Fundamentals of Software Use: Chap 08

Fundamentals of Software Use
Chap 08
Introduction
The software is a series of instructions or a special program that performs a particular task and is recorded in some form on a computer disk.
It is also called program or software program.
Computer software has two major categories: system software and application software.
Fundamentals of Software Use ICMAP/ZAQ/F1
System Software
It is a program that manages and supports the computer resources and operations of a computer system while it executes various tasks such as processing data and information, controlling hardware components, and allowing users to use application software. It functions as a bridge between computer system hardware & the application software.
Kinds of System Software

System software consists of three kinds of
programs.
The system management programs.

System support programs.
System development programs.

System Management Programs

These are programs that manage the application software, computer hardware, and data resources of the computer system. These programs include operating systems, database management programs, and telecommunications monitor programs. Among these, the most important system management program is the operating system.
System Support Programs

These are the programs that help the operations and management of a computer system. They provide a variety of support services to let the computer hardware and other system programs run efficiently. The major system utility programs, system performance monitor programs, and system security monitor programs (virus checking programs).
System Development Programs

These programs help users develop information system programs and prepare user programs for computer processing. These programs may analyze and design systems and program itself. For example, programming language translators, programming environment programs, computer-aided software engineering packages.
Application Software
Application software consists of programs that direct computers to perform specific information processing activities for end users.
These programs are called application packages because they direct the processing required for a particular use, or application, which users want to accomplish.
Kinds of Application Software

Application software includes a variety of
programs that can be subdivided into two major
categories.
General-Purpose Application Programs Application-Specific Software
General-Purpose Application Programs

These programs perform common information processing jobs for end users. For example, word processing, electronic spreadsheet, database management, graphics, and communications programs, and integrated packages are popular with microcomputer users for home, education, business, scientific, and many other general purposes.
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General-Purpose Application Programs

They are also known as productivity packages,
because they significantly increase the
productivity of end users.

This packaged software is also called off-theshelf software packages, because these products are packaged and available for sale.
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Application-Specific Software
Many application programs are available to support specific applications of end users. Business Application Programs accomplish the information processing tasks for business and industry. Scientific Application Programs perform information processing tasks for the natural, physical, social, and behavioral sciences, engineering, research, development, education, music, art, medicine, etc.
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Software Suites
Software Suites
A collection of software products bundled together into a single package and sold at price that is less than the sum of the prices of the individual components.
The dominant leader in suite sales for office application is Microsoft Office.
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Software Suites
Integrated software programs incorporate watered down versions of full featured word processor or spreadsheet, providing only their main features in a single package.
Microsoft Works and Corels PerfectWorks are examples of Integrated Software Programs. They cost less & require few system resources.
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Advantages of Software Suites

Compatibility between the separate modules
Efficiency there is no need to quit one application to access another. User friendly there is only one set of Function Keys to learn as they would have the same function in each of the modules.
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Disadvantages of Software Suites

The memory size required might be more than that required by a dedicated package.
The modules contained in the package would not have as many features as in a dedicated application.
There may be more modules contained in than those required by the user.
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Document Centered Computing

The term implies that a user can call on a variety of applications programs at any time as needed to help create a document.
For instance, while writing a letter in a word processor, a spreadsheet table can be inserted all without leaving the word processing program.
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Software Ownership
A software product to which someone owns the rights to the program, and the owner expects users to buy their own copies. In buying the software, one pays not to own the software, but to acquire a license to use the software.
Site license An agreement that allows access by several people in an organization to a proprietary software product.
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Shareware
Software that people can copy and use in exchange for a nominal fee.
The software publisher expects you to pay a nominal contribution or registration fee to receive written or online documentation, software updates, and/or technical help and advice.
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Freeware
Freeware, or public domain software, refers to the programs that you can use free of charge.
One very popular piece of freeware is Mosaic, a browsing program that enables you to navigate the Internet and its World Wide Web.
Freeware software may contain major errors.

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The User Interface
The User Interface

The manner in which a computer program
makes its resources available to users.
There are Two types of user interface

Character Based Interfaces Graphical User Interfaces
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Character Based Interface

This interface required users to type precise instructions at the system prompt in predefined syntax. Prompt Displayed text or symbols indicating the computer systems readiness to receive user input. Syntax The grammatical rules that govern the structure and content of a statements in a particular computer language.
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WIMP Interface
Many GUIs are designed as WIMP interfaces.
WIMP is an acronym, with the letters standing for
Windows,
Icons, Mouse, Pull down menus.
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Windows
A window is a section of the screen which is dedicated to a specific application or document. Windows can be opened or closed, moved around the screen; and changed in size by using a mouse and a pointer. Several applications can be operated at the same time, and the user can switch from one application to another.
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Icons
Icons are little images or graphical symbols representing objects or applications. The icon may be a proprietary trade mark, or may represent an abstract idea graphically. To delete a file, for example, the file may be move with the mouse until it has covered a trash can icon. The user will click on an time with a mouse to select an application to rum or an operation to carry out.
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Mouse
A mouse is a small device consisting of a ball, a sensor to detect how the ball move, and two or three buttons which can be clicked to initiate actions or held down to continue actions (such as moving file, or changing the size of a window) The mouse is moved around the surface of a desk or of a special mouse mat. As the mouse moves, ball bearing rotates.
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Mouse
This rotation is measured by the sensor and the movement is reflected by the movement of a pointer on the screen. The pointer is an arrow that moves around the screen as the mouse is moved around the table. When the pointer is over the relevant icon, the mouse button is clicked to select the action of object being operated upon.
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Pull-down menu (Pop-up menu)

An initial menu bar will be displayed along the top (or down side of the screen). One of the options will be selected and clicked upon with the mouse, and a second menu will be displayed. To save time for experienced users, some menu choices may be represented by shortcut keys.
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Choosing a Software Solution
Introduction
The system analysis process identifies what the users need, and how these needs can be satisfied. There are three basic alternatives that the analyst may consider:
The development of bespoke software The use of general purpose package The use of specialist package
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Bespoke or tailor made systems

Bespoke systems are designed to fit the specific needs of the organization. They may be produced in house, or commissioned from an outside software company.
ICMAP/ZAQ/F1
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Advantages
They precisely fit the organizations information need. The organization has complete discretion over data structures The system can be integrated with other applications within the organization. The system can be modified to fit changing needs.
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Disadvantages
Development takes a long time, which delays the implementation of the system. They are costly to develop and test. There is a greater probability of bugs in a bespoke system most of the errors in packages will have found by other users. Support of bespoke system will be expensive.
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General Purpose Packages

General purpose packages (such as database systems) can provide approximate solutions to a range of different problems. Many such packages can be tailored so that they be adapted to fit a specific solution.
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Advantages
They are consistently less expensive than setting up a bespoke system. They are available more quickly than a bespoke system will be. There is likely to be number of people with expertise in the relevant package that are already employed by the organization.
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Advantages
The package can be used for a number of different applications They can be used as prototypes for bespoke systems.
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Disadvantages
The package will not be likely to fit the information needs of the organization as well as a bespoke package would. The organization will have to adapt itself to the limitations of the package. Data must be structured to fit the requirements of the package.
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Off-the-shelf Packages
The basic accounting functions for example, apply to a large majority of businesses. Advantages
They are generally cheaper to buy than bespoke packages are to develop They are likely to be available almost immediately Any system bugs should have been discovered by other users and eliminated
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Advantages
Good packages are likely to come with good training programs and documentation. New updated versions of the software are likely to be available on a regular basis. The experience of a great number of users with similar needs to those in the organization has been incorporated into the design of the package.
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Disadvantages
They do not fit precisely the needs of the organization the users may need to compromise what they want with what is available. The organization is dependent upon an outside supplier for the maintenance of the software. Different packages used by the organization may have incompatible data structures.
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Fundamentals of Software Use

Kinds of System Software

The system management programs.

System development programs.

System Management Programs

System Support Programs

System Development Programs

Kinds of Application Software

General-Purpose Application Programs

General-Purpose Application Programs

productivity of end users.

Advantages of Software Suites

Disadvantages of Software Suites

Document Centered Computing

Freeware software may contain major errors.

The User Interface

The User Interface

There are Two types of user interface

Character Based Interface

Pull-down menu (Pop-up menu)

Choosing a Software Solution

Bespoke or tailor made systems