Chapter 4 Software: Unit 4.1: Types of Software and Interrupts Part 1 Flashcards
What are the 2 types of software?
System software
Application software
What are the general features of system software?
Set of programs to control and manage the operation of computer hardware
Provides a platform on which other software can run
Required to allow hardware and software to run without problems
Provides a human computer interface (HCI)
Controls the allocation and usage of hardware resources
What are the general features of application software?
Used to perform various applications on a computer
Allows a user to perform specific tasks using the computer’s resources
May be a single program or a suite of programs
User can execute the software as and when they require
Name 8 examples of typical application software.
Word processor
Spreadsheet
Database
Control and measuring software
Apps
Photo editing software
Video editing software
Graphics manipulation software
What is word processing software used for?
Manipulate a text document
Text is entered using a keyboard
What does word processing software provide?
Provides tools for copying, deleting and various types of formatting
What are the functions of word processing software?
Creating, editing, saving and manipulating text
Copy and paste functions
Spell checkers and thesaurus
Import photos/images into a structed page format
Translation into a foreign language
What is spreadsheet software used for?
Organise and manipulate numerical data
Numbers are organised on a grid of lettered columns and rows
What are the functions of spreadsheet software?
Use of formulas to carry out calculations
Ability to produce graphs
Ability to do modelling and “what if” calculations
What is database software used for?
Organise, manipulate and analyse data
A typical database is made up of one or more tables. Tables consist of rows and columns, also known as records and fields.
What does database software provide?
Basic structure for the organisation of the data within the database
What are the functions of database software?
Ability to carry out queries on database data and produce a report
Add, delete and modify data in a table
What is control and measuring software used for?
Allowing a computer or microprocessor to interface with sensors so that it is possible to:
Measure physical quantities in the real world
To control applications by comparing sensor data with stored data and sending out signals to alter process parameters
Describe apps.
Short for applications
Normally refer to software that runs on mobile phones or tablets
Usually downloaded from an app store
Range from games to sophisticated software such as phone banking
Examples:
Video and music streaming
GPS
Camera
Describe photo editing software.
Allows a user to manipulate digital photos stored on a computer
Describe video editing software.
Ability to manipulate videos to produce a new video
Enables the addition of titles, colour correction and altering/adding sound to the original video.
Includes:
Rearranging, adding and/or removing sections of video clips and/or audio clips
Applying colour correction, filters and other video enhancements
Creating transitions between clips in the video footage
Describe graphics manipulation software.
Allows bitmap and vector images to be changed.
Name 5 examples of typical system software.
Compilers
Linkers
Device drivers
Operating Systems
Utilities
Describe compilers.
Computer program that translates a program written in a high-level language into machine code so that it can be directly used by a computer to perform a required task.
The machine code can be used again and again to perform the same task without re-compilation.
Describe linkers.
Computer program that takes one or more object file produced by a compiler and combines them into a single program which can be run on a computer.
Simplifies the programming task - program is broken up into
small, more manageable sub-tasks.
Describe device drivers.
Software that enables one or more hardware devices to communicate with the computer’s operating system.
Without drivers, a hardware device would be unable to work with the computer.
All hardware devices connected to a computer have associated drivers.
Describe the operating system.
Software running in the background of a computer system. Manages many of the basic functions.
Without the OS, most computers would be very user-unfriendly and the majority of users would find it almost impossible to work with computers on a day-to-day basis.
Operating systems allow:
- input/output operations
- users to communicate with the computer
- error handling
- loading and running of programs
- managing of security
Describe utilities software.
Software that is designed to carry out specific tasks on a computer.
Programs that help to manage, maintain and control
computer resources, for example:
- anti-virus (virus checkers)
- anti-spyware
- back-up of files
- disk repair and analysis
- file management and compression
- security
- screensavers
- disk defragmenter/ defragmentation software
