Software
Basic Application Software
System Software
Basic Application Software
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify general-purpose applications.
2. Describe word processors, spreadsheets, presentation
programs, and database management systems.
3. Describe specialized applications, such as graphics, web
authoring, and video game development programs.
4. Describe mobile apps and app stores.
5. Identify software suites.
6. Describe office suites, cloud suites, specialized suites,
and utility suites.
Application Software
• Application software
• End-user software
• Accomplish a variety of tasks
• Three categories
1. General-purpose applications
2. Specialized applications
3. Mobile apps
General-Purpose Applications
• General purpose applications include:
• Word processor programs (e.g.: MS Word)
• Spreadsheet programs (e.g.: MS Excel)
• Presentation graphics programs (e.g.: MS PowerPoint)
• Database management systems (e.g.: MS Access)
Word Processor Programs
• Create text-based documents
– Memos, letters, and reports
– Newsletters, manuals, and brochures
• Word processing programs
– Microsoft Word
• Most popular
– Apple Pages
– Google Docs
– OpenOffice Writer
• Advanced programming-based typesetting systems
– LaTeX: used for mathematics and scientific documents (thesis, books)
Document Features in MS Word
1. Spell Checker 9. Footnote
2. Center-alignment 10. Header or Footer
3. Grammar Checker 11. Captions and Cross
4. Fonts References
5. Font Sizes 12. Tables
6. Word Wrap
7. Character Effects
8. AutoCorrect
Spreadsheet Programs
• Organize, analyze, and graph numeric data
• Budgets and financial reports, grades of students…
• Spreadsheet programs
• Microsoft Excel
• Apple Numbers
• Google Sheets (Free)
• OpenOffice Calc (Free)
8
Creating a Sales Forecast
• Features
• Worksheets
• Text and numerical entries
• Functions (operations)
• Cells
• Formulas
Will be discussed in detail in
the 2nd part of this course
Presentation Graphics Programs
• Combine a variety of visual objects to create visually
interesting presentations
• Presentation programs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• OpenOffice Impress (Free)
• Apple Keynote
• Google Slides (Free)
• Prezi (Online)
Creating a Presentation
• Presentation Features
• Document Theme
• Involves Animation
• Pre-made Templates
Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• A collection of related data
• Electronic equivalent of a file cabinet
• Two most widely used systems
• Microsoft Access
• OpenOffice Base
• Apple FileMaker
• Google Obvibase
• IBM DB2 (High-end)
Creating a Database
• First, plan how your data is
to be organized.
• Database Features
• Primary Key (unique entry)
• Fields
• Record
• Table
• Form
Specialized Applications
• Programs that more narrowly focused on specific
disciplines and occupations
• Includes:
• Graphics Programs
• Web Authoring Programs
Graphics Programs
• Widely used in graphic arts
• Types of graphics programs are:
• Desktop Publishing Programs (MS Publisher)
• Image Editing Programs (Adobe Photoshop)
• Illustration Programs (Adobe Illustrator)
• Video Editors
Mobile Apps | App Stores
• Mobile Applications or Mobile Apps
• Their popularity comes to reflect the massive spread of smartphones/tables
• They introduce functionality to the smartphone (communication, fitness
tracking, newsfeeds), system functionality (VPN, security), or entertainment
(games, video players)
• The World Major App Stores are:
1. Apple App Store
2. Google Play Store
3. Amazon Appstore
4. Samsung Galaxy Store
5. Huawei AppGallery
Software Suites
• Collection of separate application programs
• Bundled together – sold as group
• Four types of suites
• Office suites or office software suite /
productivity suites
• Microsoft Office
• Apple iWork
• OpenOffice (Free)
• Cloud suites or online office suites
• Google Docs (Making IT Work for You), Zoho,
Microsoft Office 365
Suites (continued)
• Specialized suites
• Focus on specific applications
• Corel Draw Graphics Suite X6 (Graphics)
• MATLAB Mathematical package (Science and mathematics)
• Utility suites
• Designed to make computing easier and safer
• Norton Systems Works (system maintenance and performance)
• Norton Internet Security suite (Protection against malware)
System Software
Learning Objectives
1. Describe the differences between system software and application
software.
2. Identify the four types of system software programs.
3. Explain the basic functions, features, and categories of operating systems.
4. Compare mobile operating systems iOS, Android, and Windows 10
Mobile.
5. Compare desktop operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, UNIX,
Linux, and virtualization.
6. Explain the purpose of utilities and utility suites.
7. Identify the five most essential utilities.
8. Describe Windows utility programs.
Introduction
• Computers and computer applications have become a part
of the fabric of everyday life
– They are great as long as they are working
• We give little thought to the processes and programs
running behind the scenes to keep them functioning
effectively.
• Such programs (i.e. operating systems, utility programs,
and device drivers) are the system software you learn
about here.
System Software
• Works with end-user application
software, and computer hardware
– Handles the technical details
– Includes
• Operating systems
• Utilities
• Device drivers
• Language translators
Operating Systems
A collection of programs that handle technical tasks
• Functions
– Manages hardware resources (CPU, RAM, I/O,…)
– Providing user interface
• User interface (can be like the old command-line UNIX/MS DOS)
• Graphical user interface (GUI like MS Windows, Linux, Mac OS)
– Runs applications
• Multitasking (multiple programs running at the same time)
• Foreground and background applications
Features of an Operating System
• Features
– Booting (starting or re-starting the computer)
• Features in common with application software (with GUI)
– Icons
– Pointer
– Windows
– Menus
– Tabs
– Dialog boxes
– Help
– Gesture Control
• Files and Folders
– Files share data and programs
– Folders store related files
Categories of Operating Systems
• Three basic categories
1. Stand-alone operating systems
• Also called desktop operating system
2. Embedded operating systems – RTOS (real-time operating
systems)
• Smartphones
• Smartwatches (SAMSUNG smartwatch, Apple Watch)
• Video game systems (Sony Playstation, MS Xbox)
3. Network/Server operating systems (linked computers)
• OS stored on network server which coordinates all communication
between the other computers
• Linux, BSD, Windows Server
Mobile Operating Systems
• Mobile OS
– Embedded operating system
• Less complicated and more
specialized for wireless
– Some of the best known
• Android (Google)
• iOS (Apple)
• HarmonyOS (Huawei)
• Windows Phone (MS)
Desktop Operating Systems
• Popular Desktop Operating
– Windows – most widely used
– Mac OS – powerful and easy to use
– Linux – freely available (web download)
Linux
• Linux – A variant of UNIX (old)
– A powerful alternative to Windows
– Open-source and free
– Google Chrome OS based on Linux
• Focuses on Internet connectivity and cloud computing
• Speed is determined by the speed of the Internet
Utilities
• Specialized programs to make computing easier
• Most essential utilities
– Troubleshooting or diagnostic programs
• Recognizes and correct problems
– Antivirus programs
• Guard your computer against viruses
– Backup programs
• Copies of files to restore if necessary
– File compression programs
• Reduces the size of files for more efficient storage
Windows Utilities
Windows Operating Systems includes utilities such as:
– File History
• Can create a backup for your hard drive
– Disk Cleanup
• Identifies and eliminates non-essential files
– Disk Defragmenter
• Rearranges files and unused disk space to optimize performance
