Tshepang Ledwaba

UNIT 1 – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BASICS –

SOFTWARE
At the end of this section, you should be able to:

 Define software
 Differentiate between system software and application software
 List some types of application software
 Define copyright
 Explain different types of copyright
 Define licensing

Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................................2

What is an operating system?...........................................................................................................2

Functions of the operating system.................................................................................................3

Popular operating systems............................................................................................................3

What is an application?.....................................................................................................................5

Functions of a software application..............................................................................................5

Common applications....................................................................................................................6

What is a GUI (Graphic User Interface)?..........................................................................................8

Virtualisation......................................................................................................................................9

Types of software distribution.........................................................................................................10

Shareware...................................................................................................................................10

Freeware......................................................................................................................................10

Open source software..................................................................................................................10

EULA (End User License Agreement).........................................................................................10

Legal issues....................................................................................................................................11

Copyright.....................................................................................................................................11

Data-protection legislation...........................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Software is all data, programs and information processed by the computer.
Software can be sold as installations packaged on optical discs, though increasingly software is
downloaded from the Internet and activated by a purchased license key.

System software is run directly on the hardware and includes the operating system, device
drivers and maintenance utilities. Application software provides task-specific functionality beyond
the operation of the computer itself.

What is an operating system?

Operating systems are very large and complex pieces of software composed of millions of lines of
programming code. An operating system has the essential job of managing the way in which the
CPU accesses the instructions in different programs, when multiple programs are running at the
same time.

An operating system provides an environment in which other software programs can run and also
provide functionality for users to interact with the computer. Examples of operating systems
include Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Operating System

Application
Hardware

Applications

How software is structured

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Functions of the operating system

Think of the functions of an operating system as services that are provided for the user and for the
computer itself.

System services include:

1. CPU scheduling and management- decide what programs have access to the CPU, in
what order and for how long.
2. Memory management.
3. Error-handling.
4. Control over the input and output devices.

User services include:

a. Access to the underlying computer hardware

b. An interface to access stored data
c. Allows users to run applications
d. Security services- file permissions management.

Popular operating systems

Table 1 – operating systems

Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows operating systems are

currently the most commonly used operating
systems on desktop personal computer
systems. Windows operating systems offer a
command line environment for situations in
which the Graphic User Interface (GUI) is
inappropriate or undesirable.

UNIX UNIX is a powerful and flexible operating

system, which is often used on servers and in
multi-user/programming environments. With
UNIX, the user can access the underlying
system resources through a command line
shell. There are GUIs available for UNIX
systems, but many UNIX users enjoy the
power and flexibility of the UNIX command line
tools.

Linux Linux is another operating system that is

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closely related to UNIX. Linux comes in many

different versions and, in most cases, it
supports a GUI of some kind. Arguably, there
are not as many desktop software
applications available for UNIX or Linux
systems as there are for Windows.

Apple Mac OS and Mac OS X The Mac OS line of operating systems is

designed for Apple’s Macintosh computers.
Apple Macintosh computers (often called
Macs) are personal computers of which the
architecture differs from that of most other
PCs. Apple provides its own user-friendly,
GUI-driven operating system – the Mac O – for
its own line of computers.

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What is an application?
An application is software designed to perform specific tasks or a set of related tasks. There are,
for example, applications that are designed to manage or interpret data (spreadsheets and
databases), while other applications are designed to compose music (such as Fruit Loops), or
help users to create and modify text documents or drawings (such as word processing and
Photoshop programs).

Functions of a software application

Software applications require extensive user interactions to accomplish the goals for which the
given application has been designed.

User

Application Application Application

OPERATING SYSTEM

System Resources

RAM Input/Output File System

Application software in relation to system software

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Common applications
As there is such a variety of tasks that people want to perform on their computers, there are
varieties of applications available to accommodate them. The following table lists some of the
most common types of applications.

Table 2 – Types of application software

Word Processors A word processor provides a user with options for creating,
editing and formatting text-based documents. Widely used
word processing applications are Microsoft Word and Corel
WordPerfect.

Spreadsheet Spreadsheet applications are numerically oriented software

Applications programs that help users store, organise, analyse, track and
report data. Some well-known spreadsheet programs are
Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, and Corel Quattro.

CAD applications CAD stands for computer-aided design. CAD applications are
frequently used in engineering, architectural, construction and
surveying/mapping settings. AutoCAD is an example of a
CAD application that is frequently used in industry.

Photo/image editing Photo editing software allows users to modify, enhance, edit
applications and combine digital images. Popular digital image/photo
editing applications include Adobe Photoshop and Corel Paint
Shop Pro.

Software development Software development applications provide environments

applications (IDEs) that help programmers organise, create, compile and test
programming code. (IDE stands for integrated development
environment). Some well-known IDEs are Microsoft Visual
Studio and the open source program, Eclipse.

Database applications Database applications or DBMS (database management

(DBMS) systems) are used to store, organise and retrieve fields and
records of data. Some common database applications in use
today are Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL
and Microsoft Access.

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Web browsers Web browsers are applications that provide users with access
to the World Wide Web. The most commonly used web
browsers are Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Opera and
Mozilla Firefox.

Other applications There are many other software application types in use
today, including but not limited to: Video editing applications
Security applications (firewalls and anti-virus programs)
Computer animation programs Peer-to-peer (also known as
P2P) file-sharing programs Optical disc-authoring (burning)
programs Audio/music recording and editing software

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What is a GUI (Graphic User Interface)?

A GUI (pronounced gooey) is part of the application or operating system software that provides
the user with a visual representation of the system in order to access to the software’s functions.

A GUI uses graphical symbols that correspond with system components and functions, to allow
users to interact with the same system components and functions.

Table 3 - Common GUI components

Icon An icon is a symbol in the form of a small graphical

image that corresponds to a device, a folder, a file, a
program or some other component of the computer
system.

Menu A menu is a panel of options that appears when a

user clicks on a given menu heading or symbol.
Menus are often used as a means of providing
access to the functions and commands in a software
application.

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Button A button is a small graphical item that gives the

visual effect of being pressed when the user clicks on
it (using a mouse or another pointing device).

Pointer A pointer is a small graphic (often in the shape of an

arrow head) that is used in GUIs to show the current
location where mouse commands (clicks or dragging)
will be implemented.

Cursor A cursor is usually a simple vertical line or

underscore – which sometimes flashes - to indicate
the location on the screen where any typed data will
be entered.

Window A window is a square or rectangular bounded area

that encloses GUI components, data, and/or the
working area associated with a given application or
system component. Typically, windows can be
minimised, restored, and resized to accommodate
the user’s preferences for how the items on the
display screen should be arranged.

Virtualisation
Virtualisation is the simulation of software and/or hardware that provides the ability to run multiple
operating systems on a single physical computer at the same time. Each “virtualised” operating

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system, called a guest operating system, can be installed and operated in a separate window
environment called a virtual machine (VM).

The application that used to manage virtual machines and their virtual hardware -such as the
processor, memory, hard drive and network adapter - is called the hypervisor or the virtual
machine monitor (VMM).

Another virtualisation term worth mentioning is the host operating system, which refers to the main
operating system on the actual computer on which the virtualisation software is installed.

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Types of software distribution

There are several different software programs available to PC
users, which can be downloaded from the Internet, purchased in stores, or accessed off a USB
flash drive. Some software, like an operating system, is often pre-installed on a computer
purchased but it can also be bought separately.

Shareware Open source software

Shareware is software that is available for
Open-source software can be freely used,
users to try for free. These types of software
changed and shared by anyone. It is created
are usually downloaded and installed from
by many people and distributed under
the Internet. After a certain period, users are
licences that comply with the Open-Source
required to pay a fee for the software if they
Definition (OSD), which is a global non-profit
find the application to their liking and would
that supports and promotes the open-source
like to continue using it. Unlike traditional
movement.
commercial software, the copyright and
distribution of shareware is not always EULA (End User License
discouraged.
Agreement)
EULA is a form of user agreement specifying
Freeware the conditions of the software’s use. Most
Freeware is computer software that is freely EULAs are integrated with the installation
available for an unlimited time period and at process. At the beginning of the software
no cost. Community-minded programmers, installation, EULA usually appears in a form
who would like to see their software widely of an electronic document detailing the copy,
distributed among other users, develop distribution and usage rights to which the
freeware. software producers want the users to
Merely because freeware is free does not adhere. The user must agree to the terms to
mean that the user can do whatever he or install that certain software.
she wants with it. This type of software can
still have licence agreements that discourage
unauthorised distribution or modification.
There is typically copyright on freeware so
that the creator of the program remains in
control of its future development.

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Legal issues
Software piracy is a major concern in today’s market. Owing to the way that software is
published, distributed and used, it becomes vulnerable to copying.

Copyright
Copyright is a set of rights that control the way in which a particular creation is used or copied.
Examples of possible copyright infringements include:

 Making unauthorised copies of the software

 Deliberately using an unauthorised copy of a software application
 Distributing unauthorised copies of the software (e.g. sharing with friends or co-workers)
 Purchasing a software application that is licensed for a single computer and then using it
on multiple computers

Data-protection legislation
Data-protection legislation refers to government legislation that upholds the rights of citizens to
have data privacy.

1. Some of the private information stored on computers may include:

a) Personal information, like names and addresses
b) Credit reports
c) Phone numbers
d) Credit card numbers
e) CVs
f) Health records
g) Various financial/banking data
h) Criminal records
i) Tax information
2. This legislation helps to enforce that:
a) Organisations give people notice when they collect data.
b) The collected data is only used for the purposes stated.
c) The data is disclosed with the given person’s consent.
d) People have the option of seeing the data an organisation keeps on them.

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