Computer

Skill Area 500: Study (PRG)

Programming
Essential
Programming Concepts
Part 1: Software Categories

Study Essential Programming

Concepts
Skill Areas to be discussed:
Discuss software categories
Discuss programming languages
Discuss language processors

Discuss software categories

Skill Areas to be discussed:
Identify software categories
Demonstrate an understanding of applications
software
Differentiate between different types of applications
Demonstrate an understanding of System software

Discuss software categories

Skill Areas to be discussed:
Explain the concept of Stored Program
Describe the relationship between Software and the
concept of Computer hardware
List various software necessary to run the hardware

Lecture Overview
Computer
Computer Hardware
Computer Software
Types of Software
System Software
Application Software

What is computer?
A computer is a device capable of performing
computations and making logical decisions faster
than human beings.
Solve:
((10*3)+(4/2)) / (((4-1)+(6/3))+3) - (((((8*5)+(1*7))-2)-5)/10)

What is Hardware?
Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements
that constitutes a computer system.
Internal
Memory

Input

External
Memory

Processor
ALU
CPU

Output

Computer System

Input
Devices

Processing
(CPU/Memory)

Storage Devices

Output
Devices

Computer Hardware
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Brains of the computer
Arithmetic calculations are performed using the
Arithmetic/Logical Unit or ALU
Control unit decodes and executes instructions

Arithmetic operations are performed using

binary number system

Computer Hardware
Memory
storage for input, temporary data and output
Volatile Memory (temporary)
Non-volatile Memory (permanent)

Computer Hardware
Input/Output Devices
Components that allow computer to perform specific
tasks
Receive information for processing
Return the results of processing
Store information

Computer Hardware
Input/Output Devices
Common input and output devices
Speakers Mouse

Scanner

Printer

CD-ROM

Joystick

Keyboard Microphone

DVD

What is Software?
Everything that a computer does, from the time
you turn the power on until you shut the system
down, is under the control of software.
It is a set of machine-readable instructions that
directs a computer's processor to perform
specific operations.

What is Software?
Software is stored on a disk, card, tape or one of
the dozens of other storage devices available.

Software Categories
TWO (2) general categories of software:
SOFTWARE

System
Software

Application
Software

System Software
Systems Software perform tasks that are
needed to run on the computer systems.
They are designed to operate the computer
which act as a bridge between computer system
hardware and the application software.

System Software
Types of Systems Software:
Operating System
Device Drivers

System Software: Operating System

Operating system (OS):
set of programs that controls the computer hardware
and acts as an interface with application programs
manages all of the devices connected to the
computer
allows data to be saved to and retrieved from
storage devices.

System Software: Operating System

Set of programs containing instructions that control or
maintain all the operations of a computer and its
devices.
Provides a means for users to communicate with the
computer and other software.
When a computer starts, parts of the operating system
are copied into memory from the hard disk and remain
in memory as long as computer is ON.

System Software: Operating System

Various combinations of OSs, computers, and
users
Single computer with a single user
Single computer with multiple users
Multiple computers
Special-purpose computers

System Software: Operating System

Activities performed by the operating system
Perform common computer hardware functions
Provide a user interface and input/output
management
Provide a degree of hardware independence
Manage system memory
Manage processing tasks
Provide networking capability
Control access to system resources
Manage files

System Software: Operating System

The role of Systems Software interface between users,
application software and hardware

System Software: Operating System

OS acts as an intermediary between application
and hardware
OS converts basic request into a set of details
instruction that the hardware requires
Common hardware functions (e.g.)

Get input from keyboard or some other input device

Retrieve data from disks
Store data on disks
Display information on a monitor or printer

System Software: Operating System

Functions:
a) User interface and input/output management
User interface: allows individuals to access and
command the computer system
Command-based user interface: requires that text
commands be given to the computer to perform basic
activities
Graphical user interface (GUI): uses icons and
menus displayed on screen to send commands to the
computer system

System Software: Operating System

Functions:
b) Hardware independence

Application

program

interface

(API):

allows

applications to make use of the operating system

c) Memory management

Control how memory is accessed and maximize

available memory and storage

System Software: Operating System

Functions:
d) Processing tasks

Multitasking: more than one program can run at the same time
Time-sharing: allows more than one person to use a computer
system at the same time
Scalability: ability of the computer to handle an increasing
number of concurrent users smoothly

e) Networking capability

Features and capabilities of the OS that aid users in connecting

to a computer network

System Software: Operating System

Functions:
f)

Access to system resources and security

Protection against unauthorized access

Logins and passwords

g) File management

Ensures that files in secondary storage are available when

needed and that they are protected from access by
unauthorized users

Any Questions?

System Software: Operating System

Microsoft Windows

Windows 1

Windows 2

Windows 3

Windows 3.1

Windows 95

Windows 98

Windows ME

Windows 2000

Windows XP

Windows Vista

Windows 7

Windows 8

System Software: Operating System

Microsoft Windows

System Software: Operating System

Windows Phone

System Software: Operating System

Mac OS

System Software: Operating System

iOS

System Software: Operating System

Open source (Linux)

System Software: Operating System

Open source (Linux: Android)

System Software: Device Drivers

Device Drivers or Drivers
a computer program that operates or controls a
particular type of device that is attached to a
computer.
enabling operating systems and other computer
programs to access hardware functions without
needing to know precise details of the hardware being
used.

System Software: Device Drivers

Audio and Sound Drivers

Bluetooth Drivers
DVD and CD Drivers
Ethernet Drivers
Graphics and Video Drivers
Keyboard and Mouse Drivers
Modem Drivers
Monitor Drivers
Motherboard Drivers
Scanner Drivers
Webcam Drivers
USB Drivers

System Software: Device Drivers

Application Software
Application software or Apps
Complete, self-contained computer programs that
performs useful tasks.
Application software cannot run on itself but is
dependent on system software to execute.

Common application software

Word processors
Desktop publishing programs
Spreadsheets
Presentation managers
Drawing programs

Application Software
Types of Application Software based on
Purpose:
General purpose application software or
Commercial-off-the-shelf software
> ready-made and available for sale to the general public

Special purpose application software or Bespoke

software
> designed for a specific purpose and for a specific
organization.
> built specifically and custom-made

Application Software: Generic purpose

Software Suites:
Adobe Master Collections CS5
Microsoft Office

Application Software: Special purpose

Software to perform a specific task
Examples:
Software to help fill in an income tax return
Stock Control System
Payroll System

Application Software: Special purpose

Commercial vs. Bespoke

Advantages of Commercial-off-the-shelf
software:
Less expensive
More collaboration (can talk to other users of the
software)
Can be bought and installed immediately
Software has been tried and tested so will contain
fewer bugs
Software well documented
Easily replaceable and can be found anywhere

Commercial vs. Bespoke

Advantages of Bespoke software

Designed to do exactly what the user wants

Has no unwanted features
Can be written to run on specific hardware
Can be integrated with existing software
There may not be a suitable software package on the
market

Software Ownership
Ownership or License
governing the use or redistribution of software.

Types of ownership:

Proprietary/Non-free
Freeware/Open source software
Shareware
Public-domain software

Software Ownership: Proprietary

Proprietary/Non-free software
computer software licensed under exclusive legal
right of the copyright holder with the intent that
the licensee is given the right to use the software only
under certain conditions, and restricted from other
uses, such as modification, sharing, studying and
redistribution.

Software Ownership: Freeware

Freeware
Copyrighted software given away for free by the
author.
Although it is available for free, the author retains the
copyright, which means that you cannot do anything
with it that is not expressly allowed by the author.

Software Ownership: Shareware

Shareware
Software distributed on the basis of an honor system.
Most shareware is delivered free of charge, but the
author usually requests that you pay a small fee if you
like the program and use it regularly.
By sending the small fee, you become registered with
the producer so that you can receive service
assistance and updates.

Software Ownership: Public-domain

software
Public-domain software
Refers to any program that is not copyrighted.
Public-domain software is free and can be used
without restrictions.
The term public-domain software is often used
incorrectly to include freeware, free software that is
nevertheless copyrighted.

Activity
What kind of software does the handicap
uses? For the blind, the deaf and etc.

Think about it.