ITCC-101 Module 1 Lesson 4 PDF

Lesson 4 Computer Software Objectives: On completion of this module, you will learn to … - Describe the differences between system software and application software - Define application Software - Define system software...

Lesson 4 Computer Software Objectives: On completion of this module, you will learn to … - Describe the differences between system software and application software - Define application Software - Define system software Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Application Software As we discussed on previous lesson, there are two kinds of software. System software works with end users, application software, and computer hardware to handle the majority of technical details. Application software can be described as end-user software and is used to accomplish a variety of tasks. Three categories of Application software General purpose applications, includes word processing programs, spreadsheets, database management systems, and presentation graphics. Specialized applications, includes thousands of other programs that tend to be more narrowly focused and used in specific disciplines and occupations. Mobile apps, are add-on features or programs designed for a variety of mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. User Interface A user interface is the portion of the application that allows you to control and to interact with the program. Almost all applications use a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays graphical elements called icons to represent familiar objects and a mouse. A window is simply a rectangular area that can contain a document, program, or message. More than one window can be opened and displayed on the computer screen at one time. Software programs uses system menus, , toolbars, and dialog boxes. These are the following: Menus present commands that are typically displayed in a menu bar at the top of the screen. Toolbars typically appear below the menu bar and include small graphic elements called buttons that provide shortcuts for quick access to commonly used commands. Dialog boxes provide additional information and request user input. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Ribbons replace menus and toolbars by organizing commonly used commands into set of tabs. These tabs display command buttons that are the most relevant to the tasks being performed by the user. Tabs are used to divide the ribbon into major activity areas. Each tab is then organized into groups that contain related items. o contextual tabs - only appear when they are needed and anticipate the next operations to be performed by the user. Galleries simplify the process of making a selection from a list of alternatives. Common Features Most applications provide a variety of features to make entering/presenting, editing, and formatting documents easy. Some of the most common features include: Spell checkers—look for misspelled words Alignment—either centers, right-aligns, or left-aligns numbers and characters Font and font sizes (perhaps use character effects)—specifies the size and style of entered numbers and text Tables—presents numbers and text in table format Reports—provides a variety of different types and styles to report information General-Purpose Applications Word Processors Word processors create text-based documents and are one of the most flexible and widely used software tools. Microsoft Word is the most widely used word processor. Examples of MS Word are Corel WordPerfect, Apple Pages, OpenOffice Writer, and Google Docs. Spreadsheets Spreadsheets organize, analyze, and graph numeric data such as budgets and financial reports. Microsoft Excel is the most widely used spreadsheet program. Other spreadsheet applications include Apple Numbers and OpenOffice Calc. Database Management Systems A database is a collection of related data. It is the electronic equivalent of a file cabinet. Database management system (DBMS) or database manager is a program that sets up, or structures, a database. It also provides tools to enter, edit, and retrieve data from the database. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  All kinds of individuals use databases, from hospital administrators recording patient information to police officers checking criminal histories. Colleges and universities use databases to keep records on their students, instructors, and courses. Organizations of all types maintain employee databases. Example of Database management system 1. Microsoft Access 2. OpenOffice Base. Presentation Graphics Presentation graphics are programs that combine a variety of visual objects to create attractive, visually interesting presentations. They are excellent tools to communicate a message and to persuade people. Example of presentation graphics 1. Microsoft PowerPoint 2. OpenOffice Impress 3. Apple Keynote 4. Specialized Applications  Graphics programs  Web authoring programs. Graphics Graphics are widely used by professionals in the graphic arts profession. They use desktop publishing programs, image editing programs, illustration programs, and image galleries. Desktop publishing programs, or page layout programs, allow you to mix text and graphics to create publications of professional quality. Example of desktop publishing programs 1. Adobe Publisher 2. QuarkXPress Image editors, also known as photo editors, are specialized graphics programs for editing or modifying digital photographs. They are often used to touch up photographs to remove scratches and other imperfections. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  The photographs consist of thousands of dots or pixels that form images often referred to as bitmap or raster images. One limitation of bitmap images, however, is that when they are expanded, the images can become pixelated, or jagged on the edges. Illustration programs, also known as drawing programs, are used to create and edit vector images. While bitmap images use pixels to represent images, vector images, also known as vector illustrations, use geometric shapes or objects. These objects are created by connecting lines and curves. Because these objects can be defined by mathematical equations, they can be rapidly and easily resized, colored, textured, and manipulated. An image is a combination of several objects. Examples of Illustration programs 1. Adobe Illustrator 2. Core1DRAW 3. Inkscape. (See Figure 3-11.) Image galleries are libraries of electronic images. o These images are used for a wide variety of applications from illustrating textbooks to providing visual interest to presentations. Web Authoring Programs Web authoring – creating a site/website. Blogs – online diaries or commentaries There are over a billion websites on the Internet, and more are being added every day. Corporations use the web to reach new customers and to promote their products. Website is an interactive multimedia form of communication. Designing a website begins with determining the site's overall content. The content is then broken down into a series of related pieces of information. The overall site design is commonly represented in a graphical site map. Multimedia elements are added to individual pages to enhance interest and interactivity. One multimedia element found on many websites is moving graphics called animations. These animations can be simple moving text or complicated interactive features. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  There are many specialized programs available to aid in the creation of animation. One type of interactive animation is produced using software called Adobe Flash. Other Professional Specialized Applications Numerous specialized applications Accounting – help companies record and report their financial operations. personal finance – help individuals track their personal finances and investments. project management applications –help coordinate and plan complicated projects. Mobile Apps Mobile apps or mobile applications are add-on programs for a variety of mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. Sometimes referred to simply as apps, mobile apps have been widely used for years. The traditional applications include address books, to-do lists, alarms, and message lists. Apps The breadth and scope of available mobile applications for smartphones and other mobile devices are ever expanding. There are over 500,000 apps just for Apple's iPhone alone. o most widely used Apps are social networking, messaging, web browsing, e-mail, photo sharing, and games. One of the fastest-growing apps is QR code readers. o These readers allow mobile devices to use their digital cameras to scan QR codes. QR codes, also known as quick response codes, are graphics that typically appear as black and white boxes that automatically link mobile devices to a variety of different content including games, text, videos, and websites. App Stores App store is typically a website that provides access to specific mobile apps that can be downloaded either for a nominal fee or free of charge. Three of the best-known stores are o Apple's App Store o Google Play o Windows Phone Marketplace. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  System Software System software works with end users, application software, and computer hardware to handle the majority of technical details. End users use application software to accomplish specific tasks. For example, we use word processing programs to create letters, documents, and reports. System software is not a single program. Rather it is a collection or a system of programs that handle hundreds of technical details with little or no user intervention. Four types of programs of System software: 1. Operating systems coordinate computer resources, provide an interface between users and the computer, and run applications. 2. Utilities perform specific tasks related to managing computer resources. 3. Device drivers are specialized programs that allow particular input or output devices to communicate with the rest of the computer system. 4. Language translators convert the programming instructions written by programmers into a language that computers understand and process. Operating System An operating system is a collection of programs that handle many of the technical details related to using a computer. In many ways, an operating system is the most important type of computer program. Without a functioning operating system, your computer would be useless. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Functions Every computer has an operating system and every operating system performs a variety of functions. These functions can he classified into three groups: Managing resources: Operating systems coordinate all the computer's resources including memory, processing, storage, and devices such as printers and monitors. They also monitor system performance, schedule tasks, provide security, and start up the computer. Providing user interface: Operating systems allow users to interact with application programs and computer hardware through a user interface. Many older operating systems used a character-based interface in which users communicated with the operating system through written commands such as "Copy A: assign.doc C:". Almost all newer operating systems use a graphical user interface (GUI). Running applications: Operating systems load and run applications such most operating systems support multitasking, or the ability to switch between different applications stored in memory. With multitasking, you could have Word and Excel running at the same time and switch easily between the two applications. The program that you are currently working on is described as running in the foreground. The other program or programs are running in the background. Features Starting or restarting a computer is called booting the system. There are two ways to boot a computer: a warm boot and a cold boot. A warm boot occurs when the computer is already on and you restart it without turning off the power. A warm boot can be accomplished in several ways. For many computer systems, they can be restarted by simply pressing a sequence of keys. Starting a computer that has been turned off is called a cold boot. You typically interact with the operating system through the graphical user interface. Most provide a place, called the desktop, that provides access to computer resources. Operating systems have several features in common with application programs, including Icons—graphic representations for a program, type of file, or function. Pointer—controlled by a mouse, trackpad, or touch screen, the pointer changes shape depending on its current function. For example, when shaped like an arrow, the pointer can be used to select items such as an icon. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Windows—rectangular areas for displaying information and running programs. Menus—provide a list of options or commands. Tabs—divide menus into major activity areas. Dialog boxes—provide information or request input. Help—provides online assistance for operating system functions and procedures. Gesture control ability to control operations with finger movements, such as swiping, sliding, and pinching. Most operating systems store data and programs in a system of files and folders. Files are used to store data and programs. Related files are stored within a folder, and, for organizational purposes, a folder can contain other folders. For example, you might organize your electronic files in the Documents folder on your hard disk. This folder could contain other folders, each named to indicate its contents. One might be "Computer Class" and could contain all the files you have created (or will create) for this course. Categories Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  While there are hundreds of different operating systems, there are only three basic categories: embedded, network, or stand-alone. Embedded operating systems are used for handheld devices such as smartphones, cable and satellite television tuner boxes, video game systems, and other small electronics. The entire operating system is stored within Handheld devices have embedded operating systems or embedded in the device. Network operating systems (NOS) are used to control and coordinate computers that are networked or linked together. Many networks are small and connect only a limited number of microcomputers. Other networks, like those at colleges and universities, are very large and complex. These networks may include other smaller networks and typically connect a variety of different types of computers. Network operating systems are typically located on one of the connected computers' hard disks. Called the network server, this computer coordinates all communication between the other computers. Popular network operating systems include Linux, Windows Server, and UNIX. Stand-alone operating systems, also called desktop operating systems, control a single desktop or notebook computer. These operating systems are located on the computer's hard disk. Often desktop computers and notebooks are part of a network. In these cases, the desktop operating system works with the network's NOS to share and coordinate resources. In these situations, the desktop operating system is referred to as the client operating system. The operating system is often referred to as the software environment or software platform. Almost all application programs are designed to run with a specific platform. For example, Apple's iMovie software is designed to run with the Mac OS environment. Many applications, however, have different versions, each designed to operate with a particular platform. For example, one version of Microsoft Office is designed to operate with Windows. Another version is designed to operate with Mac OS. Mobile Operating Systems Mobile operating systems, also known as mobile OS, are a type of embedded operating system. Just like other computer systems, mobile computers including smartphones and tablets require an operating system. These mobile operating systems are less complicated and more specialized for wireless communication. While there are numerous mobile operating systems, some of the best known are Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS, WebOS, and Windows Phone.  Android was introduced in 2007. It was originally developed by Android Inc. and later purchased by Google. Android is widely used in many of today's 1 smartphones. BlackBerry OS, also known as RIM OS, was first introduced in 1999 by a small Canadian firm called Research in Motion. Originally designed as the platform for the 131ackBerry handheld computer, it has evolved into a powerful mobile operating system. iOS, formerly known as iPhone OS, was originally developed Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  in 2007 by Apple. It is based on Mac OS and is used as the platform for Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.  WebOS was originally developed in 2009 by Palm, Inc. and later purchased by the Hewlett-Packard Company. Originally developed for Palm's handheld computers, it has evolved to support HewlettPackard's smartphones and tablet computers. Windows Phone 8 was introduced in 2012 by Microsoft to support a variety of mobile devices, including smartphones. It has the ability to run many powerful programs designed for desktop and laptop computers. Desktop Operating System Every microcomputer has an operating system controlling its operations. The most widely used desktop operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, Unix, and Linux. Windows Microsoft's Windows is the most widely used microcomputer operating system. Because its market share is so large, more application programs are developed to run under Windows than any other operating system. Windows comes in a variety of different versions and is designed to run with a variety of different microprocessors. There are many versions of Windows. The two recent versions are Windows 7 and Windows 8. Windows 7 was released in 2009 and has a traditional user interface similar to previous versions of Windows. Windows 8 was released in 2012 and was created to better integrate Microsoft's desktop operating systems with its mobile operating systems. It provided support for gestures, cloud integration, and apps. Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC   Windows 10 was created in 2015 and released in 2019 successor of Windows 8.1. Mac OS Apple has been the leader in the development of powerful and easy-to-use microcomputer operating systems since its introduction of the Macintosh microcomputer in 1984. Designed to run only with Apple computers, Mac OS is not as widely used as the Windows operating system. As a result, fewer application programs have been written for it. With dramatically increasing sales of Apple computers, however, the use of Mac OS has been rapidly increasing and is widely recognized as one of the most innovative operating systems.  Mac OS X is the most widely used Mac OS. Its two most recent versions are: o OS X Lion was released in 2011 and introduced several powerful features, including Launchpad to display and provide direct access to applications, Mission Control to display all running applications, and gestures. o OS X Mountain Lion was released in 2012 and designed for desktops and laptops. Its user interface is very similar to the interface used with its tablets and smartphones. The functionality of Mountain Lion is similar to Windows 8 although it is generally regarded as easier to use. UNIX and Linux The UNIX operating system was originally designed to run on minicomputers in network environments. Now, it is widely used by servers on the web, mainframe computers, and very powerful microcomputers. There are a large number for use on servers and desktop of different versions of UNIX. Linux is an operating system that extended one of the UNIX versions. It was originally developed by a graduate student at the University of Helsinki, Linus Torvalds, in 1991. Linux is an open source and it is a popular and powerful alternative to the Windows operating system. Linux has been the basis of several other operating systems. For example, Google's Chrome OS is based on Linux. This operating system is designed for netbook computers and other mobile devices. Chrome OS focuses on Internet connectivity Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  and cloud computing. Virtualization When a single physical computer runs a special program known as virtualization software, it operates as though it were two or more separate and independent computers, known as virtual machines. Each virtual machine appears to the user as a separate independent computer with its own operating system. The operating system of the physical machine is known as the host operating system. Learning Activity REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Discuss desktop publishing programs, image editors, and illustration programs. 2. What are image galleries? Stock photos? Clip art? 3. What are blogs? What is web authoring? What are animations? 4. What are mobile apps? 5. What are some of the most common applications? What are QR codes and QR code readers? 6. What are app stores? 7. What is a mobile operating system? 8. List the five most widely used mobile operating systems. 9. Which mobile operating system works with the 'Phone? 10.Which mobile operating system was developed by Microsoft? Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  SUMMARY In module I, you have learned about the specialization in the fields of CS/IT/IS, meaning of Information Technology, Internet, the Web and Electronic Commerce and also computer software. In Lesson I, gives emphasis to the differentiation of the three courses: IT, CS and IS. It also confers the different roles and specialization of each course. Lesson II, briefly explains the parts of information system, its classifications, its significance, and uses. Lesson III, describes the relativity of the internet and the Web. It shows how the Web is able to benefit businesses in different fields such as information, advertisement, communication. Lesson IV, you have learned about application software and system software wherein both reiterates different types of software. Congratulations! You have just studied Module II. Now you are ready to evaluate how much you have benefited from your reading by answering the summative test. Good Luck!!! Lesson 4: Computer Software College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Summative Test I. Directions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer from the given choices. Write the letter of your answer on the space provided. The keyboard, mouse, monitor, and system unit are: a. hardware c. storage devices b. output devices d. software 2. Programs that coordinate computer resources, provide an interface, and run applications are known as: a. application programs c. storage systems b. operating systems d. utility programs 3. A browser is an example of a: a. general-purpose application c. system application b. specialized program d. utility program 4. Although not as powerful as a supercomputer, this type of computer is capable of great processing speeds and data storage. a. mainframe c. notebook b. midrange d. tablet 5. The smallest type of microcomputer: a. handheld c. midrange b. notebook d. tablet 6. RAM is a type of: a. computer c. network b. memory d. secondary storage 7. Unlike memory, this type of storage holds data and programs even after electric power to the computer system has been turned off. a. primary c. ROM b. RAM d. secondary 8. The type of file created by word processors to save, for example, memos, term papers, and letters. a. database c. presentation b. document d. worksheet 9. Uses the Internet and the web to shift many computer activities from a user's computer to computers on the Internet. a. cloud computing c. network b. high definition d. USB 10. The largest network in the world is Ethel: a. Facebook c. web b. Internet d. USB Module Summative Test College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Summative Test II. Match each numbered item with the most closely related lettered item. Write your answers in the spaces provided. a. Desktop ____1. Consists of the step-by-step instructions b. Modem that tell the computer how to do its work. c. Network ____2. Another name to do its work. d. Output ____3.Enables the application software to interact e. Presentation with the computer hardware f. Program ____4.Type of computer that is small enough to fit g. Software on top of or alongside a desk yet is too big to carry h. Solid-state around. i. System software ____5.A container that houses most of the j. System unit electronic components that make up a computer system. ____6. Devices that translate the processed information from the computer into a form that humans can understand. ____7.Unlike hard disks, this type of storage does not have any moving parts, is more reliable, and requires less power. ____8. The most widely used communication device. ____9. A type of a file that might contain, for example, audience handouts, speaker notes, and electronic slides. ___10.A communications system connection two or more computers. Module Summative Test College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Module 1 17 REFERENCES  Parson, June Jamrich., (2018) New Perspective Computer Concepts : Introductory, U.S.A: Cengage Learning Publishing Company  Computing Essentials: Making IT work for you Complete., (2014), U.S.A : McGraw-Hill Companies.  Stair, Ralph M., Reynolds, George W. (2014). Fundamentals of Information Systems. Boston, USA: Cengage Learning.  Stair, Ralph M. and Reynolds, George W., (2011). Principles of Information Systems, 8th Edition. U.S./.A: Cengage Learning.  Tayuan-Caoili, R., Eleazar, M. Living in the Information Technology Era. References College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC  Module 1 18 References College of Information Technology DMMMSU - MLUC