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What is software?. Software is the name given to all the programs that run on computer hardware.There are two main types of software:Operating software (also known as systems software)Applications software. Operating systems. An operating system is a program that controls the hardware.Operating
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1. GCSE ICT LESSON 4
Booklet Section 5
Software
2. What is software? Software is the name given to all the programs that run on computer hardware.
There are two main types of software:
Operating software (also known as systems software)
Applications software
3. Operating systems An operating system is a program that controls the hardware.
Operating systems perform the following tasks:
They assist applications software to communicate with the hardware (e.g. allow a word processed document to be printed)
They manage the system resources (e.g. allocate CPU time to the tasks being undertaken)
4. Operating systems They manage the transfer of data to and from the systems peripheral devices (e.g. keyboard, mouse, scanner, printer)
They manage system security (e.g. allocating restricted rights to users to do certain things)
5. Operating systems Examples of operating systems include:
Windows XP
Windows Millennium Edition
Windows 2000
Windows NT
UNIX
OS/2
6. Operating systems
7. User interfaces The way in which the user of a computer communicates with the machine is called the Human-Computer Interface or User Interface.
This is an important function of an operating system.
8. User interfaces A good human-computer or user interface needs:
To be user friendly
To be attractive to use
To be effective
To be easy to use
9. Some examples of GUIs
10. Some examples of GUIs used with a toolbar
11. Some examples of toolbars
12. Some examples of drop-down menus
13. Some examples of pop-up menus
14. Applications software Applications software is designed to perform specific tasks.
There are three main types of application software:
Applications packages
Tailor-made software
General purpose packages
15. Applications packages Examples of applications packages include:
Word processing software – MS Word, WordPerfect
Spreadsheet software – MS Excel, Lotus 1-2-3
Database software – MS Access