computer. A headphone’s function is same as that of a speaker but headphones are worn on the ears so only one person can hear the output at a time.

Software

Computer works as per our instructions.

A group of instructions is called a program.

A group of programs which perform a specific task is called Software.

Classification of software

System Software It is the most important software in computer system. It typically includes:

An operating system to control the execution of other programs

User interface software

Development tools for building other programs

In built utility program

Click on the below link for better understanding of topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNp0bBrjmU

Software

System Software

Application Software

Utility Software

Operating system (OS)

An Operating System is a must for every computer in order to run other

programs.

It performs the primary task in the computer system like recognizing input

from input device, output from output device,sending output to the output

device , keeping tracks of files and directories on the disk , and controlling all

peripheral devices among various other things.

The Operating System is the first program gets loaded in the computer as it

boots.

An Operating System is also responsible for allocating system resources,

memory processor time and disk space.

It manages the CPU and network equipment

Classification of Operating System

Operating System

Single - User Multi-User Multiprocessing Multitasking Multithreading Real time

Single User This Operating System is designed to manage the computer that has a single user. For E.g., the Android Operating System for smart phones and palm operating system for palm handheld computers

Multi User

This type of Operating System allows two or more users to work at the same time on system. Some Operating System allows hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.

Multitasking This type of Operating System allows more than one program to run simultaneously.

Multithreading Such an Operating System allows different parts of a single program to run parallely.

Real time This special Operating System responds to input instantly. Some popular Operating System are listed below:

For PCs : Windows , Unix , Linux ,Mac OS

For workstations : Windows , Unix , Linux , Mac OS

For supercomputers : Linux

Utility Software

Utility programs perform specific, though essential tasks which are needed to

support the Operating System.

OS contain a number of utilities for disk backups, disk optimisation, disk

formatting, antivirus programs, file recovery, etc.

In other words, utility software maintains the computer system.

Backup Utilities

These programs help copy data from the computer’s hard disk to backup

media such as pen drives, external hard disks, magnetic tapes, optical disks,

online and offline storage.

There are two types of backups that occur in the system – full backup &

incremental backup.

Full backup – In this mirror image is made of entire hard disk contents.

Incremental backup – This backup copies only those files that have been

created or changed since the last backup occurred.

Antivirus Programs A virus is a program that infects computer files by replicating itself in

those files.

These copies get activated as soon as the file gets loaded in the memory,

allowing the virus to infect other files on the disk.

Antivirus program protect system from viruses by examining all the files

on the disk.

Some popular antivirus software are – AVG, Norton’s , McAfee ,Dr.

Solomon and many more.

File Compression File Compression programs reduce the size of files by as much as 50%

without harming the data , for transmission or storage so that file can be

easily transmitted

Disk Cleanup This program is used to free space on a computer’s hard disk.

This utility works in two ways – it first searches and then analyses the

hard drive for any unused files, and then eliminates the unnecessary files.

Disk Defragmentation Regular use of a computer results in file being created, altered, copied,

moved and erased on the hard disk frequently.

This results in a hard disk that has files scattered all over it.

Such a disk is called a fragmented disk.

File defragmentation utilities are used to relocate all the data on the disk

in contiguous memory locations so that data access process become

faster.

Application Software Application software is a complete, self-contained package of programs that performs a specific task for the user. Some common types of application software are:

Editors for various kinds of documents, spreadsheets, and text formatters

Network applications like FTP, electronic mail, and World Wide Web

Domain specific like real-time software, business software, scientific and

engineering software, personal computer software, an accounts package or

Computer Aided Designing (CAD) programs

Application programs mainly fall into two categories:

Horizontal applications

Vertical applications

Horizontal Applications Horizontal Applications are for general purposes. Some of them are word processing software, spreadsheet programs, database programs, presentation graphics programs, multimedia and graphics software, desktop publishing (DTP) programs, photo-editing programs and many more. A few types of horizontal applications are explained below.

Word Processors A word processor as we all know is a program that enables the user to create, format, edit, save and print documents. Word processors are used for displaying documents either in text mode ( highlighting, underlining, italicizing, boldfacing, color changing of text and other such formatting related to text) or in graphics mode (in which the formatting of text, fonts, inserted pictures or graphs appear on the screen as they would on the printed page).

Spreadsheets Spreadsheet is a type of application program in which data is organised and operated upon in rows and columns. The intersection of a row and a column forms a cell where the value is stored. The names of the cells are called labels. The relationships in cells are characterized by formulae.

Databases Database programs store information in such a style that it is easy to locate, organise, and display. A database file is composed of records, each containing fields together with a set of operations for searching, sorting, recombining, and other functions.

Presentation Graphics Presentation graphics programs help the users to create output for slides and computer presentations. It also supports the printing of speaker notes and audience handouts.

Vertical Applications Vertical applications are designed for a particular line of business, such as programs for billing in a bookshop, managing fast food centers, etc. These are customized as per the customer’s requirements. Domain specific software are designed to perform specific types of tasks in an organization, such as – Payroll system, Account Management, Inventory Control System, Reservation System, Billing System, HR Management, Attendance System, etc.

WORKSHEET-1

Q 1 Choose the correct option:- 1) Smartphone’s use the __________ operating system. (a) Windows (b) Android (c) Linux 2) Which of the following are antivirus program? (a)Norton (b) McAfee (c) All of these 3) Which of the following software is not an application software? (a)School time table (b) Payroll (c) Windows 4) _________ is the set of instructions executed by the computer. (a) Software (b) Hardware (c) Freeware 5) __________ controls the execution of other programs. (a) Operating System (b) Interpreter (c) Compiler

Q 2 Fill in the blanks:- 1) __________ is a type of application in which data is organized and created

upon in rows and columns. 2) Omit 3) _________ generates a hard copy of an electronic document. 4) Omit 5) _________ program is used to free space in a computer’s hard disk.

WORKSHEET-1

Solutions

Q 1 Choose the correct option:- 1) Android

2) All of these

3) Windows

4) Software

5) Operating System

Q 2 Fill in the blanks:- 1) Spreadsheet

2) Omit

3) Printer

4) Omit

5) Disk Cleanup

WORKSHEET-2

Q 1 Fill in the blanks:- 1) __________ devices are also known as peripheral devices.

2) __________ are used to enter data and information into a computer.

3) __________ is used to draw images using stylus on a computer.

4) __________ is most commonly used for playing computer games.

5) __________is an example of touch screen.

6) __________scans label that has a barcode on it.

7) __________operating system allows different parts of a single program to

run parallely.

8) In VDU, V stands for __________.

9) Speaker gives you __________output from your computer.

10)__________ device allows only one person to hear audio output at a time. 11) A group of instructions is called a __________.

Q 2 Answer in one word:-

1) Which software is used to operate the computer?

2) What is the another name for monitor?

3) Which operating system supports running a program on more than one CPU?

4) Which device is used for video conferencing?

5) Which backup creates a “mirror image” of the entire hard disk contents?

6) Which software perform essential task that are needed to support the

operating system?

7) Which program protects system from viruses by examining all the files on the

disk?

8) Which program can harm computer’s hard disk by damaging files and

software?

9) Which program reduces the size of files for transmission or storage?

10) Which program have a capability of displaying documents either in text mode or graphics mode?

Q 3 Full Forms :-

1) CD ROM

2) CPU

3) ATM

4) VDU

5) TFT

6) OS

7) PC

8) CAD

9) DTP

10) WWW

Q 4 Answer the following questions :- 1) What are input/output devices? Give examples.

2) What is operating system? Enlist its classification.

3) Define application software and state its types?

4) What is virus? How to protect system from it?

WORKSHEET-2

Solutions

Q 1 Fill in the blanks:- 1) Hardware

2) Input devices

3) Graphic tablet

4) Joystick

5) Smart board

6) Bar-code scanner

7) Multi threading

8) Visual

9) Audio

10) Headphones 11) program

Q 2 Answer in one word :- 1) System software

2) VDU

3) Multiprocessing

4) Webcam

5) Full backup

6) Utility software

7) Antivirus program

8) Virus

9) File compression

10) Word processors Q 3 Full forms :- 1) CD ROM – Compact Disk Read Only Memory

2) CPU – Central Processing Unit

3) ATM – Automated Teller Machine

4) VDU – Visual Display Unit

5) TFT – Thin Film Transistor

6) OS – Operating System

7) PC – Personal Computer

8) CAD – Computer Aided Design

9) DTP – Desktop Publishing

10) WWW – World Wide Web Q 4 Answer the following :- 1) Input devices :- Input devices are used to enter data and information into a

computer

E.g.: Graphic tablet, joystick, touch screen, barcode scanner, webcam Output devices: - Output devices are used to display the result produced by a computer E.g.: Monitor, printer, speakers, headphones

2) Operating system is the software which acts like an interface between the

user and the computer. It tells the computer how to operate and control its

function.

Operating system are broadly classified into following types:

Single-user

Multi-user

Multiprocessing

Multitasking

Multithreading

Real time

3) Application software is a complete, self-contained package of programs that

performs a specific task for the user.

Some common types of application software are: Editing software like spreadsheets and text formatters

Network application like FTP and Electronic mail

Domain specific like real-time software and business software

4) A virus is a program that infects computer files by replicating itself in those

files. Computer viruses can harm computer’s hard disk by damaging some or

all the files and the software.

Antivirus programs protect system from viruses. It examines all the files on the disk. E.g.: AVG, Norton’s, McAfee, Dr. Solomon.