This document provides an introduction to how humans communicate with computers through software. It defines two main types of computer software: system software (operating systems) and application software. It provides examples of popular operating systems like Windows and macOS as well as examples of different categories of application software like word processing, spreadsheet, and multimedia software. It also discusses how system platforms differ between desktop/laptop computers which typically require installing application software, versus smartphones where mobile applications run directly on the operating system.
This document provides an introduction to how humans communicate with computers through software. It defines two main types of computer software: system software (operating systems) and application software. It provides examples of popular operating systems like Windows and macOS as well as examples of different categories of application software like word processing, spreadsheet, and multimedia software. It also discusses how system platforms differ between desktop/laptop computers which typically require installing application software, versus smartphones where mobile applications run directly on the operating system.
This document provides an introduction to how humans communicate with computers through software. It defines two main types of computer software: system software (operating systems) and application software. It provides examples of popular operating systems like Windows and macOS as well as examples of different categories of application software like word processing, spreadsheet, and multimedia software. It also discusses how system platforms differ between desktop/laptop computers which typically require installing application software, versus smartphones where mobile applications run directly on the operating system.
This document provides an introduction to how humans communicate with computers through software. It defines two main types of computer software: system software (operating systems) and application software. It provides examples of popular operating systems like Windows and macOS as well as examples of different categories of application software like word processing, spreadsheet, and multimedia software. It also discusses how system platforms differ between desktop/laptop computers which typically require installing application software, versus smartphones where mobile applications run directly on the operating system.
be able to: distinguish between system software and application software
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How Humans Communicate with Computers
People who invented the computer identified two areas in computer systems computer hardware and computer software. Through computer software, humans are able to "communicate" with the computer.
Computer Software The computer software is a combination of instructions, data, and programs that the computer needs in order to do a specific task. Another term used for computer software is computer programs.
Two types of computer software:
Application software People might be more familiar with the application software as most of the day-to- day tasks done in front of a computer involve the use of application programs.
Different types of Application Software
The table below identifies the different types of application programs and their corresponding software that are available in the market. Application Program Type Examples Word Processing Software Microsoft Word, WordPad, and Notepad Database Software Oracle, Microsoft Access Spreadsheet Software Apple Numbers, Microsoft Excel Multimedia Software Real Player, Media Player Presentation Software Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote Customer Relationship Management Enterprise Software Systems Information Worker Software Documentation tools, Resource Management tools Educational Software Dictionaries:Encarta, Britannica
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Mathematics: MATLAB Others: Google Earth Simulation Software Flight and Scientific Simulators
Software for Engineering and Product Integrated Development Environments
Development (IDE)
Application Suites OpenOffice, Microsoft Office
System software also called an operating system (OS) is the most important software running on a computer since it manages the computer's memory and instructions and has the ability to control all the connected hardware and installed software applications. The OS allows a person to interact with the computer—from the hardware components and peripherals to all the installed software applications and files one has stored on the computer. System software examples:
Disk Operating System
By using a command-line operating system (e.g., DOS) in which the computer responds according to the text command that is typed.
Windows
With a graphical user interface (GUI)
operating system such as pictures and buttons through mouse clicks and keyboard entries.
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System Platforms Desktop systems differ from mobile systems in terms of how each platform treats the application software installed in the system. A desktop or a laptop computer usually needs an application program to run a certain application on it, or possibly, multiple ones at the same time. Using a smartphone in accessing the same websites is a different experience. Instead of using a web browser to access all three web sites, mobile applications are used. Mobile applications have the capacity to run directly on top of the operating system without using web browsers.
System Software
Two of the most popular desktop system software or OS nowadays are
Microsoft's Windows and Apple's macOS.
Online Applications Software
Application software consists of programs that are designed to perform specific tasks for users. Specific application software products, called software packages, are available from different vendors. A lot of application software is now being made available for free. Often called shareware, freeware, or public- domain software, this software can be downloaded for free but usually with fewer capabilities compared to the ones sold. Other online productivity tools are also available for organizations, such as data collection and analysis, especially for those in the marketing industry.
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