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Chapter 3: Computer Software

3.1 Overview of software

 Software (program) is a series of instructions that tells a computer what tasks to
perform and how to perform them
 2 types of software: System software and Application Software

3.2 Application software

 An application, or app sometimes called application software, consists of programs
designed to make users more productive and/or assist with personal tasks.
 Application software is available in a variety of forms:
 Retail software
o It is a mass produced, copyrighted retail software that meets the needs of a
wide variety users, not just a single user or company.
o Is a copyrighted and sold to a wide variety of users.

 Custom software
o Is developed specially for a particular user organization; solely on the
requirements of the company concerned
o Design to meet the needs of a specific business or industry
o performs functions specific to a business or industry
o costs expensive than retail software

 Web App
o Application stored on a web server  you access through a browser.
o Some can be accessed locally offline.

 Mobile App
o Download from a mobile device’s app store or other location on the Internet.

 Mobile Web App

o Web app  is optimized for display in a browser on a mobile device,
regardless of screen size or orientation.
o
 Shareware
o Copyrighted software distributed at no cost for a trial period,

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o A scaled-down version of the software is distributed free, and payment

entitles the user to the fully functional product.
o To use a shareware program beyond that period, you send payment to the
program developer.

 Freeware (software has no charge)

o Copyrighted software provided at no cost by an individual or a company that
retains all rights to the software

 Open Source software

o Software freely available to anyone in a form that can be modified
o The software has no restrictions from the copyright holder regarding
modification of the software’s internal instructions and its redistribution.
o This software can download from the Internet, often at NO cost.

 Public Domain Software

o Not protected by copyright laws and can be freely copied and used
o The software has been donated for public use.
o Anyone can copy or distribute to others at no cost charge.

3.2.1 Categories of Programs and Apps

A. Productivity Applications
 Software that assists people in becoming more effective and efficient while
performing daily activities at work, school, and home.
 Examples: Word processing software, spreadsheet software, database software…

B. Graphics and Multimedia Software

 Software that allows power users, such as engineers, architects, desktop publisher,
graphic artists, to work with graphics and multimedia project.
 Examples: Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Desktop Publishing, Photo Editing…

C. Personal Interest Applications

 Lifestyle application - Access latest news or sports scores, check weather forecasting
 Medical applications - Track exercise activity, count calories
 Entertainment Applications - Listen to music, radio, play games

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 Convenience applications - Obtain driving direction, use phone as a flashlight

 Education applications - Run a simulation, assist children with reading

D. Communications Applications
 Communications is the process of sharing/exchanging info between 2 or more
computers.
 Example: Web browser, instant messaging, Email…

E. Security Tool
 To protect computers and mobile devices
 Security tools include personal firewalls, antivirus programs, malware removers, and
Internet filters.
 Personal Firewall - Detects and protects a personal computer and its data from
unauthorized intrusions
 Antivirus Programs - Protects a computer against viruses by identifying and
removing any computer viruses found in a memory, storage media or on incoming
files.
 Malware removers –
 Spyware remover – detects and deletes spyware
 Adware remover – detects and deletes adware, and other malware
 Internet Filters – Examples: Anti-spam programs, web filter, phishing filter and pop-
up and pop-under blockers.

F. File, Disk, and System Management Tools

 To perform maintenance type tasks related to managing a computer, its devices, or
its programs, you can use one or more file, disk and system management tools.

3.3. System software

 Programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices and it
enable the application software to run
 2 types of system software
o Operating System
o Utility Program

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3.3.1 Operating system

 Programs that coordinate all of the activities among computer’s hardware
components

3.3.2 Operating Systems Functions

A. Starting and Shutting down Computers and Mobile devices
o Starting or restarting a computer is called booting.
o Cold boot – turning on a computer has been powered off
o Warm boot - restarting a computer  is already powered on

B. Providing user interface

o A user interface controls how you enter data and instructions and how information
is displayed on the screen
o Graphical user interface (GUI) - Users can interact with menus, icons, buttons and
other graphical objects to issue commands
o Command-based user interface - Users tell the computer what to do by typing
commands at the C:\> prompt.

C. Managing Programs
o The OS also control HOW MANY PROGRAMS a user can run at any one time.
o An operating system can be single tasking or multitasking.
 A single tasking OS allows only one program or app to run at a time.
 A multitasking OS allows two or more programs or apps to reside in memory
at the same time.

D. Managing Memory
o The purpose of memory management is to optimize the use of RAM.
 Virtual memory - OS allocates a portion of the storage medium (hard disk),
to functions as additional RAM
(If you are working on multiple programs simultaneously, it is possible to run
out of memory (RAM))

E. networking capability
o Allows computers in a network to send and receive data and share computing
resources

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F. Administering Security
o Protection against unauthorized access Logins and passwords

G. Coordinating Tasks
o The OS determines the order in which tasks are processed.

3.4 UTILITY PROGRAMS

 Utility programs, also known as Utility, is a type of system software that allows a user to
perform maintenance-type of tasks, usually related to managing a computer, its device,
or its programs.

A. Image Viewer
o Users can see images without having to open them in a paint or image editing
program.

B. Disk Defragmenter
o Is a utility  reorganizes the files and unused space on a computer’s hard disk so
that the OS can access data more quickly and programs run faster.

C. Disk Cleanup
o A disk cleanup tool searches for and removes unnecessary files.
o Unnecessary files may include downloaded program files, temporary Internet files,
deleted files, and unused program files. Operating systems usually include a disk
cleanup tool.

D. File Compression
o A file compression tool shrinks the size of a file(s). A compressed file takes up less
storage space than the original file.
o Compressing files frees up room on the storage media

E. Backup and Restore

o A backup tool allows users to copy, or back up, selected files or the contents of an
entire storage medium to another storage location, such as another hard drive,
optical disc, USB flash drive, or cloud storage
o Restore tool reverses the process and returns backed up files to their original form.

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