SOFTWARE 1

UNIT 01
02. SOFTWARE
The programs that run on a computer are called software.

Programs are set of instructions that are carried out by the computer’s processor.

Some computers are capable of running one program at a time, (eg- software used to
control a microwave), while some are capable of performing multiple programs at the same
time (eg- the software used in a computer)

Software can be divided into 2,

Software

System software Application software

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

These are the programs designed to maintain and control the computer system. Further the
system software can be divided into:

1. Operating Software
2. Utility Software

Operating Software - This is also called OS - operating system which allows the user to
control and manage the computer’s hardware and Application software.

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 SOFTWARE 2

The operating system lets the user control the hardware directly or by using application software.

Single-user operating system-

This system only allow for a general user and do not provide option to customize the user
interface for different for different users.
These are found in household appliances.

Network operating system-

These networks have additional functions, including

 Sending request to server when users log in with the username and password.
 Providing access to network storage and shared resources like network printing.

Memory Management Resource Management Security

The operating system
allocates the required
amount of RAM to one or
more applications
The internal components like
the PROCESSOR, GRAPHICS
CARD and external
components like PRINTERS
which the operating system
ensures that system
resources are made available
to applications when they
are required.
Operating system can give
users secure access to a
computers storage and other
hardware through
user-names and passwords,
biometric scanners etc…
This process is called
AUTHENTICATION

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Utility Software- This is one form of system software, which carries out configuration and
maintain tasks.
Eg-

Backup These software creates a copy of files and programs in case of

loss of these files and programs.

Defragmentation As data is stored to hard disk, some systems spread it across

the disk wherever there is free space. This means that
sometimes data is fragmented and stored out of order.
FRAGMENTED means broken into pieces.

Compression Compression utilities are reduce the original size of a file or set
of files.

a a a a a a a a b b b b b b c c

Run-length encoding

a 8 b 6 C 2

Formatting Disk formatting prepares storage media such as hard disks, USB
flash drives for its first use.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Software application (apps) are the software which allows users to produce the digital
products like;
1. Word documents
2. Spreadsheets
3. Presentations
4. Images …..

Applications are usually downloaded from the internet.

Office related productivity software:

1. Word Processing
Word processing software lets users create documents that mostly include words, but also
images. They can also include;
Tables and charts
Hyperlinks
Equations
Shapes……………..

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 SOFTWARE 4

Word processors are good choice of application for creating :

 Letters
 Reports
 Essays
 Books

2. Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets applications are used to do calculations. Users can use and create formula's
and functions to perform automatic calculation on values that can be changed later.
Eg-
=SUM(A1:A10)
=AVERAGE(B2:B5)
=A5+B10/C2

3. Database
Database management system (DBMS) are used to enter, edit and search data.
DBMS software provides:

Image editing

Image editing applications let users create and change bitmap images such as digital
photographs or vector graphics such as drawing and logos.

BITMAP - a computer image that is stored or printed as an arrangement of bits

VECTOR GRAPHICS - a graphical image made up of points and lines.

1. Graphics Editors
Graphic editing applications allows users to create or edit vector graphics.
Features of Graphics editors:
 Adding and drawing shapes
 Re-sizing, aligning or moving shapes and lines
 Altering colour of shapes, lines and fill areas………….

2. Photo Editors
These allows users to edit and enhance digital photographs and image .
Features of Photo editors:
 Adjusting brightness and contrast
 Re-sizing the image
 Altering sharpness and blurring
 Applying filters and effects…………….

Sound Editing

This software allows users to edit audio files and to join two different audio files together.
Features of Sound editors:
 Cut and join audio clips
 Mute and solo some audio tracks
 Change tempo
 Alter volume levels…………..

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 SOFTWARE 5

Software licensing

Sometimes, users require a software license in order to install and use software on a
computer.
There are 2 types of software licensing:

1. Free or Open-source
2. Proprietary

Free Software license give user the right to study, modify, copy or distribute a program. The
user can decide if, and how much, to charge for a free software.
This means that a free software can be made available with a FEE or FREE OF CHARGE.

Open-source software license make the source code available to users to users so that they
can modify how the software works or distribute the modified or unmodified software.

Proprietary software are software that is marketed and distributed by its owner under a
brand name. The software owner can decide the FEE for the software or whether or not the
software should be distributed.

Proprietary software can be made available for a FEE or FREE OF CHARGE. And when no FEE
is required, the software is called FREEWARE.

Note -

FREE SOFTWARE - software that can be modified or distributed by a user.

OPEN-SOURCE - software for which the source code is made available to users.
SOURCE CODE - a collection of instruction that forms a piece of software.

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 SOFTWARE 6

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