1
Introduction to Information Systems
Essentials for the Internetworked E-Business Enterprise
Chapter
4
Computer
Software
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 2
Chapter Objectives
• Describe several important trends occurring in
computer software.
• Give examples of several major types of
application and system software.
• Explain the purpose of several popular
software packages for end user productivity
and collaborative computing.
• Outline the functions of an operating system.
• Describe the main uses of high-level, fourth-
generation, object-oriented, and Web-oriented
programming languages and tools.
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 3
Categories of Computer Software
Computer
Software
Application System
Software Software
General- Application- System System
Purpose Specific Management Development
Programs Programs Programs Programs
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 4
Database Management Development
Software Tools
Databases
Hardware
Operating System
Graphics User Interface
Special Applications Games
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 5
Apple :
Leopard
????
Microsoft
Office
Microsoft:
Vista
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 6
•
Apple : Goes to
Intel Chip
Leopard
Yes
Microsoft
Office
Microsoft:
Vista
Operating systems are
processor specific
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 7
Functions of an Operating System
User
Interface
Utilities
Resource Task File
and Other
Management Management Management
Functions
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 8
Trends in Computer Software
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Generation Generation Generation Generation Generation
Trend: Toward Easy-to-Use Multipurpose Network-Enabled Application
Packages for Productivity and Collaboration
Natural &
Object-Oriented
DBMS Languages
User-Written Packaged Operating
Fourth-Generation Multipurpose
Programs Programs Systems
Languages Graphic- Interface
Machine Symbolic High-Level
Microcomputer Network-Enabled
Languages Languages Languages
Packages Expert-Assisted
Packages
Trend: Toward Visual or Conversational Programming Languages and
Tools
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 9
Categories of Programming Languages
Machine Languages High Level Languages Markup Languages
Use binary coded Use brief statements Use embedded
instructions control codes
1001 1001 Compute X = Y + Z <H1>First heading</H>
1100 1101 <!ELEMENT Product
(#Item | manuf)>
Assembler Languages Fourth Generation Object-Oriented
Use symbolic coded Languages Languages
instructions Use natural statements Define objects that
contain data and actions
LOD Y SUM THE FOLLOWING
NUMBERS Document.write
ADD Z (“Hi There”)
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 10
• 10 PRINT “HELLO”
• 20 END
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 11
• 10 PRINT “HELLO”
• 20 GOTO 10
• 30 END
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 12
Programming Language Translation
• Compiler
• Interpreter
• Assembler
IF A := B
THEN Language 1001101
Translator 1110101
Program 0010110
Source
Program
Written in
BASIC,
COBOL, Language
etc. Translation Machine
Process Language
Object
Program
Why do I want the source code?
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 13
Categories of Programming Languages
Machine Languages High Level Languages Markup Languages
Use binary coded Use brief statements Use embedded
instructions control codes
1001 1001 Compute X = Y + Z <H1>First heading</H>
1100 1101 <!ELEMENT Product
(#Item | manuf)>
Assembler Languages Fourth Generation Object-Oriented
Use symbolic coded Languages Languages
instructions Use natural statements Define objects that
contain data and actions
LOD Y SUM THE FOLLOWING
NUMBERS Document.write
ADD Z (“Hi There”)
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 14
• Application software types
– Custom development – programming
• Expensive –
• Consultant dependent
• Hard to get out of
– Within application development
• Written within an existing software environment
• Examples: Spreadsheets, Database applications
– Turn key systems
• Little customization – dependent on the vendor
• “Turn it on and run it”
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 15
Database Management Development
Software Tools
Databases
Hardware
Operating System
Graphics User Interface
Special Applications Games?
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 16
Categories of software: Layering
• The hardware is the center
• The system software – operating system
– Controls the hardware and supports the application
– Supports GUI (graphics user interfaces)
– Controls communications
• Development software – tools for creating applications
– Programming languages
– Database management software
• Applications software – The big area
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 17
Common General- Purpose Applications
• A move toward generic applications that can
be adapted … spreadsheet software and
database software.
• Electronic Mail
• Word Processing
• Presentation Graphics
• Multimedia
• Personal Information Manager
• Groupware
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 18
Web Browsers
Launch
Discussion Surf the Net
Information
Groups Searches
Typical uses of a Web
Browser in Internet,
Intranet, and Extranet
Environments
Multimedia
File E-Mail
Transfer
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 19
Database Management Packages
Database Database
Development Interrogation
Primary Tasks of
Database Management
Packages
Database Application
Maintenance Development
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 20
Multimedia Technologies
Video Capture Authoring
Card Language
Compact Disk
Storyboard
Interactive
Key
Sound Board Technologies Compressed
Audio
of
Multimedia
Computer
MIDI
Edit System
Interactive
Digital Audio
Video Digital Video
Interactive
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 21
Business Enterprise Application Software
Accounting and
Financial
Management
Customer Supply
Relationship Business Chain
Management Decision Management
Support
Human Enterprise
Resource Resource
Management Planning
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 22
Summary
• Software is more capable
• Software is more graphic oriented - GUI
• Software takes more computer resources
– Disk storage and RAM
• Databases are more and more dominant
• Fewer standard computer languages
• Software is more object oriented
• Web based applications are increasing
• Database systems
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 23
Chapter Summary
• Computer software consists of two major types
of programs: application software that directs
the performance of a particular end user task,
and system software that controls and
supports the operations of a computer system.
• Application software includes a variety of
programs that can be segregated into general-
purpose and application-specific categories.
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 24
Chapter Summary (cont)
• System software can be subdivided into
system management programs and system
development programs. The former is used to
manage hardware, software, networks, and
data resources. The latter is used by IS
specialists to develop computer programs.
• An operating system is an integrated system of
programs that supervises the operations of the
CPU.
James A. O’Brien Introduction to Information Systems 25
Chapter Summary (cont)
• There are 5 major levels of programming
languages. Language translator programs
convert programming language instructions
into machine language instructions.
