Welcome to Computer Operator Notes Parts-01, This is our Computer Operator Notes section Here we will post Randomly Computer Notes for computer operators and others Computer students who are currently study in school and college level.
Table of Contents
Let’s start Computer Operator Notes Parts-01, First Topic
What is Software?
A software or computer software essentially a group of programs together with configuration files and associated documentation which enable the users to perform some particular specific task or actually used to operate their computer.
It essentially directs all of the peripheral devices on the entire computer system, what exactly to do and how exactly to perform a task. Software plays a vital role of a mediator between computer user and computer hardware. If computer software is absence, a computer user essentially can’t perform any task on a computer system.
Types of Software:
Generally there are mainly two types of software, which are System Software and Application Software. Let’s discuss them.
System Software:
System software is a group of computer programs that direct the internal operation of computer system such as I/O device controlling, Managing the storage area etc. System software is used to manage the behavior of the computer hardware in order to office basic functionalities which are needed to the computer users. In another word, we can say that system software is essentially an intermediary or even a interface between computer users and computer hardware.
System software provide environment or platform for other software to easily work in. The main purpose of system software is to make the use of computer more efficient and easier.
Whenever you turn on the computer first, this is system software which gets initialized and loaded in the systems memory. System software essentially runs in the background and it isn’t actually utilized by the end users. Following are the system software types.
Operating System:
An operating system is an integrated set of programs that is used to manage the various resources and overall operation of the computer system. Operating system provides the basis for applications programs and act as intermediary between users of a computes and computer hardware.
It is essentially a collection of software which manage resources as well as offers general services for various other applications which actually run over them. There are different types of operating system such as embedded, real-time, distributed, single-user, multi-users, mobile, internet and many more. Some of the key examples of operating system are as follows; Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Android, Ubuntu, Unix etc.
Translator (Language Processor):
Computer system understand programs written in machine language. Hence the program written in other language must be translated into machine language (machine understandable language) program before executing them.
Translator is system software which converts the program written in other language into an machine language before executing them. Here some of the translating software are: Compiler, Interpreter and Assembler etc.
Notes: Multiple Choice Question on Language Translator Check Here
Firmware:
It is actually permanent software which is embedded in the system’s Read Only Memory (ROM). It is essentially a set of instructions which are permanently stored on hardware device.
It offers vital information regarding how a particular device interacts with different other hardware. Some of the examples of firmware are: Computer Peripherals Embedded System UEFI BIOS.
Device Drivers:
This type of software controls particular hardware which is essentially attached to the system. Different hardware devices which require a driver to connect to a system easily consist of displays, printers, sound cards, hard disks, keyboard, mouse and mice. Some example of drivers are; BIOS Driver, Motherboard Drivers, Display Drivers, ROM Drivers, Printer Drivers, USB Drivers, Sound Card Driver etc.
Utility Software:
Utility programs is also called system support software or service program, which provide useful services to the user of the computer. These are the programs that enhance or extend the operating system’s capabilities or which simply offer new feature not provided by operating system itself.
Utility software are specially used to perform routine task in the computer. These software are designed to assist in analyzing, as well as optimizing, along with configuring and maintaining a given computer system. It provides support to the computer infrastructure.
Software like disk cleanup and management tools, Anti-viruses, defragmenters, compression tools etc. are all utility software. Some of its examples are: Norton Antivirus, McAfee, Antivirus, WinRAR, WinZip etc.
Application Software:
The software that is written by the user to solve a specific suer oriented problem using the computer is known as application software. The application software may be sed for official purpose of the government, engineering design, teaching aid and so on.
They are also popularly known as end-user programs or even productivity programs which assist the suer in completing various tasks like conducting online research, making notes, designing graphics, maintaining accounts, carrying out calculation or even playing computer games. They essentially lie above the system software.
They are actually used by the end-users as well as have specific functionality or tasks which they are designed to perform. These software are often developed through custom software development, based on the requirements of the users.
Customized or Tailored Software:
Customized or Tailored software is the software designed to meet the specific requirements of an organization or individuals. Tailored software is developed on the demand of customer by a software contractor. It serves only one user or organization.
The tailored software made for one organization cannot be in another organization. It is written using a high level programming language such as C, C++, JAVA, VB, Python, .NET etc. For example, software for air traffic controls system, software for billing school fees etc.
Packaged Software:
Packaged software is that software which is generalized set of programs designed and developed for general purpose. These are the software which produced by development organization and sold on the open market to any customer who is able to buy them. It is also callee universal software as ti can be used by users and organization all over the world. Example of this type software includes; word processing package, spreadsheet packaged, database package etc.
Word Processors:
Such applications are meant for documentation. It also assists in storing as well as formatting and even printing of the documents. Kye example of such software are MS Word, WordPerfect, Google Docs. etc.
Database Software:
It is used to create as well as manage a database and also known as Database Management System or in short, DBMS. Such software assists in the data organization. Some of the examples of DBMS are: MS-Access FileMaker dBase, Clipper, MySQL FoxPro etc.
Multimedia Software:
This is software which is able to play, create as well as record images, audio or even video files. This type of software are utilized for animation, video editing, graphics as well as image editing. Due to the high demand for such software, every software product development company has vast avenues in developing them.
Some of the examples of such software are; Adobe Photoshop, VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker etc.
Web Browsers:
These are the software utilized to browser the internet. Web browsers assist the users in locating as well as retrieving data well across the web. Some of the key examples of theme are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, UC Browser, Safari etc.
