Discovering

Computers 2012
Your Interactive Guide
to the Digital World

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 1

Computer Software

• Computer hardware is useless without software.

• Software is the set of instructions and associated data
that direct the computer to do a task.
• Software can be divided into two categories:
– system software
– application software
• System software helps the computer to carry out its
basic operating tasks.
• Application software helps the user carry out a
variety of tasks.
 The major types of software
System Software
Application software
Operating Systems
System software Schedules computer events
Allocates computer resources
Hardware Monitor events

Language translators
Users Interpreters
Compilers

Application Software Utility programs

System Software

• System software consists of the programs that

control or maintain the operations of the
computer and its devices

Operating Utility
systems Programs

Page 398 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 4

 System Software
• Manages the fundamental operations of the
computer, such as
- loading programs and data into memory,
executing programs, saving data to disks,
displaying information on the monitor, and
transmitting data through a port to a
peripheral device.
• System software: operating systems, utilities,
device drivers.
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
Start and shut
Provide a user Manage Manage
down a
interface programs memory
computer

Establish an
Coordinate Configure Monitor
Internet
tasks devices performance
connection

Provide Automatically Control a Administer

utilities update network security

Pages 398 - 399 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 6

Operating Systems

Pages 398 – 399 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 7

Figure 8-1
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

• An operating system includes various shut down

options

Sleep mode saves any open

documents and programs to
RAM, turns off all unneeded
functions, and then places
the computer in a low-
power state
Hibernate saves any open
documents and programs to
a hard disk before removing
power from the computer

Page 402 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 9

Operating System Functions

• A user interface
or graphical user
interface (GUI)
controls how you
enter data and
instructions and
how information
is displayed on
the screen

Pages 402 – 403 10

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-4
Operating System Functions

• Memory management optimizes the use of RAM

• Virtual memory is a portion of a storage medium
functioning as additional RAM

Page 406 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 11

Figure 8-8
Operating System Functions

• The operating system determines the order in

which tasks are processed

Page 407 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 12

Figure 8-9
Operating System Functions

Page 408 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 13

Operating System Functions

• Operating systems typically provide a means to

establish Internet connections

Page 408 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 14

Figure 8-10
Operating System Functions

• A performance monitor is a program that

assesses and reports information about various
computer resources and devices

Pages 408 – 409 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 15

Figure 8-11
Operating System Functions

• Operating systems often provide users with the

capability of:
Searching for Viewing Securing a
Managing files
files images computer

Uninstalling Cleaning up Defragmenting Diagnosing

programs disks disks problems

Backing up Setting up
files and disks screen savers

Page 409 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 16

Operating System Functions

• Automatic update automatically provides updates

to the program

Page 409 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 17

Figure 8-12
Operating System Functions

• Each user has a user

account
– A user name, or user ID,
identifies a specific user
– A password is a private
combination of
characters associated
with the user name

Page 410 18
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-13
Types of Operating Systems

• Stand-alone System
• Server
• Embedded System

Page 412 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 19

Figure 8-14
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
7

UNIX Linux
Page 412 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 20
Stand-Alone Operating Systems

• Windows 7 is Microsoft’s fastest, most efficient

operating system to date and is available in
multiple editions:
Windows 7
Windows 7
Home
Starter
Premium

Windows 7 Windows 7
Ultimate Professional

Pages 413 - 414 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 21

Server Operating Systems

Windows
UNIX Linux
Server 2008

Solaris NetWare

Pages 417 - 418 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 22

Server Operating Systems

• Windows Server 2008 is an upgrade to Windows

Server 2003
– Part of the Windows Server 2008 family
– Multiple editions
• Most editions include Hyper-V, a virtualization
technology
– Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing
resources

Pages 417 - 418 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 23

Embedded Operating Systems

• An embedded operating system resides on a ROM chip

on a mobile device or consumer electronic device

Windows
Palm OS iPhone OS
Phone 7

Google Symbian
BlackBerry
Android OS
Pages 418 - 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 24
Embedded Operating Systems

Pages 419 – 420 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 25

Figures 8-22 – 8-26
Utility Programs

• A utility program is a type of system software that

allows a user to perform maintenance-type tasks

Page 421 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 26

Figure 8-27
Utility Programs

• A file manager is a
utility that performs
functions related to file
management
– Displaying a list of files
– Organizing files in folders
– Copying, renaming,
deleting, moving, and
sorting files and folders
– Creating shortcuts

Page 422 27
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-28
Utility Programs

• A search utility is a program that attempts to

locate a file on your computer based on criteria
you specify

Page 422 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 28

Figure 8-29
Utility Programs

• An image viewer allows

users to display, copy,
and print the contents
of a graphics file
• An uninstaller removes
a program, as well as
any associated entries
in the system files

Page 423 29
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-30
Utility Programs

• A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes

unnecessary files
– Downloaded program
files
– Temporary Internet
files
– Deleted files
– Unused program
files

Page 423 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 30

Figure 8-31
Utility Programs

• A disk defragmenter reorganizes the files and

unused space on a computer’s hard disk so that the
operating system accesses data more quickly and
programs run faster
– Defragmenting

Pages 423 – 424 31

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-32
Utility Programs

• A backup utility allows

users to copy files to
another storage
medium
• A restore utility
reverses the process
and returns backed up
files to their original
form

Page 424 32
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figure 8-33
Utility Programs

• A screen saver causes a • A personal firewall

display device’s screen detects and protects a
to show a moving image personal computer
or blank screen if no from unauthorized
activity occurs for a intrusions
specified time

Page 425 33
Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8
Figures 8-34 – 8-35
Utility Programs

A virus describes a potentially damaging computer

program that affects a computer negatively

A worm copies A Trojan horse An antivirus

itself hides within or program
repeatedly in looks like a protects a
memory or legitimate computer
over a network program against viruses

Pages 425 - 426 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 34

Utility Programs

• A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file(s)

– Compressing files frees up room on the storage media
• Compressed files sometimes are called zipped files
– Can be uncompressed

Page 427 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 35

Utility Programs

• A media player allows you to view images and

animation, listen to audio, and watch video files
on your computer

Page 427 Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 36

Figure 8-38
 Application software
• It is used to perform various application on the
computer.
• Application Software are those software which
are used for specific purposes example MS
Word, spreadsheet etc.
• We also use graphics and presentation
software.
• Most applications are purchased on diskette or
CD-ROM.
• They are installed by copying the programs
from the diskettes/CD-ROM to the hard disk.
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
Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World
Page 142 38
Chapter 3
Application Software

• Available in a variety of forms:

Packaged Custom
software software

Web
Shareware
application
Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World
Pages 142 – 143 39
Chapter 3
Application Software

• System software serves as the interface between

the user, the application software, and the
computer’s hardware
– Utility programs

Page 143 Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World

40
Figure 3-2 Chapter 3
Business Software

• Business software is application software that

assists people while performing business activities
Word
Spreadsheet Database Presentation
Processing

Personal Business
Project
Note taking information software for
management
manager phones

Document
Accounting
management

Discovering Computers 2010: Living in a Digital World

Page 146 41
Chapter 3
Business 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 2010: Living in a Digital World 42

Figure 3-12 Chapter 3
Graphics and Multimedia Software

• Computer-aided design (CAD) software

• Paint/Image editing software
• Professional photo editing software
• Video and audio editing software
• Multimedia software

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 43

Software for Home, Personal, and
Educational Use
• Clip art/image gallery
• Video and audio editing software
• Home design/landscaping software
• Travel and mapping software
• Educational software
• Entertainment software

Discovering Computers 2012: Chapter 8 44

Customized software
_________________________
• The software that has been designed or created
by a programmer to meet the unique need of a
user or organization.
• A customized software can be developed by single
programmer or a team of programmers.
• Cost of customized software is more then package
software.
Package Software
• Package software is a type of application software that is
developed for sale to the general public.
It is also known as off-the-shelf software.
It enable the people to perform daily activities.
Package software is developed by expert programmer.
Examples:
MS word
Database software
Graphic software