General Software

Question 1

Give the 5 main types of security utility programs.

Answer 1

Firewall, Antivirus, Spyware protection, Computing (Disk organisation and Disk maintenance)

Question 2

Give the 2 main categories of computer software.

Answer 2

System software (OS, utility programs, drivers), Application software (Everyday programs like MS Office, Chrome etc.)

Question 3

Give the 3 most commonly used OS types for PC, and 2 for phones.

Answer 3

Windows (2000/XP/Vista/7/8), Mac OSX (Mountain Lion), Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, Debian). iOS, Android.

Question 4

What is a UI?

Answer 4

A User Interface allows the user to interact with a system, and provide instructions to control the device.

Question 5

What are the 3 main types of OS?

Answer 5

Single user, multi-tasking and networking

Question 6

Give the 2 types of application software (and examples).

Answer 6

1. Off-the-shelf software (MS Office) 2. Bespoke software (Supermarket till)

Question 7

Give advantages of off-the-shelf software.

Answer 7

• Cheap
• Easy to use
• Easy to obtain
• Thoroughly tested so few bugs
• Lots of help forums available

Question 8

Give the advantages of bespoke software.

Answer 8

• A company will have software/systems perfectly suited to their purpose
• The software will work how they want it to work
• The software will only have the features that the company specifically needs

Question 9

Give the disadvantages of bespoke software.

Answer 9

• It can take a long time to develop; between a few months to years
• It costs a lot to develop
• The company may need to employ a team of people to test and analyse the program/system
• There is unlikely to be internet forums or books to help people using the program