Chapter Two:

Computer System
2.1 What is a system?
Recall from your previous studies that you know systems like Digestive system,
Circulatory system and so on. What similarity can you understand from these systems?
For example, digestive system is composed of a group of components like mouth,
stomach, and intestine and so on. You can also see that the output of one of the
components will become the input of the other component. For example in digestive
system, mouth partly digests, lubricates and pushes the food to the stomach as input. The
stomach then performs digestion and sends its output to the intestine which in turn does
the same. From this you can understand that the components work together in
coordination in such a way that the input of one component is the output of the other until
a common goal is achieved. For example: in digestive system, the common goal is
digestion of food. Likewise, a computer system is also composed of physical components
(hardware) and non-physical component (software) that work together in coordination to
achieve a common goal (data processing). The common goal of computer system (i.e.,
data processing has been discussed in chapter one) and some of computer system
components will be discussed in this chapter hereafter.
In general, a system is a group of components that work together in coordination to
achieve a common goal.

2.2 Components of Computer System

Computer system is a system that has two fundamental components: Hardware

component and Software component. The primary purpose of computer systems in most
businesses today is to transform data into information that can be used by people to make
decisions, sell products, and perform a variety of other activities. Data can be considered
the raw material - whether in paper, electronic, or other form - that is processed by the
computer. In other words, data consists of the raw facts and figures that are processed
into information. Information is summarized data or otherwise manipulated (processed)

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data. For example, the raw data of employees' is hours worked and wage rates are
processed by a computer into the information of paychecks and payrolls.

Actually, in ordinary usage, the words data and information are often used
synonymously. After all, one person's information may be another person's data. The
"information" of paychecks and payrolls may become "data" that goes into someone's
yearly financial projections or tax returns.

Hardware is the physical component of the computer system that we can see, touch and
sense. It includes devices the computer system use to interact with the external world, to
process the data it has received, to store the data it has received and processed. Software,
on the other hand, is the set of instructions that tell the hardware how to perform a task.
Without software, the hardware is useless. Hardware and Software are analogous to Flesh
and Soul of human beings respectively.

2.3 Hardware Component

2.3.1 Input devices
The function of input devices is to accept data and convert it into a form suitable for
computer processing. In other words, input hardware allows people to put data into the
computer in a form that the computer can use. It may include: keyboard, mouse, scanner

and so on.
2.3.1.1 Keyboard

A computer keyboard is a peripheral modeled after the typewriter keyboard. Keyboards

are designed for the input of text and characters and also to control the operation of a
computer.

Physically, computer keyboards are an arrangement of rectangular or near-rectangular

buttons, or "keys". Keyboards typically have characters engraved or printed on the keys;
in most cases, each press of a key corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to
produce some symbols requires pressing and holding several keys simultaneously or in
sequence; other keys do not produce any symbol, but instead affect the operation of the

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computer or the keyboard itself. Roughly 50% of all keyboard keys produce letters,
numbers or signs (characters). Other keys can produce actions when pressed, and other
actions are available by the simultaneous pressing of more than one action key.

The keys on the keyboard are grouped according to their functions as follows:

 Alphanumeric keys

The group of keys that comprises the alphabets, punctuation marks, and digits. These
keys are used to enter text, digit, and punctuation marks.

 Function keys

The group of keys found at the top of keyboard labeled from F1 to F12. These keys
execute different commands based on the applications that are running.

 Numeric keypad

Found at the right most of the keyboard, is the numeric keypad. These keys work with the
special key called NumLock – located at the left-top corner of the numeric keypad. when
NumLock is on, the numeric keypad is used to enter digits and arithmetic operators.
However, when NumLock is off, the numeric keypad is used as cursor movement keys.

 Cursor movement keys

Cursor movement keys: The Cursor, also called the insertion point, is the symbol on the
display screen that shows where data may be entered next. The cursor movement keys,
or arrow keys, are used to move the cursor around the text on the screen. These keys
move the cursor left, right, up or down. The keys labeled Page Up and Page Down move
the cursor, the equivalent of one page, up or down on the screen. Similarly, the keys
labeled Home and End move the cursor to the beginning and end of the same line
respectively.

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  Editing keys

Editing keys are the keys which are used to make our text stylish. They change what has
been entered. Editing keys include: Spacebar, Enter (Return), Delete, Backspace, etc.

 Special keys

Special keys are keys that are used to execute some commands. They also work in
combination with other keys to execute commands. These keys include: Shift, Alt, Ctrl
etc.

2.3.1.2 Mouse

A mouse is a device that is rolled about on a desktop to direct a pointer on the computer’s
display screen. The pointer is a symbol, usually an arrow that is used to select items from
lists (menus) on the screen or to position the cursor. The cursor, also called an insertion
point, is the symbol on the screen that shows where data may be entered next, such as
text in a document.

Mouse consists of:

o Primary button (Left button)
o Secondary button (Right Button)
The following operations can be performed using the mouse.
o Selection (Single click)
o Giving Commands (Double click)
o Dragging Objects (By pressing mouse button and moving the mouse)
o Dropping Objects (By releasing mouse button)

2.3.1.3 Scanner

Scanners - which are often used in desktop publishing - translate images of text, drawings
and photos into digital form. The images can then be processed by a computer, displayed
on a monitor, inserted in documents, stored on a storage device, or transmitted to another

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computer. Scanners are useful for data entry in that they save time wasted for typing and
also they avoid errors that may occur during typing.

Based on the technology they use to scan, scanners are of the following types:

 BCR – Bar Code Reader

A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is a computer peripheral for reading
barcodes printed on various surfaces. It generally consists of a light source, a lens
and a photo conductor translating optical impulses into electrical ones.
Additionally, nearly all barcode readers currently produced contain decoder
circuitry analyzing the barcode's image data provided by the photo conductor and
sending the barcode's content to the scanner's output port.

 OCR – Optical Character Reader

OCR is a character recognition technology that is used to recognize typewritten or
handwritten characters.

 OMR – Optical Mark Recognition

OMR technology detects the absence or presence of a mark (a mark made by
graphite), but not the shape of the mark. The accuracy of OMR is a result of
precise measurement of the darkness of a mark, and the sophisticated mark
discrimination algorithms for determining whether a mark is an erasure or a mark.

 MICR – Magnetic Ink Character Recognition

MICR is a character recognition technology adopted mainly by the banking
industry to facilitate the processing of checks. MICR characters are printed with a
magnetic ink or toner. Magnetic printing is used so that the characters can be
reliably read into a system, even when they have been overprinted with other
marks such as cancellation stamps. The characters are read with a device similar
in nature to the head of an audio tape recorder, and the letterforms' bulbous shapes
insure that each letter produces a unique waveform for the read head.

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 2.3.1.4 Joystick
Joystick is a pointing device that consists of a vertical handle mounted on a base
containing one or two buttons. The vertical handle of the joystick can be rotated around
360 degrees. As the handle is rotated the cursor also moves on the screen. Joystick is
often used for playing games.

2.3.1.5 Microphone
The word "microphone" (Greek mikros "small" and phone "voice" or "sound") originally
referred to a mechanical hearing aid for small sounds. Therefore, microphones have a
great role in inputting sound or voice data into the computer for processing. Without the
microphone computers could not have produced any sound nor could they have been
used to manipulate music and sound.

2.3.1.6 Touch screen

Touch screens or touch panels or touch screen panels are display overlays which have
the ability to display and receive information on the same screen. The effect of such
overlays allows a display to be used as an input device, removing the keyboard and/or the
mouse as the primary input device for interacting with the display's content.

Fig. 1 An Example Display in Touch Screen

Touch screens have become commonplace since the invention of the electronic touch
interface in 1971 by Dr. Samuel C. Hurst. They have become familiar in retail settings,
on point of sale systems, on ATM (Automated Teller Machines) and on PDA (Personla

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Digital Assistant) where a stylus is sometimes used to manipulate the GUI (Graphic User
Interface) and to enter data. Touch screen can also be considered as output device as it
displays selectable commands.

2.3.1.7 Touch pad

In Touchpad the cursor is controlled with the fingers. About the same size as a mouse,
touchpad is a flat, rectangular device. As fingers are moved over the surface of the
touchpad the cursor moves on the screen. The click operation is performed by tapping
the fingers on the surface of the pad.

2.3.1.8 Track ball

Track Ball is another pointing device and a variant of the mouse. It contains a rotating
ball on top of the stationery device. On rotating the ball the cursor moves on the screen.
The track ball also contains two buttons and the operations are as similar for the mouse.
It requires less desk space when compared to the mouse.

2.3.1.9 Light pen

The Light Pen is a light sensitive stylus or pen like device, connected by a wire to the
computer. There is a button in the Light Pen. When the user brings the pen to the
desired location in the screen and presses the button, the computer identifies the
command and executes accordingly. It is mainly used for CAD (Computer Aided
Design) applications.

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 2.3.2 Processing devices
2.3.2.1 CPU

Fig. 2 typical CPU

Abbreviation of central processing unit, and pronounced as separate letters. The CPU
is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central
processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power,
the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. Many people wrongly call
the system case (chasis) as CPU. But the chasis is a housing for devices like CPU, RAM,
disks, motherboard and expansion cards.

On large machines, CPUs require one or more printed circuit boards. On personal
computers and small workstations, the CPU is housed in a single chip called a
microprocessor.

CPU has three components, namely:

 The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic (addition,

subtraction, multiplication, and division) and logical (comparison, negation,
conjunction, and disjunction) operations.
 The control unit, which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and
executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.
 The Memory unit or registers, which store intermediate results of ALU
2.3.3 Storage devices
2.3.3.1 Storage Capacity Measurement

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 Bit (Binary Digit): A bit of storage is like a light switch; it can be either on (1) or off
(0). A single bit is a one or a zero, a true or a false, a "flag" which is "on" or "off", or in
general, the quantity of information required to distinguish two mutually exclusive states
from each other. Gregory Bateson defined a bit as "a difference that makes a difference".

The bit is the smallest unit of storage used in computing.

Byte: A byte is a contiguous sequence of a fixed number of bits. In recent years, the use
of a byte to mean 8 bits has become nearly ubiquitous.

KB (Kilo byte): A kilo byte is 210 bytes = 210 x 8 bits

MB (Mega byte): A mega byte is 220 bytes = 220 x 8 bits

GB (Giga byte): A giga byte is 230 bytes = 230 x 8 bits

TB (Tera byte): A tera byte is 240 bytes =240 x 8 bits

Example: If a storage device is 23 GB, find the memory capacity in

a. byte
b. bit

Solution:

a)

1 GB = 230byte

23 GB = y

y = 23 GB x 230 byte/1 GB

y = 23x230 byte

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 b)

1GB = 8 x 230 bit

23 GB = y

y = 23 GB x 8 x 230 bit/1 GB

y = 23 x 8 x 230 bit

2.3.3.2 Primary storage

2.3.3.2.1 Cache memory
Small memories on or close to the CPU chip can be made faster than the
much larger RAM (main memory). Most CPUs since the 1980s have used
one or more caches, and modern general-purpose CPUs inside personal
computers may have as many as half a dozen, each specialized to a
different part of the problem of executing programs.

2.3.3.2.2 RAM (Random Access Memory)

Generally, RAM in a computer is considered main memory or primary storage: the
working area used for loading, displaying and manipulating applications and data. This
type of RAM is usually in the form of integrated circuits (ICs). These are commonly
called memory sticks or RAM sticks because they are manufactured as small circuit
boards with plastic packaging and are about the size of a few sticks of chewing gum.
These days, most personal computers have slots for adding and replacing memory sticks.
RAM is also volatile, losing the stored information in an event of power loss, and quite
expensive.

Fig. 3 Typical RAM stick

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 2.3.3.2.3 ROM (Read-only Memory)

Read-only memory (ROM) is a class of storage media used in computers and other
electronic devices. Because it cannot (easily) be written to, its main uses lie in the
distribution of firmware (software that is very closely related to hardware and not likely
to need frequent upgrading).

Modern semiconductor ROMs typically take the shape of IC packages, i.e. "computer
chips", not immediately distinguishable from other chips like RAM but for the text
printed on the chips. "ROM" in its strictest sense can only be read from, but all ROMs
allow data to be written into them at least once, either during initial manufacturing or
during a step called "programming". Some ROMs can be erased and re-programmed
multiple times, although they are still referred to as "read only" because the
reprogramming process involves relatively infrequent, complete erasure and
reprogramming

Types of ROM

Classic mask-programmed ROM chips are written to during production and cannot
change content afterwards. But there are other types of non-volatile solid-state memory:

 PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory) can be written to (programmed) via

a special device, a PROM programmer. The writing often takes the form of
permanently destroying or creating internal links (fuses or anti fuses) with the
result that a PROM can only be programmed once.
 EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) can be erased by
exposure to ultraviolet light then rewritten via an EPROM programmer. Repeated
exposure to ultraviolet light will eventually destroy the EPROM but it generally
takes many (greater than 1000) exposures before the EPROM becomes unusable.
EPROM can be easily identified by the circular 'window' in the top which allows
the UV light to enter. Once programmed, this window is typically covered by a
label to prevent accidental erasure.

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  EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) allow the
entire ROM (or selected banks of the ROM) to be electrically erased (flashed
back to zero) then written to without taking them out of the computer (camera,
MP3 player, etc.). Flashing is much slower (in milliseconds) than writing to RAM
(in nanoseconds) (or reading from any ROM).
2.3.3.3 Secondary storage
In computer storage, secondary storage, or external memory, is computer memory that
is not directly accessible to the central processing unit of a computer, requiring the use of
computer's input/output channels. Secondary storage is used to store data that is not in
active use. Secondary storage is usually slower than primary storage, or internal memory,
but also almost always has higher storage capacity and is non-volatile, which makes it
perfect for the preservation of stored information in an event of power loss.

 Magnetic tape
Magnetic tape is a non-volatile storage medium consisting of a magnetic coating on a
thin plastic strip. Nearly all recording tape is of this type, whether used for video, audio
storage or general purpose digital data storage using a computer. It has large storage
capacity but it is slow to access because it is sequentially accessed.

 Magnetic disk
o Floppy Disk
A floppy disk is a data storage device that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible
("floppy") magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell.
Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive. Floppy disk is cheap, and
portable, but it has small storage capacity (1.44 MB) and is unreliable.

o Hard disk
A hard disk drive (HDD, also commonly shortened to hard drive and formerly known as
a fixed disk) is a digitally encoded non-volatile storage device which stores data on
rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. Strictly speaking, "drive" refers to an

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entire unit containing multiple platters, a read/write head assembly, driver electronics,
and motor while "hard disk" (sometimes "platter") refers to the storage medium itself.
Hard disks were originally developed for use with computers. In the 21st century,
applications for hard disks have expanded beyond computers to include video recorders,
audio players, digital organizers, and digital cameras. In 2005 the first cellular telephones
to include hard disks were introduced by Samsung and Nokia.
 Optical disk
o CD-R
A CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by
Philips and Sony. CD-R is a write once, read-only optical magnetic media commonly
known as optical disc (though the whole disk does not have to be written in the same
session) and retains a high level of compatibility with standard CD readers (unlike CD-
RW which can be rewritten but has much lower compatibility and the discs are
considerably more expensive).

o CD-RW (Compact Disc ReWritable)

CD-RW is a rewritable optical disc format. Known as CD-Erasable (CD-E) during its
development, CD-RW was introduced in 1997.

o DVD(Digital Versatile Disc)

DVD (sometimes called "Digital Versatile Disc", or "Digital Video Disc") is an optical
disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high
video and sound quality. DVDs resemble compact discs as their physical dimensions are
the same but they are encoded in a different format and at a much higher density.

 Flash Memory
USB flash drives -thumb drives, handy drives-, which are used for general storage and
transfer of data between computers. It has also gained some popularity in the gaming
market these days. Flash memory is highly portable and it can store much data but it is
expensive.

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 2.3.4 Output devices
2.3.4.1 Display devices – softcopy output
 CRT
Abbreviation of cathode-ray tube, the technology used in most televisions and computer
display screens. A CRT works by moving an electron beam back and forth across the
back of the screen. Each time the beam makes a pass across the screen, it lights up
phosphor dots on the inside of the glass tube, thereby illuminating the active portions of
the screen. By drawing many such lines from the top to the bottom of the screen, it
creates an entire screenful of images. It is large in size and requires a lot of space.
Moreover, it consumes much power. But it produces a sharp output.

 LCD
Short for liquid crystal display, a type of display used in digital watches and many
portable computers. LCD displays utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid
crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the
crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a
shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.

Monochrome LCD images usually appear as blue or dark gray images on top of a
grayish-white background. Color LCD displays use two basic techniques for producing
color: Passive matrix is the less expensive of the two technologies. The other technology,
called thin film transistor (TFT) or active-matrix, produces color images that are as sharp
as traditional CRT displays, but the technology is expensive. Its advantage is that it does
not consume a lot of space since it is thin and that it does not consume a lot of power
hence it is ideal for portable computers.

 ELD
A technology used to produce a very thin display screen, called a flat-panel display, used
in some portable computers. An ELD works by sandwiching a thin film of
phosphorescent substance between two plates. One plate is coated with vertical wires and
the other with horizontal wires, forming a grid. When electric current is passed through a

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horizontal and vertical wire, the phosphorescent film at the intersection glows, creating a
point of light, called pixel.

2.3.4.2 Printer – hardcopy output

Printer is a device that prints text or illustrations on paper. There are many different types
of printers. In terms of the technology they utilize, printers fall into the following
categories:
Daisy-wheel: Similar to a ball-head typewriter, this type of printer has a plastic or
metal wheel on which the shape of each character stands out in relief. A hammer presses
the wheel against a ribbon, which in turn makes an ink stain in the shape of the character
on the paper. Daisy-wheel printers produce letter-quality print but cannot print graphics.

 Dot-matrix: Creates characters by striking pins against an ink ribbon. Each pin
makes a dot, and combinations of dots form characters and illustrations.

 Ink-jet: Sprays ink at a sheet of paper. Ink-jet printers produce high-quality text and
graphics.

 Laser: Uses the same technology as copy machines. Laser printers produce very high
quality text and graphics.
 LCD & LED: Similar to a laser printer, but uses liquid crystals or light-emitting
diodes rather than a laser to produce an image on the drum.

 Line printer: Contains a chain of characters or pins that print an entire line at one
time. Line printers are very fast, but produce low-quality print.

 Thermal printer: An inexpensive printer that works by pushing heated pins against
heat-sensitive paper. Thermal printers are widely used in calculators and fax machines.

Printers are also classified by the following characteristics:

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 Quality of type: The output produced by printers is said to be either letter quality (as
good as a typewriter), near letter quality, or draft quality. Only daisy-wheel, ink-jet, and
laser printers produce letter-quality type. Some dot-matrix printers claim letter-quality
print, but if you look closely, you can see the difference.

 Speed: Measured in characters per second (cps) or pages per minute (ppm), the speed
of printers varies widely. Daisy-wheel printers tend to be the slowest, printing about 30
cps. Line printers are fastest (up to 3,000 lines per minute). Dot-matrix printers can print
up to 500 cps, and laser printers range from about 4 to 20 text pages per minute.

 Impact or non-impact: Impact printers include all printers that work by striking an
ink ribbon. Daisy-wheel, dot-matrix, and line printers are impact printers. Non-impact
printers include laser printers and ink-jet printers. The important difference between
impact and non-impact printers is that impact printers make physical contact with the
paper and are much noisier whereas non impact printers do not make physical contact and
are too noisy.

 Graphics: Some printers (daisy-wheel and line printers) can print only text. Other
printers can print both text and graphics.

2.3.4.3 Plotter – hardcopy output

A Plotter is also a printer that produces hard copy output. Plotters produce high quality
color graphics output by using pens for creating images. Plotters help to draw maps from
stored data. Plotters are ideal for Engineering, Drafting and many other applications that
require intricate graphics.

2.3.4.4 Speaker – voice output

Speaker is an electro-acoustic transducer that converts electrical signals into sounds
loud enough to be heard at a distance. It is used in computer system to produce sound or
voice output. The sound is input from external world into computer system via
microphone and is output to external world via speaker.

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 2.3.4.5 Robot – physical output
Robot is the most intriguing output device. Robotic device consists of arms that can
perform a preprogrammed task. Robots are mostly used in manufacturing tasks such as
spray painting or assembling parts. Advanced robots are used in scientific research such
as space and undersea exploration.

2.4 Software Component

Computer software is a set of step-by-step instructions given to the computer in the
form of programs or procedures or routines in order to accomplish any specified task or
to process the raw data and convert it into meaningful information. In short the software
is the intelligence of the computer. Software is “Soft” because you can’t touch the
instructions, the way you touch the computer equipment – the “hard” ware.
If software is stored on non-volatile storage such as integrated circuits, it is usually
referred to as firmware.

2.4.1 System software

System software is a generic term referring to any computer software that is an
essential part of the computer system. An operating system is an obvious example, while
device driver and language software are less obvious examples.

2.4.1.1 Operating system

An operating system (OS) is a computer program that manages the hardware and
software resources of a computer. At the foundation of all system software, the OS
performs basic tasks such as controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing system
requests, controlling input and output devices, facilitating networking, and managing
files. It also may provide a graphical user interface for higher level functions. The
operating system is considered as the boss of the whole system.
Basic functions of operating system are:

o input /output management

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 Controls spooling and buffering, multitasking and overlapping, time
sharing and network.

o memory management
Control the allocation of RAM for various purposes like background
and foreground program execution priorities and virtual memory
system.

o file management
Under which files are stored on secondary storage devices, where can
be copied, sorted, displayed and removed among other functions.

o job control (process scheduling)

Which include executing programs on demand from the user using
utilities and other programs, and developing batch programs of
command statement for automatic execution for the OS function.

2.4.1.2 Device driver

Computers and their operating systems cannot be expected to know how to control every
device, both now and in the future. To solve this problem, operating systems essentially
dictate how every type of device should be controlled. The function of the device driver
is then to translate these OS mandated function calls into device specific calls. In theory a
new device, which is controlled in a new manner, should function correctly if a suitable
driver is available. This new driver will ensure that the device appears to operate as usual
from the operating systems' point of view.

In short, device driver is a type of system software that introduces a new device to the
operating system and facilitates the communication between the operating system and the
device.

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 2.4.1.3 Language software
 Languages
Languages are used for writing instructions or software.
Basically, computer languages range from very complicated to
human but clear to computers to very easy for human but un-
understandable by computers. The following are some of the
examples.
o Machine Language
Machine language is the only language the computer directly understands. It is in the
form of strings of binary numbers. A machine language instruction has at least two
parts:
o opcode – function code which specifies the function performed and
o operand address – which specifies location of data and other instructions
Though it is the only language the computer understands, machine language is not only
tedious but also difficult to debug and maintain for human beings.

o Assembly Languages
Assembly language is easier to use than machine language. It is done by representing
some of the most commonly used instruction codes with some symbols. But it needs
special translating program. It is machine dependent.

o High Level Languages

High level languages resemble some human languages such as English and are easier
for human programmers to write. It allows users to write in a familiar notation, rather
than numbers or abbreviations. It includes application and system development
languages, report generators, or AI system development languages. Most of high level
languages are machine independent.
e.g. FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, C, C++, Java …

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  Language translators
Depending on the language, the translator for high level languages is either a
compiler or an interpreter. However, code written using assembly language is
translated to machine language by a program called assembler. Compiler and
interpreter are discussed as follows:
Compiler – execute later: a compiler is a language translator that converts the entire
program of a high level language into machine language before the computer
executes the program. The programming instructions of a high level language are
called source code. The compiler translates it into machine language, which in this
case is called the object code. The object code can be saved. Thus, it can be executed
later (as many times as desired).
Examples of high level languages using compiler are: FORTRAN, Pascal, C, C ++, and
Java.
Interpreter – execute immediately: an interpreter is a language translator that converts
each high level language into machine language and executes immediately, statement
by statement. No object code is saved, as with compiler. Therefore, interpreted code
generally runs more slowly than compiled code. However, code can be tested line by
line
Examples of high level languages using interpreter are BASIC, and Visual Basic

2.4.1.4 Utility software

Utility Programs are generally used to support, enhance or expand
existing programs in a computer system. Examples of utility programs
are
 Backup – to duplicate the data or information for safety.
 Data Recovery – to restore data that is physically damaged or corrupted.
 Virus Protection – Antivirus software which will eliminate viruses from
affected files or protect files from being infected from viruses.
 Data Compression – used to compress huge files and save memory storage.

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 2.4.2 Application software
Unlike system software, application software, consists of are programs that help the
end-user to perform specific, productive tasks, such as word processing or image
manipulation. Basically, there are four categories of application software.
 Productivity Software: The purpose of this software is to make the users
more productive at performing general tasks. For example, word processing,
spread sheets, presentation, database managers, accounting etc.
 Home / Personal software: The purpose of this software is mainly for
domestic and personal use. For example, cook books, medical guide,
gardening, etc.
 Education / Reference software: The purpose of this software is mainly to
learn any subject or to refer for additional information.
For example: Encyclopedia, Dictionaries, Computer Based Tutorials
(CBT), etc.
 Entertainment software: The purpose of this software is for entertainment
and time passing. For example, games.

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