Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

Computer Software:
Software is the general term used to describe all set of instructions that computer follow to complete a task. Software makes a computer do something and are written to run on the hardware.

Types of software:

Operating Systems (OS) An operating system is a set of programs that controls the computer hardware, provide an interface between user and machine, deals with the loading and running of applications programs and manages the transfer of data and files to and from peripheral devices. The operating system (OS) is a program that, after being initially loaded into the computer by a boot program, manag es all the other programs/applications. On a PC, the first program that runs is stored on a ROM chip. This program checks the system hardware to make sure everything is functioning normally. This checks the CPU, memory and basic input-output systems (bios) for errors. If all is satisfactory, the BIOS will activate the disk drives. When the hard drive is activated, the OS is found in the boot and is then loaded. List of functions carried out by various operating systems: - provides a user interface - device management (input/output control) - security (e.g. log on, passwords, etc.) - maintain user accounts - handles interrupts - Processor and memory management - multitasking - multiprogramming - error reporting and handling

(c) Mr. K.MUDHOO

Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

No OS Devices: Many household appliances that are microprocessor-controlled dont have operating systems (e.g. microwave oven, fridge, etc.). The microprocessor has just one set of tasks to perform; essentially straightforward inputs are expected (e.g. a keypad on the front of a microwave oven) and they have simple never-changing hardware to control. Thus, it isnt necessary to have an OS; thus leading to reduced development and manufacturing costs for the household devices. 1. Batch processing In this process, a number of tasks (or jobs) are all collected together over a set period of time to be processed at one go. Once a batch job begins, it continues until it is completed or an error is encountered. No user interaction is required once execution begins. Ideal where: - Processing large volume of data - Processing is similar in nature - No human intervention is required. - Can operate using quiet time - Application is not time sensitive (Delay is acceptable). Batch processing is often used in the following application areas: - billing systems (gas, electricity, water, etc.) - payroll systems - processing cheques 2. Real time (transaction) processing processing takes place at the time of input to influence the next input When booking seats on a flight, for example, real time (transaction) processing would be used. Response to a query needs to be very fast and once a seat is booked it needs to marked as not available immediately to avoid any risk of double booking. Using this example of booking seats on a flight, the following sequence of events would take place: - customer/travel agent contacts the airline - the customer/travel agents types in the day/time of flight and number of travellers - the customer/travel agent types in the departure airport and the destination airport - the airline database is searched and availability of seats checked - if seats are available on the required day/time then a booking is made - the database/file is updated immediately to indicate that these seats are no longer available and prevents double booking from occurring - if no seats are available a message is sent back to the customer/travel agent - this uses real time (transaction) processing since the files are updated in real time; interrogation of file s will have access to totally updated information

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Chapter: Computer Software Real time process control

Form IV - 2013

Process control is a real time system. But this is very different to real time (transaction) processing; this system usually involves sensors and feed back loops i.e. the output can influence the next input to the system. Sensors send data (via an analogue to digital converter ADC) to a computer or microprocessor which decides whether or not to take action (based on comparison with stored data). If a change needs to be made, the computer/microprocessor sends signals (via a digital to analogue converter DAC) to the devices being controlled and alters their status (e.g. turn a heater on if a temperature sensor indicates that a temperature is too low) actuators are often used to open valves, turn on equipment, etc. As this is continuously monitored, eventually the temperature will equal the stored value in the computer/microprocessor this will then cause the heater to be turned off. In real time (transaction) processing files are often updated in real time (e.g. when booking flights on an airplane); but in real time process control, physical quantities (such as temperature) are continuously monitored and the input is processed sufficiently quickly to be capable of influencing the data source. (NOTE: the above is sometimes referred to as pseudo real time since some application s dont need immediate updating of the files)

User Interfaces The human computer interface is what allows the user to communicate with the computer and is often called simply the user interface. The three main types of user-interface are: Command-driven Menu-driven Graphical (GUI) a) Command-driven user interfaces The users type a series of command at a prompt to specify their intention. The main advantage of command driven interfaces: - Can be quick to use as long as the user knows the correct commands. - The whole system is available to the user - Occupies less disk space The main disadvantage of command-driven interfaces: - can be very unfriendly and confusing for non-computer experts to use. Useful: for computer technician for configuration of a network.

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Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

b) Graphical User Interface (GUI) Most popular today is WIMP (windows, icons, menus, pointer). View different applications or files in windows. Use some sort of pointing device to select options in menus and icons. Uses of GUI - Non-experienced user Advantage very user-friendly as the icons are self intuitive Disadvantage occupy more disk space and limits the options for users c) Menu Based Interface Allow user to select from a list of options presented in menu, to guide their choice. Advantages: Easy to use and very intuitive (even for non-computer users), requires almost no knowledge of how a computer actually works. Helps customers to determine what they want because choices are given at each stage. Easy to test, administer and change Disadvantages: Restricts access to computer system -Limits user to choices required by the data structure Menus can be long-winded Application: Information kiosk to guide the choices of users Utilities, or utility programs are system programs designed to carry out common tasks and house-keeping task for a system; for instance the programs for renaming, copy and paste, deleting etc.
(Hard-Drive) Utilities
Used to control communication between computer and peripherals To protect files from attack by virus

Program
Part of OS Designed to carry out housework and common tasks.

Hardware Drivers

Format

File Compression

Anti virus software

Defragment

To divide the surface of storage media into smaller areas before being used

Reduces size of files without the loss of any detail

To keep files sensibly arranged on the hard drive

Library / File-handling

To manage the files that are stored on a computer system

Deleting Files

Search

Sort

Copy / Backup

(Organising)
New Folders & Moving files

e.g. File handling manages storage and retrieval of files from disk Calculate size, rename, delete, copy, sort files etc Defragmenting rearrange files in disk to speed up retrievals of files Formatting erases contents of disk and prepare disk for new contents Virus protection remove viruses from disk Hardware driver allow communication between peripherals and OS

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Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

Mode of operations for OS: 1. Single User Can only handle one user (and their programs) at any one time. e.g. Simple home computer system: 2. Multi-Access / User Where it is possible for more than one user to access a system apparently at the same time 3. Multitasking Where the user of a machine is given the impression that they can carry out more than one task at a time

Applications Packages Application Package - the software contains programs that allow lots of different tasks to be carried out, together with a manual telling the user how the software should be used. Can be used in different situations to accomplish different things. Application packages can be: Off the shelf or Tailor made

Applications Software
Software that can be made to do many different tasks.

Software written to the specification of a particular organisation or customer.

Off-the-shelf

Prewritten ready to buy

Custom-Written / Bespoke

Generic Software / General Purpose Individual Programs Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.. Integrated Software Packages
A number of diffe rent pieces of software that can share / merge data.
e.g. 1. A graph from a spreadsheet can be placed in a report. 2. Common screen design / toolbars / icons makes it simpler for people to learn.

Microsoft Office

(Off-the-shelf, ready-made) Generic software The software that can be made to do many different tasks for different users. They include: Word- processing (e.g. Word) Letters, etc. can be typed Full control over font, font size, styles , etc. Most WP applications also include some graphics and DTP functions Has resulted in many people doing their own typing, making office staff redundant Database management (e.g. Access) From simple databases similar to card files (flat databases ) through to complex databases, with many groups of data linked together ( relational databases ) A database consists of a collection of records which in turn are made up of fields Database can be interrogated using queries Can easily generate reports containing selected data (c) Mr. K.MUDHOO

Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

Spreadsheets (e.g. Excel) Made up of individual cells which can contain data (number, text, etc.) or formulae Allows complex and powerful calculations on collecti ons of data Can experiment with data values and see the results ( 'what -if' analysis) A mathematical 'model' of a situation can be produced (e.g. company future profit) Rows are numbered, columns are lettered, cells by letter/number (e.g. A3) Formulae all begin with '=' Many built-in functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, etc. Numbers can be formatted as currency, percentage, etc. (e.g. a cell containing 0.5 could be shown as $0.50, 0.5000, 5e-1, 50%) Graphics (e.g. Photoshop) Images can be produced from scratch, o r photos manipulated Effects can be added (e.g. blurring, colour alterations, etc.) Input can be from a graphics tablet for more natural lines, etc. Images can be exported into many file formats (e.g. GIF, JPEG, TIFF, etc.) Communications (e.g. E- Mail, Internet) Very quick delivery of messages Used both across the Internet, and within businesses (internal e-mail) Normal e-mail is text -based , but other files can be 'attached' People now communicate more regularly since it is so easy, but are possibly less sociable since they now use the phone / meet less often (less human contact) Multimedia Authoring The production of CD-ROM / websites that include text, images, video, sound , etc. Common applications are education, CAL, reference (encyclopaedia, etc.) Data- logging A computer uses sensors to detect events, etc. Examples could be measuring traffic flow, science experiments, etc. Data is more accurate than that taken by a person, and can be analysed instantly (graphs, etc.) CAD Products are designed on the screen rather than on paper Much faster, and far more flexible than drafting designs by hand The products sizes (dimensions) can be altered easily (no rubbing out!) The product can be viewed from different angles with lighting effects, etc. Some CAD systems allow products to be tested using modelling techniques, so that weaknesses can be found before anything is actually physically manufactured Programming Software can be produced using programming languages Many modern programming languages are now so easy to use that applications can be produced in minutes Desktop Publishing (e.g. Publisher) Allows the user to layout text, images, etc. on the page with total flexibility Items are placed in 'frames' which can be layered, moved, re -shaped, etc. Authors can produce books that are fully laid out without the need for publishers Anyone can easily make flyers, posters, etc. Used to produce printed matter from labels to magazines Has made publishers almost redundant as designers can now do every stage of the work, passing on the final files directly to the printers (c) Mr. K.MUDHOO

Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

(Tailor-made, custom-designed) Bespoke software software written according to the specification of a particular organisation or customer. Applications for which Common Packages are not appropriate Where the use is so specialised that the software will need to be written (or at least tailored) for that particular use. E.g. Many uses of control software. Robots used on production lines tend to be one-off machines, designed for that particular purpose, consequently, the software that would drive them would, similarly, be one-off. Ready made Versus Custom - Written Software Ready made software are completely general -purpose, so they are: Cheap to buy (many copies will be sold, so the unit cost is low) Well documented (since many people will use them lots of training courses) Stable (mostly bug -free) because of the large user -base Not always suitable for every business's needs, unlike custom -written software Some business's needs cannot be satisfied by generic software, and custom -written applications are necessary. These are: Very expensive since they are usually one -offs Perfectly suited to the business's needs Easy to learn since they can be exactly matched to the skills of the workforce Sometime quite unstable (buggy) since they have only limited testing An integrated package - consists of several parts, each of which is an application package, which share a common set of commands. E.g. Office 2007. Advantages User friendly to use and share a common interface. They are cheaper than buying the packages separately. Easier to move data between programs. When you export a data file, you save the data to a format that can be read by another type of program. When you import a data file, you read a file that was created by a different program. For example, you can import a spreadsheet file into a database program Disadvantages They tend to be stronger in one area and weak in others.

(c) Mr. K.MUDHOO

Chapter: Computer Software

Form IV - 2013

Exercises: 1. The contents of the Task column have been moved to match the application software

2. What is bespoke soft ware and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to generic application soft ware?

3. Computer-aided design (CAD) is one of the most widely used commercial applications of computer graphics. a Name two areas in which CAD could be used. b Give three features you might expect a CAD program to contain.

4. Identify and describe any 5 features of the word processor software.

5. The IT department encourages pupils producing the school magazine to use the DTP soft ware provided on the computer network. The network has a colour laser printer attached to it. a Give two extra items of hardware the IT department could buy to help produce a better school magazine. State what each of these two items of hardware could be used for in the production of the school magazine. b When producing the school magazine pupils use an online dictionary and an online thesaurus provided by the DTP soft ware. Explain what each facility is used for. c State four facilities of the DTP package that could be used to produce a poster

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