Transcript What is Computer Software?

What is Computer Software?
Hardware vs Software
Got to have both to get the job done!
How does Software Work?
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Computer Algorithms
 Step by step
directions telling
computer what to do
Software development
First programmer –
Grace Hopper – created
FLOW MATIC (later
known as – COBOL)
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Programming language
that was close to English
Applications Software
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Programs designed
to make users more
productive
Assist with personal
tasks to make you
more productive
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Variety of uses:
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Business
Graphics and
Multimedia
Home/Personal/
Educational
Communications
Systems Software
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Interface between the user, the
application software, and the computer’s
hardware
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Examples:
Operating Systems
 Utilities (diagnostics, servers)
 Language Translators
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Operating Systems
Helps user communicate with computer
 Uses a desktop to provide on-screen
work area (graphical user interface)
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Windows
 Linux
 Mac-OS
 DOS
 Networking Operating System
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Two or more computers to be connected
Graphical User interfaces
Came about with menus
 Graphical user interface (GUI)
 Apple’s development of Macintosh
Finder
 Pictures (icons) represent software
 Colorful
 Reason for explosion of computer use
(after DOS scared people)
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Operating System
(Windows, Vista, Windows 7)
Example of a Graphical User Interface
Utility Software
Helps perform housekeeping chores
 Tasks include:
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Antivirus programs
 Copy file from hard drive to another location
 Convert graphics file to be used in another
program
 Backup copy of hard drive (image, ghost)
 CD/DVD Burning
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Language Translators
Convert English code, to computer
instructions
 Helps computer process data
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I don’t
understand! I
need a
translator.
User Interfaces
What you see, touch, click
 Part we interact with when using the
computer
 “User friendly”
 Command-line interface such as DOS
(not used frequently)
 Graphical interfaces such as Windows
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Command Line (DOS)
Early computers used only this
 Have to memorize codes
 Not very user friendly
 Not colorful – usually written in black and
white
 No pictures
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DOS
Command
line
operating
system
 Memorize
commands
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Assignment
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Computer Specs That Matter