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LESSON 4
COMPUTER SOFTWARE

I. Module Overview

You use software every time you use your desktop, notebook, or tablet
computer. In addition, you use software when you use your mobile phone, digital
camera, retail and banking machines, some home appliances, cars, some medical
devices, and much more. Software carries out your commands anytime you press
buttons or touch a screen to tell a machine what to do.

This module will discuss what is a computer software and its different
categories, basic functions and features of operating systems, and application
software.

II. Desired Learning Outcomes

At the end of this topic, the students should be able to:

1. list and describe computer software categories.
2. name different examples of application and system software.
3. identify the basic functions and features of operating systems.

III. Take off/Motivation

The instructor/professor will show the user interface of some popular software
in his/her computer.
IV. Content Focus

Software - is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what
guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task.
Some examples of software include web browsers, games, and word processors.
Categories of Software:
 Systems Software - includes the operating system and all the utilities that
enable the computer to function.

System software is used by the computer for tasks that help the computer
work. For example, you use system software to run your computer and all
the programs on it. It can diagnose a problem with your hard drive, printer,
or Internet connection.

Systems Software
Operating System - An operating
system (OS) is software that starts up a
computer and keeps it running and
responding to your commands.

Image Source: DICT Digital Literacy Module 1a Computer

Essentials PowerPoint Presentation
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Runs applications (useful programs like word

processors, calculators, and so on) and enables
you to interact with them.
Creates and maintains the user interface that you
see onscreen, such as the icons you click and the
dialog boxes you see.
Controls and manages the file storage system, so
you can save and open data files in your
applications and manage the files that run your
applications.
Communicates with the hardware, giving it
instructions to accomplish the tasks you request, Operating Systems Common features
Image Source:
such as printing your work. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/
thumb/e/e1/Operating_system_placement.svg/165
px-Operating_system_placement.svg.png
Examples of Operating System:
Laptops, tablets, and desktop computers all run operating systems that
you've probably heard of. Some examples include versions of Microsoft
Windows (like Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista,
and Windows XP), Apple's macOS (formerly OS X), Chrome OS,
BlackBerry Tablet OS, and flavors of Linux, an open source operating
system.
Your smartphone runs a mobile operating system, probably either
Apple's iOS or Google's Android. Both are household names but you
may not have realized that they are the operating systems running on those
devices.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows, also called Windows and
Windows OS, computer operating system (OS)
developed by Microsoft Corporation to run
personal computers (PCs). Featuring the first
graphical user interface (GUI) for IBM-compatible
PCs, the Windows OS soon dominated the PC
market. Approximately 90 percent of PCs run Windows XP Logo
Image Source:
some version of Windows. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e4/Windows_logo_-
_2002.svg/106px-Windows_logo_-_2002.svg.png/165px-
Operating_system_placement.svg.png

Windows 10 Desktop Screen

Image Source:
https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/SnXV83PIuzKSACLgBSpZhHs8IP0=/1440x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(
150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/reset-your-pc-complete-windows-10-56a6fadd3df78cf772913fe3.png

macOS

The Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS) is an operating system

(OS) designed by Apple Inc. to be installed and operated on the Apple
Macintosh series of computers. Introduced in 1984, it is a graphical
user interface (GUI) based OS that has since been released as multiple
different versions.
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Initially, Mac OS was known as System Software.

Screenshot of the macOS Catalina desktop

Image Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/42/MacOS_Catalina_Desktop.png/310px-
MacOS_Catalina_Desktop.png

Linux
Just like Windows, iOS, and Mac OS, Linux is an operating system. In
fact, one of the most popular platforms on the planet, Android, is
powered by the Linux operating system.
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on
the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on
September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds.

Linux Mint
Image Source:
https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/SnXV83PIuzKSACLgBSpZhHs8IP0=/1440x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(
150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/reset-your-pc-complete-windows-10-56a6fadd3df78cf772913fe3.png

Android OS
Android is an open source and Linux-
based Operating System for mobile devices such as
smartphones and tablet computers. Android was
developed by the Open Handset Alliance, led by
Google, and other companies.
Android offers a unified approach to application
development for mobile devices which means
developers need only develop for Android, and their
applications should be able to run on different
devices powered by Android.
Android 10 home screen on
Motorola G7
Image Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thum
b/2/2d/Android_10_interface.png/220px-
Android_10_interface.png
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iOS
iOS is one of the most popular mobile operating
system developed and created by Apple Inc. An iOS
device is an electronic gadget that runs on iOS. Apple
iOS devices include: iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone.
iOS is the 2nd most popular mobile OS after Android.
Over the years, Android and iOS devices have been
competing so much for a higher market share.
iOS 13 running on an iPhone X
Image Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/IOS_13
_Homescreen_iPhone_X.png

 Applications Software - includes programs that do real work for users.

For example, word processors, spreadsheets, and database management
systems.

Application software helps you carry out tasks such as sending an email,
getting you street-by-street driving directions, editing a photo, or writing a
report.

 Word Processor
 Electronic Spreadsheet
 Database Management
 Graphics
 Desktop Publishing
 Statistical Analysis
 Games
 Data Communications
 Utilities

Logos of example applications

Image Source: https://theory-gu.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/3/7/38378343/8545247_orig.png
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V. Self-Check

MULTIPLE CHOICE.

Instruction: The students will be required to answer the following questions. Only
letter will be chosen and written in the space provided before the number.

_______1. An ______________ is software that starts up a computer and keeps

it running and responding to your commands.
a. Software
b. Operating System
c. Application Software
d. System Software
_______2. Includes the operating system and all the utilities that enable the
computer to function.
a. Software
b. Operating System
c. Application Software
d. System Software
_______3. Is any set of instructions that tells the hardware what to do. It is what
guides the hardware and tells it how to accomplish each task.
a. Software
b. Operating System
c. Application Software
d. System Software
_______4. Is used by the computer for tasks that help the computer work.
a. Software
b. Operating System
c. Application Software
d. System Software
_______5. Runs applications (useful programs like word processors, calculators,
and so on) and enables you to interact with them.
a. Software
b. Operating System
c. Application Software
d. System Software
_______6. Includes programs that do real work for users. For example, word
processors, spreadsheets, and database management systems.
a. Software
b. Operating System
c. Application Software
d. System Software
_______7. Computer operating system (OS) developed by Microsoft
Corporation to run personal computers (PCs).
a. Linux
b. Android
c. Windows
d. macOS
_______8. Is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems created by
Linus Torvalds.
a. Linux
b. iOS
c. Windows
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d. macOS
_______9. Is an operating system (OS) designed by Apple Inc. to be installed
and operated on the Apple Macintosh series of computers.
a. Linux
b. Android
c. Windows
d. macOS
_______10. _________ is an open source and Linux-based Operating System for
mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.
a. Linux
b. Android
c. Windows
d. macOS

REFERENCES

J.J. Parsons, D. Oja, 2013. Understanding Computer Concepts Second Edition.

DICT Digital Literacy Module 1a_Computer Essential v2.ppt
https://www.lifewire.com/operating-systems-2625912
https://www.britannica.com/technology/Windows-OS
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/android/android_overview.htm