Transcript Information Processing

Information Processing
Week 7: Lecture
Software
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 MSDOS 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 hardwired 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
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Use a web-browser search the internet.
Send an EMail to the tutor.
Write a document in Word
Create a small presentation in PowerPoint
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 webbrowser and and Email
• Use the URL
http://hopelive:51080/ibite/imc/tony
fleet/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 [email protected]
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
• Utilities
functioning and
performance of the
system
• Program development
• To provide assistance
with program
tools
development and make it
easier to run programs
• To simplify the use of
• Operating Systems
the computer for those
with no technical
experience
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