COMPUTER FOR

EXECUTIVES

Week-2

Computer Software
Types of software

System Software,

Operating System
Utility Programs

Application Software

Word processors
Spreadsheets
Graphical Designing (Presentation)
Database Software
Communication Software

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Computer Software

Computer Instructions or data, anything that can be stored

electronically is called Software.
Software refers to the computer programs, routines and
packages required to utilize and control the operation of the
computer system.
Such as DOS, Windows, MS-Office or user developed
programs.

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Types of Software

System Software divided into two types

System Software

Application Software

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System Software
System Software includes the Operating System and all the
utilities that enable the computer to function.
System software is a term referring to any computer software
which manages and controls the hardware so that application
software can perform a task.
The programs that control the operation of the computer
system is called System Software.
In short, system software is the collection of those computer
programs which runs the computer and also helps the computer
to run another programs.
Example:
Operating Systems, Utility Programs, device drivers

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System Software (Contd)

Operating System

It is an integrated set of programs that use to manage the

various resources and overall operations of a computer system.
Operating System is a software, which makes a computer to
actually work.

It is the software the enables all the programs we use.

The OS organizes and controls the hardware.

OS acts as an interface between the application programs and

the machine hardware.

Examples: Windows, Linux, Unix and Mac OS, etc

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System Software (Contd)

What OS does?

An operating system performs basic tasks such as,

Controlling and allocating memory,
Prioritizing system requests,
Controlling input and output devices,
Facilitating networking and
Managing file systems

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System Software (Contd)

Structure of Operating System
Application Programs
Software (Operating System)

HARDWARE

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System Software (Contd)

The structure of OS consists of 3 layers:

Hardware

Hardware consists of CPU, Main memory, I/O Devices, etc,

Software (Operating System)

Software includes process management routines, memory

management routines, I/O control routines, file management
routines.

Application programs

This is dependent on users need.

Ex. Railway reservation system, Bank database management etc..

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System Software (Contd)

Types of Operating System
Operating System can also be classified as:

Single User Systems

Multi User Systems

Single User Systems

Provides a platform for only one user at a time.

They are popularly associated with Desk Top operating
system which run on standalone systems where no user
accounts are required.
Example: DOS,
MAC operating system was single user operating system.
Apple MAC operating system users, used menu & icons
rather than commands.
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System Software (Contd)

Multi User Systems

The operating system through which many users can work

with single computer at a time is called Multi User
Operating System.
Provides regulated access for a number of users by
maintaining a database of known users.

Refers to computer systems that support two or more

simultaneous users.

Another term for multi-user is time sharing.

Ex: All mainframes are multi-user systems.

Example: Unix, Windows NT, Linux etc

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System Software (Contd)

Utility Programs

An Utility Program is a type of software that

performs a specific task, usually related to
managing or maintaining the computer system.
Utility Programs are often built-in an operating
system.
For example, Utility Program for finding files,
diagnosing, and repairing system problems etc

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Application Software

Application Software includes programs that do real work for

user.
Today a wide variety of application software are available.
Example:
Payroll systems, Inventory Control System, Student Info
system, Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Graphic Presentations
Software, Database Management System.

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Application Software

(Contd)

Word Processors

Word processing is a tool that helps user in creating, editing,

and printing documents. Word processors will normally have the
following capabilities built into them:
Spell checking
Standard layouts for normal documents
Have some characters appear in bold print, italics, or
underlined
Center lines, make text line up on the left side of the paper,
or the right side of the paper
Save the document so it can be used again
print the document.

Examples: WordPerfect, WordStar and Microsoft Word

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Application Software

(Contd)

Spreadsheets
The spreadsheet packages are designed to use numbers and
formulas to do calculations with ease.
Spreadsheet is a group of values & other data organized into
rows, & columns.
The document of spreadsheet is called Work Sheet.
Examples of spreadsheets include:
Budgets
Payrolls
Grade Calculations
Address Lists
The most commonly used spreadsheet programs are Microsoft
Excel and Lotus 123.
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Application Software

(Contd)

Graphic Presentations

The presentation programs more easily convey information to

others people.
Other uses include:
Slide Shows
Repeating Computer Presentations on a computer monitor
Using Sound and animation in slide shows
The most recognized graphic presentation program is Microsoft
PowerPoint.

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Pixel

PixEL (Picture Element)

smallest unit of an image, basically a single dot on the screen

Resolution
Number of pixels in the image
Common resolution size is 1024x768

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Application Software

(contd)

Database Management System (DBMS)

A DBMS is a software tool that allows multiple users to store,
access, and process data into useful information.
Database programs are designed for these types of applications:
Membership lists
Student lists
Grade reports
Instructor schedules
All of these have to be maintained so you can find what you need
quickly and accurately.
Example:Microsoft Access, dBASE, FOXPRO, Oracle.
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Application Software

(contd)

Communication Software
Communication means transferring of ideas, emotions,
information between terminals/ sites / people or
computers.
So the software which control such communication are
called Communication Software.
A widely used communication software is a Web
browser, which allow user with an internet connection
to access & view web pages.
Example: Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator,
Mozilla Firfox etc

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Open Source Software

Open source software (OSS) is computer software

whose source code is available under a license that
permits users to use, change, and improve the software,
and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form.

It is often developed in a public, Group manner.

Well-known OSS products are Linux, Netscape, Apache,
etc.,

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Proprietary Software

Proprietary software (also called non-free software)

is software with restrictions on using, copying and
modifying as enforced by the proprietor.
Restrictions on use, modification and copying is
achieved by either legal or technical means and
sometimes both.
Proponents of proprietary software are Microsoft.
Ex: Norton Antivirus etc

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Device Drivers

Programs which handle the various hardware devices,

e.g., modem, NIC and Peripheral devices
For example, an application wants to print a document
It call the operating system
which sends the information to the device driver together
with instructions and
the printer driver handles all the control of the printer

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