information processing week 7: lecture software. objectives for week 7 after studying this week’s...
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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 [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 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