Computer Software-is a collective term in IT used b.

evolution the source code

used to describe the function or the contribution of the
2. Making the source code of the software freely
sets of commands procedures in computer system
available
Operating System (OS )
3. Providing free access to the programmer’s instructions
An OS is the overall controller of the computer. in a programming language that they are written

SOLARIS redhat, etc. 4. Allow in creating new versions after modification and
redistribution.
Types of Software
5. Must be distributed under a license that guarantees
1. System Software- the basic computer the right to read, redistribute, modify and use the
software that commands the computer hardware
software freely (OSI, 2004)
and computer system to perform specific task (
6. The distribution terms must comply with the 10
2. Programming Software - provides tools to
criteria defined by OSI:
assist a programmer in writing commands or
codes using different programming languages in a) Free distribution
a more convenient way. b) The program should include a source code
c) License must allow modifications and derived
3. Application software - is compiled readily
works.
executable program that can be used in different d) Integrity of the author’s source code
application such as in EHR, Clinical Information
e) No discriminations against persons or groups
System, Health care Information System, f) No discriminations against any fields of endeavor
Hospital information System etc.
g) Distribution of License
h) License must not be specific to a product
i) License must not restrict other software’s
4. Utility Software j) License must be technology-neutral

Utility Software Free Software

1. Security Software - is defined by the FSF in terms of four

freedom for software users to have the
2. Disk management utilities
freedom to use,study,redistribute, and
3. Backup Utilities improve the software in any way they
wish. A program is only free software, in terms
4. Screen Savers of the FSF definition, if users have all of these
freedoms
5. Archival Software

6. Programming environment
Free Software
support programs
It is the matter of the users’ freedom to run, copy,
Common Software Useful to Nurses
distribute, study, change and improve the
In most hospitals, most software system used by software.
nurses are based in Hospital Information System
4 Kinds of freedom with the use of the software:
( HIS)

OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

Any software that satisfies the open  FREEDOM 0 :The freedom to run the program
software initiative (OSI) definition. for any purpose.
 FREEDOM 1: The freedom to study how the
Conditions for OSI certification: program works and adapt it to the users’ needs.
(An access code is a precondition for this)
1. Promoting software reliability and quality through:
 FREEDOM 2: The freedom to redistribute
a. independent peer reviews copies to help others
  FREEDOM 3: The freedom to improve the GNU/Linux (originally called the KERNEL)
program and release improvements to the public
It is the critical center point of an operating
(An access code is a precondition for this)
system that controls the CPU usage, memory
LICENSING management and hardware devices.

⦿ Giving the user the permission in using the It mediates communication between the different
software programs running within the operating system.

⦿ The license may have specific restrictions related Influences the performance and the hardware platforms
to the use, modification or duplication of the that the OSS/FS system can run on.
software (which will depend on the End User
⦿ Web Browser and server
Licensing Agreement-EULA).
Eg. Mozilla , Apache, Chrome
⦿ The person who creates the software owns the
copyright to it and has the right to allow others ⦿ E-mail
to copy it or deny that right.
⦿ Presentation tools
⦿ Software companies hold the intellectual rights/
property created by their employees ⦿ Word processing or Integrated Office Suite

OPEN SOURCE LICENSING Eg. Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org

⦿ These are designed to facilitate the sharing of OSS/FS Healthcare Applications

software and to prevent an individual or
1. GNUMed
organization from controlling ownership of the
software. 2. Open EHR

⦿ Copyright “theft” (copytheft) is being controlled 3. OpenEMR

by stating that the software is copyrighted with
the addition of distribution terms. == LEGAL 4. Open MRS
instrumentation that gives everyone the rights to
use, modify and redistribute the program’s code
or any program derived from it but only if the
distribution terms are unchanged.

Types of OSS/FS License:

2 main licenses:

1. GNU General Public License (GPL)

License is designed to ensure the user freedoms

under the license are protected in perpetuity, with
users being allowed in doing almost anything they
want to a GPL program

2. Berkeley System Distribution (BSD)

Essentially permits users to do anything they wish

with the software, provided that the original licensor
is acknowledged by including the original copyright
notice in the source code files and no attempt is made
to sue or hold the original licensor liable for damages.

OSS/ FS APPLICATIONS NURSES COMMONLY

USED

⦿ Operating System