Nature & Types of Software

 

There are two types of software:

-Systems software: the operating system.

-Applications software: the programs we use.

*Systems software is the control software that operates the hardware and allows the applications to run.

 

Operating Systems

-Operating Systems run in the background without the users being aware of it.

-It controls the inputs, outputs, interrupts, and storage of files as requested by the applications software.

 

Functions of the operating sytem:

-Managing memory, i.e. allocating memoryto more than one program running simultaneously. Some files may get moved to the hard drive temporarily. The place on the hard drive is stored in a directory for fast access when needed again.

-Interrupts, for Enter, Printer out of paper, or a hardware or software malfunction.

-Diagnostic checks on the system on Boot up, sending error messages where necessary.

-Selecting and controlling peripheral devices through small Driver programs.  

 

Utility Programs

-Systems software include other utility programs. 

-Virus checking and cleaning.

-Security using identification and passwords.

-File and hard disk management for efficiency and storage.

-Customising the computer to the users requirements, i.e. short cut menus from mouse click.

-Setting peripheral devices to the users requirements, i.e. setting the monitor resolution.  

Popular Operating Systems

Windows XP – home and business

Windows 2000 – business network use

Mac Operating System – GUI, graphics

OS/2 Warp – commercial work

UNIX – general purpose, mainframe

Linux – alternative to Windows

Dos – command driven 

Types of Operating Systems

Command driven: DOS.

       - the user has to type in the command

  -it has to be in the correct syntax, errors were common

  -more adaptable than Windows when used by an experienced user.

Windows, Icons, Mouse and Pull down menus.

  -originally developed by Apple for the Macintosh

  -later developed by Microsoft for Windows 3.1.

  -uses a mouse to click onto an icon to navigate to programs and files. 

Applications Software

ÒUsed for a specific purpose or application.

-Word processing;

-Numerical analysis and storage;

-Recording of data;

-Designing and graphics;

-Image processing;

-Presentations;

-Desk top publishing;

-Web design.

 

Three Groups of Application software

ÒGeneric:

-general purpose for business;

  -most common applications are Word Processing, Spreadsheet & Database.

Ò Bespoke:

-tailor made, specifically written for a specific application.

ÒSpecific Task:

-particular tasks for business;

         -most common are payroll, CAD, and stock control. 

 

Generic

ÒMost generic software for business comes in an integrated package such as: Microsoft Office, Lotus Smart-Suite, Coral Draw.

ÒThe cost of the integrated package is much less than the sum of the separate applications.

ÒMicrosoft Office is the most popular package used in business, it contains the applications: Word, Excel, Access, Power-Point, Front-Page. 

Bespoke

ÒSoftware that is specially written for an application.

ÒAn expensive but a perfect solution to a requirement when there is no suitable package available.

ÒOften a one off piece of software written for a large organisation as a perfect match to their needs.

 

   

Computer Hardware - General Overview

Programming  -is about Software…why do we have to learn about Hardware and other stuff?

Computer Systems

Hardware

Software

Hardware=The physical components (electrical circuits) that make up the computer

Software=The computer programs (sequences of instructions) that tell the computer what to do in response to a command or some event.

How do we communicate with computers?

Through the use of binary Language.

Components of a Computer

- Input Devices

- Precessing Devices

- Storage Devices (Primary and Secondary)

- Output Devices.

Computer Processing System:

1. Data is INPUT

2. Data is Processed

3. There is an OUTPUT

IPO - Input, Process, Output.

or commonly known as GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out.

Types of Computer

- Microcomputer

- Minicomputers
- Mainframe Computers 
- Supercomputers

Minicomputers

¡Multi-user systems

¡100’s of workstations or terminals attached to central minicomputer

¡E.g. EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) Systems

Mainframe computers















Large Organisations –banks, building societies, airlines, governments

May have 1000’s of terminals –geographically remote locations
Could occupy a whole site
100’s of disk drives & hardware units 
Location often kept secret! (terrorist attacks)

Supercomputers

Largest Category of computer

Cost MillionsMostly used by scientific and industrial research departments 
NASA –government agenciesWeather Centres
Stock Exchanges
Large Commercial Organisations

The processor
 
 What is the equivalent (in humans) to the processor?

 The Human Brain.

How does the Brain process?

-receives an instruction (stimulus)

-decodes & produces an appropriate instruction

-executes the instruction!

-slap on the cheek –anger/revenge etc logged

-anger decoded –instruction to slap back

-slap back!

(OR TURN THE OTHER CHEEK?)

Processor:

¡Brain of the computer

¡Processes instructions

THREE STEPS

1) Fetches Instructions

2) Decodes Instruction

3) Executes Instruction

What is a Processor?

¡Most computers use integrated chips….or integrated circuits for their processors or main memory

¡A chip is about 1cm square…and can hold MILLIONS of electronic components such as transistors and resistors

¡CPU of a microcomputer is a microprocessor

¡Processor and MAIN MEMORY of a PC are held on a single board called a motherboard.

¡Either chips or integrated circuits

¡Integrated circuits are also found in almost every modern electrical device such as cars, television sets, CD players, cellular phones, etc.

 CHIP

A computer chip is an electronic circuit (consisting mainly of semiconductor devices, as well as passive components) that has been manufactured in the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material.

An electric circuit is made from different electrical components such as transistors, resistors, capacitors and diodes, that are connected to each other in different ways. These components have different behaviors.

The transistor acts like a switch

Resistor –resists electricity –so you can control current

Capacitor –controls electricity

Diode –also allows control of current and flow

Why Integrated Circuits (transistors)?

¡Before –there were VACUUM TUBE

¡They were huge –costly –bulky –easily burned out

¡The first Computer –ENIAC –huge 30 ton monster! *use of 18000 or so vacuum tubes*

¡

MAIN MEMORY

¡The program currently being executed and the data used by the program is held in MAIN MEMORY

¡MM is divided into millions of individually addressable storage units called BYTES

¡One byte can hold one character

¡Or one byte can hold a code representing something –i.e a part of a picture, or a sound, or a program instruction.

¡The total number of bytes in MM = The computers MEMORY SIZE.

Computer Memory Sizes

¡1 KB (KB)    =1024 Bytes

¡1 MB           =1024KB

¡1 GB  =1024MB

¡1Tb  =1024GB (about 1 trillion bytes)

 
 Main Memory

¡Processing power and Main Memory in a computer has increased exponentially in the past year! It has grown at a rate that no one could have predicted.

¡1980 –Microcomputers with 32K of memory were bought for thousands of homes and schools!

RAM and ROM

¡There are two kinds of Memory

¡RAM –Random Access Memory (MM)

(this is used for storing programs that are currently running and data that is being processed)

¡ROM –Read Only Memory

(its contents are PERMANENTLY etched into the memory chip at the manufacturing stage. It is used –for example –to load the bootstrap loader (the program that loads as soon as you start the machine)

RAM

¡Random Access memory

¡Main Memory

¡Stores info about applications that are open and data

¡VOLATILE –

¡When you switch off the machine, it disappears!!!

ROM

¡Read only memory

¡Non-Volatile (does not change)

¡Programs that are necessary for the computer to run

¡Boot up program

¡etc

 Cache Memory

¡This is a very FAST type of memory that is used to improve the spped of a computer, DOUBLING it ….in some cases.

¡Acts as an intermediate store between CPU and MM

¡It works by storing most frequently or recently used instructions so that it is fast to retrive them again.

¡Cache is usually between 1KB and 512KB

Disk Storage

¡Auxiliary storage is also called

¡SECONDARY MEMORY

¡BACKING STORE

¡EXTERNAL MEMORY

¡

¡The most common secondary memory (auxiliary storage) is DISK!

 

Hard disk  & Floppy Disk

All standalone PC’s come equipped with an in-built hard disk –the capacity of which is also measured in BYTES.

A typical hard disk nowadays is several gigabytes - - is used for storing software including the OPERATING SYSTEM..and other systems software.

Other types of Storage

¡Flash Memory Cards

¡Sticks

¡Floppy discs

¡Disks

  

INPUT AND OUTPUT devices

¡Input devices are the means whereby computers can accept data or instructions

¡

¡Keyboards, magnetic strip cards, smart cards, magnetic ink character recognition devices,

¡

¡Output –printer, VDU monitors, speakers, etc