Information Processing

Week 7: LectureSoftware

Objectives for Week 7

After studying this week’s work, you should:• Have an overall knowledge of the different classes

and types of software and some of their functions and applications

• Obtain a working knowledge of Windows and MS-DOS operating systems

In addition, by this point in the programme you should:• Have a working knowledge of all three major

applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint• Be able, independently to use EMail and at least one

web browser to locate web-sites and to search for information

Software

• The term “software” means the computer’s programming instructions, whether they are on a disk, in RAM, ROM or hard-wired into the circuitry, as opposed to the actual wires, boards and transistors which are “hardware”.

• A good analogy is with books. The paper and binding are the hardware, the written text and its meaning is the software.

Software Classes

There are two main classes of software:

Applications Software– this does a specific task

not related to computer control.

Systems Software– this does general tasks

related to the control or maintenance of the computer

Applications Software

• Applications software performs tasks that allows the user to process information in some way to produce a desired result.

• There are two categories:– Special Purpose– General Purpose

Special Purpose Software

This type of software will have been designed to perform a particular function for a company or organisation, and specially written to do that task.

Examples:• Payroll Packages• Stock Handling Packages• Teaching Packages

Special Purpose Software

This may either be:Bespoke• meaning that it has been

written especially for the company or organisation

Off the Shelf• meaning that there is a

generally available package which may be used straight away or tailored to the company’s needs.

Advantages of...

• Bespoke software– written to match

needs– written to run on

specific hardware– integrates with

existing software– may not be an

equivalent on the market

• Off the shelf software– less expensive– find out before

you buy– immediate– trialled and tested– well documented– training available

General Purpose Software

• Word processors• Desk-Top Publishing• Spreadsheets• Databases• Presentation

Graphics• Databases• E-Mail

Expectations

• What follows is a list of expectations of you by the end of this semester in terms of the Use of Software.

• You may find that you can already do many of these. If not, you should find out how, by following up this week’s links to the Self-Study Packages.

Using Applications

1. Use a web-browser search the internet.2. Send an EMail to the tutor.3. Write a document in Word4. Create a small presentation in PowerPoint5. Create a simple document in Excel

Example Word Task

Create a page of course notes that has:

• A Title• Formatting• Use of Clip Art• No errors!

Example Excel Task

Create a spreadsheet to keep personal accounts or a record of costs with

• clear data laid out in rows and columns, and labelled

• column sums and other statistics

• graphs of results linked to the data

Example PowerPoint Task

Create a PowerPoint presentation with at least two slides on any course element, with

• Different layouts• Good choice of

background• Clip Art• No errors

Example Internet Task

Log onto the internet and use a web- browser and and Email

• Use the URL http://hopelive:51080/ibite/imc/tonyfleet/infpro.htm

• to find the resources to do the previous tasks.

• Use the search facility to find a useful internet reference to some aspect of the course so far

• Send me the references and any completed documents as attachments in an Email to fleeta@hope.ac.uk

System Software

• This term is used to describe the collection of programs which control, manage and maintain the computer environment

• Developers of this type of software need to have technical understanding of the computer hardware and of programming at the CPU level

Functions of System Software

• To improve the functioning and performance of the system

• To provide assistance with program development and make it easier to run programs

• To simplify the use of the computer for those with no technical experience

• Utilities

• Program development tools

• Operating Systems

Utilities

These are concerned with routine tasks such as :– disk formatting,– virus detection &

recovery,– file backup– File maintenance,

copying and sorting etc.

Program Development Tools

• These are programming languages which enable the developer to write programs

• Compilers/assemblers translate high level languages such as Visual Basic and C++ into machine code

Operating Systems 1

• The operating system manages and orchestrates all the different functions of the computer– The CPU, memory,

peripherals, storage• The part of the OS

that does this, is called the Kernel (Supervisor or Control Program)

Operating Systems 2

• Operating Systems have developed as the speed of the CPU has increased.

• Operating Systems can be:– Single user - single task– Single user - multitask– Multi-user - Multitask– Distributed Systems -

embedded control– Network Servers - Real

time

Examples of Operating Systems

• MS DOS– command driven, uses

text to communicate• Windows

– Graphical interface which simulates a desktop environment

• Unix– Uses both a command

line and graphical user interface

Windows

The screen on the right shows an example of a WIMP environment

There are

•Windows

•Icons

•Menus and

•Pointers

MS-DOS

• MS-DOS is Microsoft Disk Operating System which uses a Command Line Interface (CLI)

• A Command Line Interface allow the user more flexibility than a WIMP environment, but requires greater technical knowledge

Microsoft(R) Windows 98

(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1999.

C:\WINDOWS> cd ..

C:\> DIR /w

Windows Task

• Ensure that you can work fully within the Windows system. If you are not familiar with the environment, use the Help Tutorial “Discover Windows” (see next slide)

• In particular, you should be able to do the following:– Format a disk– Create and manage directories, folders and files– Rename and reorganise Files– Copy files from one location to another– Switch to DOS

Windows – Tutorial Help

A tutorial is available , if you click on:

•Start

•Programs

•Accessories

•System Tools

•Welcome to Windows

Then select:

“Discover Windows”

Windows – getting Help

• If you get stuck or want to know how to do something in the Windows Environment, follow this rule:– Minimise all windows– Click on My Computer– Click on Help– Click on Help Topics– Click the Search Tab– Type in the thing you wish to search for

• For example: how would you format a disk?

DOS Task

• You should obtain an overview of the way that MS DOS works, and be able to do the following:– Create a directory structure– Open programs (e.g. word) from DOS– Copy files from one location to another– Navigate directories and sub-directories– Remove and rename directories– Switch to Windows

DOS – Starting and Finishing

• To get into MSDOS from Windows, Click on – Start– Programs– MSDOS prompt

• To return to Windows, at the MSDOS Prompt, type:– A:\ exit

Tasks to Complete

Ensure that you can work with the following• Applications Software

– Word, Excel, PowerPoint – Web-browser & Email

• Systems Software– Windows Activity Sheet [introduction]– MS-DOS Activity Sheet [introduction]

• When you are ready, go on to the main Windows/DOS Practical Activity. This ends with creating a file structure for a music catalogue

Summary

• We have examined the different types of software available, their functions and purposes

• In particular, we have examined– Applications Software

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint• Internet Explorer, E-mail

– Systems Software • Windows, MS-DOS

• By the end of Week 8 you should have obtain a working knowledge of all the above programs