Operating & Application Software

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

• Software, also called a program, tells the computer what tasks
to perform and how to perform them through a series of
instructions

• When a computer is purchased, it often has some software
preinstalled on its hard disk.

• To delete software completely, you must uninstall the program

System Software

•Operating system
•Utility program

Application Software

Pages 15 - 16 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 1 2
Figures 1-10 - 1-11

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

• Installing is the process of setting up software to work with the
computer, printer, and other hardware

Pages 16 - 17 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 1 3
Figure 1-12

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

• A programmer develops
software or writes the
instructions that direct
the computer to
process data into
information

Page 18 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 1 4
Figure 1-13

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

• System software consists of the programs that control or
maintain the operations of the computer and its devices

• System software serves as the interface between the user, the
application software, and the computer’s hardware

Operating Utility
systems Programs

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UTILITY SOFTWARE

• Utility software is system software designed to help analyze,
configure, optimize or maintain a computer

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Figure 3-2

OPERATING SYSTEMS

• An operating system (OS) is a set of programs
containing instructions that work together to coordinate
all the activities among computer hardware resources

• Must have an operating system (OS) to allow users to
access various program and functions.

• The three most popular OS: Windows, Mac OS, Linux

Start and shut Provide a user Manage Manage Coordinate Configure
down a interface programs memory tasks devices
computer

Establish an Monitor Provide Automatically Control a Administer
Internet performance utilities update network security

connection

Pages 398 - 399 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 7

OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

• The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting

Cold boot Warm boot
•Turning on •Using the

a computer operating
that has system to
been restart a
powered off computer
completely

Page 400 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 8
Figure 8-2

OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

Page 401 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 9
Figure 8-3

OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

• A user interface
controls how you
enter data and
instructions and how
information is
displayed on the
screen

• With a graphical user
interface (GUI), you
interact with menus
and visual images
such as icons

Pages 402 – 403 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 10
Figure 8-4

OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

• Operating systems often provide users with the capability of:

Managing files Searching for Viewing images Securing a
files computer

Uninstalling Cleaning up Defragmenting Diagnosing
programs disks disks problems

Backing up Setting up
files and disks screen savers

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STAND-ALONE OPERATING SYSTEMS

• A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system
that works on a desktop computer, notebook computer, or
mobile computing device

Windows Mac OS X
8 Maverick

UNIX Linux

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EMBEDDED OPERATING SYSTEMS

• An embedded operating system resides on a ROM chip
on a mobile device or consumer electronic device

Windows Windows Palm OS iPhone OS
Embedded Phone 7
Google Embedded Symbian OS
CE Android Linux
BlackBerry

Pages 418 - 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 13

EMBEDDED OPERATING SYSTEMS

Pages 419 – 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 14
Figures 8-22 – 8-26

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• Application software consists of programs designed to make
users more productive and/or assist with personal tasks

To make business activities more efficient
To assist with graphics and multimedia projects
To support home, personal, and educational tasks
To facilitate communications

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APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Page 142 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3 16
Figure 3-1

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• Available in a variety of forms:

Packaged Custom Web
software software application

Open source Shareware Freeware
software

Pages 142 – 143 Public- 17
domain
software

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3

BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• Word processing
software allows users
to create and
manipulate documents

• Most widely used type
of application
software.

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Figure 3-5

BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• Spreadsheet software allows users to organize data in
rows and columns and perform calculations

Pages 150 - 151 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3 19
Figure 3-8

BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• A database is a collection of data organized in a
manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of that
data

• Database software allows users to create, access, and
manage a database

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Figure 3-11

BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• Presentation software
allows users to create
visual aids for
presentations to
communicate ideas,
messages, and other
information to a group

Page 154 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3 21
Figure 3-12

PERSONAL APPLICATION SOFTWARE

• A software suite is a collection of individual programs available
together as a unit, like Microsoft Office or Apple iWork.

• Personal Finance software is a simplified accounting program
that helps home users.

• A personal information manager (PIM) is application software
that includes:

Appointment Address Notepad
calendar book

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BUSINESS SOFTWARE

• Scaled down versions of software are available to work with
smart phones and other mobile devices

Pages 156 – 157 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3 23
Figure 3-15

GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE

• Audio Editing software lets users modify audio clips and produce
studio-quality sounds tracks.

• Photo Editing software allows users to edit digital photos by
removing red-eye, erasing blemishes, restoring aged photos,
adding special effects, or enhancing image quality.

• Video Editing software allows users to modify a segment of a
video, called a clip.

• Voice/Speech recognition software allows users to dictate text
and enter instructions to the computer by speaking into a
microphone.

• Web page authoring software helps users of all skill levels create
Web pages that include multimedia and interactive content

Page 164 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3 24
Figure 3-26

WEB APPLICATIONS

• A Web application
(Web 2.0) is a Web site
that allows users to
access and interact
with software from any
computer or device
that is connected to
the Internet

Pages 172 – 173 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 3 25
Figure 3-42

SOFTWARE THEFT

• Software theft occurs when someone:

Steals software Intentionally
media erases programs

Illegally copies a Illegally registers
program and/or activates

a program

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SOFTWARE THEFT

• A single-user license agreement typically contains the
following conditions:

Permitted to

• Install the software on one computer
• Make one copy of the software
• Remove the software from your computer before giving it away or selling it

Not permitted to

• Install the software on a network
• Give copies to friends or colleagues while continuing to use the software
• Export the software
• Rent or lease the software

Page 571 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 11 27

SOFTWARE PIRACY

• Copying, loaning,
borrowing, renting, or
distributing software
can be a violation of
copyright law, called
software piracy

• Some software
requires product
activation to function
fully

Pages 571 – 572 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 11 28
Figure 11-16

BETA PROGRAMMING

• Some software companies distribute a beta version of their
software.

• A beta program is a program that has most or all of the

features and functionality implemented. It is still under
development.
• Users test the beta program and send bug reports to the
software company.
• This enables the software manufacturer to fix any errors
before the software is released to the public for sale.