UNIT 2 - SOFTWARE
The programs that run on a computer are called software. There are two basic groups of software.
1. System Software
2. Application software
System Software
The programs that are designed to maintain or operate the computer system are known as system software
(mainly OS). Examples of system software;
• Windows
• Mac OS
• Chrome OS
• Ubuntu
• Android
• iOS
• Blackberry
• Programming Language Translators
• Device Drivers
• Firmware
Utility software is a type of software which is used to do configuration and maintenance tasks.
Examples:
1. Backups
2. Disk Defragmentation
3. Compression
4. Formatting
Data backup means creating a copy of the data on your system that you use for recovery in case your original
data is lost or corrupted. Many businesses and organizations protect their critical data with backup, making it
one of the key components of a company's disaster recovery plan and business continuity strategy.
When you save the data on the hard disk, data will save in
different places in the hard disk. Data is scattered. This process is
called fragmentation. This reduces the data access speed in your
computer.
Disk defragmentation rearranges the scattered data (fragmented
data) into a proper order.
Defragmentation steps: (Windows 10 PC)
Open “This PC” → Right click on (C:) Drive → Properties → Tools Tab → Optimise → Select the Drive →
Optimise
File compression reduces the original size of a file. It will give extra storage space. A compressed (zipped) file is
not readable. To read it, you have to do decompression.
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Ex: Run length encoding
A A A A A A B B B C
A 6 B 3 C 1
Disk formatting prepares storage media such as a hard disk or USB flash drive for its first use. It will arrange
the disk structure from the beginning.
Operating System (OS)
The OS allows the user to control and manage the computer’s hardware.
Human Users
Application Software
Operating System
Other System Software
Hardware
There are 2 main operating system types.
1. Single user OS
2. Network OS
Memory Management
The OS allocates the memory (in RAM), to one or more applications.
Resource Management
The OS ensures the system resources (RAM, processor, hard disk, printer, VGA card) are made available to
applications when they are required.
Ex: OS allocates the printer behalf of users.
Security
OSs must allow users to access the computer through user name and password.
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Application Software
Application software (apps) are used to do a particular task. Ex: Word processing, Web browsing etc..
You need to identify the type of software that meets particular needs.
Types of Application Software
1. Office Productivity Software
2. Web Authoring
3. Image Editing
4. Sound Editing
5. Presentation Software
6. Control Applications
7. Project Management
8. Communication Software
9. Free or open source Software
Office Productivity Software
It is any application that can carry out work related tasks.
Ex 1: Word Processing – Includes text formatting, tables, hyperlinks, simple drawings, charts etc..
Ex 2: Desktop Publishing (DTP) – Used to create page layouts
Ex 3: Spreadsheets – Used to do calculations with formulas and functions
Ex 4: Database – An organized collection of data is known as a database. Database Management System
(DBMS) are used to create tables, queries, reports, forms etc…
Web Authoring
Web authoring software lets users to create web
pages that includes text and images. The
hypertext markup language (HTML) is used to
create web pages.
Some applications allow users to produce web
sites without using HTML coding. These are called
What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG)
editors.
Ex: Adobe Dreamweaver (See the figure 2.14 – Pg
no. 50)
Image Editing
There are 2 categories of image editing software.
1. Graphic Editors
It is used to create or edit vector graphics (such as logos or drawings).
Ex: Serif Affinity Designer
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2. Photo Editors
It is used to edit or enhance bitmap images (such as digital photographs)
Ex: GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
Sound Editing
Sound editing software allows to do;
• Edit audio
• Combine different audio files
• Add new sounds
• Add effects
Presentation Software
It allows to create attractive presentations with multimedia (with images, sounds, texts, animations and video)
Control Applications
This is used to automate the movement of control devices or actuators (valves, heaters, motors etc..)
This is used in Engineering, vehicle manufacturing and building industries
Project Management
There are some charts related to project management (Ex: Monitoring progress). Those charts can be created
by using project management software.
Ex: Gantt charts
Question: Draw a Gantt chart for the following project management tasks.
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Answer:
Communication Software
It provides remote access to systems and allow users to contact people using internet.
Free or Open Source Software
Free software licenses give users the right to study, modify, copy, distribute a program (no source code
available).
Open source software license make the source code available to users so that they can modify, copy and
distribute the modified or unmodified software
Proprietary software is software that is marketed by its owner under a brand name. Proprietary software can
be;
• Free or
• Free of charge (Freeware)
What are the data types used in messages?
• Text
• Images
• Audio
• Video
What is the purpose of a web browser?
It allows users to view web pages/ web sites.
What is a FTP Server?
These are the servers of files. The aim is to store, download or share the files among users.
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Methods of Communication
• Email
• Social media
• SMS
• MMS
• Instant Messaging (Chat)
What are the 2 types of email accounts?
1. Locally installed applications. Ex: Outlook Express
2. Web Mail Software. Ex: Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail
Differentiate SMS and MMS.
SMS MMS
1. Limited to text 1. Supports all data types (text, images,
video etc..)
2. Maximum 160 characters per message 2. More than 160 characters per message
3. Less popular 3. High popular
4. Do not require internet connection 4. Do not require internet connection
Software Licensing
It is a legal arrangement that gives a user to right to install and use software.
Ex: MS Office, Windows
Software Updates
Software updates are required to improve the performance and remove bugs.
Questions
1. What are the special features of presentation software?
2. Explain the office productivity software
3. “Image editing is a very important task” Briefly explain the importance of this.
4. “Graphical user interfaces are becoming popular”. Briefly explain this.
5. Differentiate system software and application software.
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