SOFTWARE

• Provides the commands that tell the hardware what task to perform,
what to read and write, how to send the end result (output) to a
monitor or printer.
• Is the programs or data that a computer uses. Is kept on some
hardware device such as a hard disk or floppy disk.
• Consist of both programs and data.
Programs- are list of instructions for the processor.

Data- can be any information that a program needs: character data,

numerical data, image data, audio data, and countless other types.
Fundamental Idea: Both programs and data are saved in computer memory
in the same way. The electronics of computer memory (both main memory
and secondary memory) make no distinction between programs and data.
 Kinds of SOFTWARE
1. Application software
•Are programs that people use to get their work done. It may include
data entry, update query and report programs, productivity software for
spreadsheets, word processing, databases and custom accounting
programs for payroll, billing and inventory.
•It is designed to help people with specific task such as making a
spreadsheet of creating a graphic image.

Examples of Application Software

Word Processor Database Software

Spreadsheet Software Web Browser

Presentation Software PIM (Personal Information Manager)

2. Operating Systems

•Are software which controls the computer and runs applications, it

keep all the hardware and software running together smoothly.
• Communicates information from the application software to a
computer’s program.

Examples of Operating Systems

DOS Mac OS Unix

Windows Linux
3. Programming Languages

•Are used to create all other software whether it is

Operating system or Application software.

Examples of Language Software

Visual Basic Delphi

 PROGRAMMING
• Is a sequence of instructions that tells the hardware of a computer
what operations to perform on data.
• Can be built into the hardware itself, or may exist independently in a
form known as software.

In some specialized computers, the operating instructions are

contained in their circuitry; common examples are the
microcomputers found in calculators, wristwatches, automobile
engines and microwave ovens.
A general purpose computer, on the other hand contains some
built-in programming (in ROM) or instructions, but depends on
external programs to perform useful tasks.

Once a computer has been programmed, it can only do only

as much or as little as the software controlling it, at any given
moment, enables it to do.
Program Languages

• A computer must be given instructions in a “language”

that it understands, that is, a particular pattern of
binary digital information.

• On the earliest computers, programming was a

difficult, laborious task, because vacuum-tube on/off
switches had to be set by hand.

• Teams of programmers often took days to program

simple task such as sorting a list of names. Since that
time, a number of computer languages have been
devised, some with particular kinds of functioning in
mind and others aimed more at the “user friendly”
approach.
 Machine-Language

• First generation languages

• Is a binary based language which is difficult for humans to use.
• The programmer must input every command and all data in binary
form, and a basic operation such as comparing the contents of a
register to the data in a memory chip might look like this: 11001010
00010111 11110101 00101011.
• Is such a tedious, time-consuming task that the time saved in
running the program rarely justifies the days or weeks needed to
write the program.
 Assembly Language
• Second generation languages.

• Is devised to shorten and simplify the process of programming.

• By assigning a short (3 letter) mnemonic code to each machine

language command, assembly language programs could be written an
“debugged” (cleaned of logic and data errors) in a fraction of time.
Each mnemonic command and its symbolic operands equals one
machine instruction.

• An “assembler” program translates the mnemonic “opcodes”

(operation codes) and symbolic operands into binary language and
executes the program.

• Can be used only with one type of CPU chip or microprocessor.

 High-Level
Languages
• Third generation languages

• Often use words that are more like English Language (list, print,
open) as commands that might stand for a sequence of tens or
hundreds of machine language instructions.

• The commands are entered from the keyboard, from a program

memory, or from a storage device, and are translated by a program
that interprets them into machine-language instructions.
FORTRAN (Formula Translation)
•Begun in 1954 and completed in 1957.
•Was the first comprehensive high-level programming language that was
widely used and its development facilitated computer use in scientific
applications.

ALGOL (ALGOrithmic Language)

•Another scientifically oriented language.
•Widely used in Europe during the 1960’s and 70’s.
•It has since been superceded by newer languages.

COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language)

A commercial and business programming language, concentrated

on data organization and file handling and was widely used at one
time in business.
BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code)

•Was developed at Dartmouth College in early 1960’s for use by

nonprofessional computer users.
•Came into almost universal use with the microcomputer explosion in the
1970’s and 80’s.
•Condemned as slow, inefficient and inelegant by its detractors. But is,
neverless, simple to learn and easy to use.
•Because many early microcomputers were sold with BASIC built into the
hardware (in ROM) the language rapidly came into widespread use.

PASCAL
•Named after Blaise Pascal, originally designed as teaching tool.

LOGO
•Was developed to introduce children to computers.
C languages (C and C++)
•Were developed in Bell Labs by scientist Dennis
Ritche in the 1970’s and have become the
standards in developing systems programs, such
as language translators.

LISP and PROLOG (PROgramming for LOGic)

•Have been used in research on artificial intelligence (AI).

ADA
•Was designed for military applications such as the Strategic Defense
Initiative (Star Wars) missile program.
•Since then it has been adopted for such diverse uses of operating dialysis
machines and controlling aircraft, because of its real-time capability.
Java
•Is derived from C++ and was developed in the early 1990’s.
•Is used extensively for Internet and Intranet applications.
•Can be run on almost any kind of computer, providing the
computer is running Java Vitual Machine software.
Fourth and Fifth Generation Languages

• Are closer to natural languages or rely on

graphical development interfaces (GUI)
featuring symbolic icons and drag-and-
drop technique and English-like
statements.

• Delphi and Visual Basic are the most

popular examples of such environments.
Programming in visual environment
creates an impression that it is very easy to
write programs.
Software Category
Open system
•software can be modified for use with any hard ware.
•It is not the exclusive property or design of a particular vendor.
•Example: UNIX is the first operating system that works on
minicomputers, mainframes and PCs. Its inner workings are
available to public and anyone can adapt it or develop
applications to work with it.

Proprietary

•Software products are designed for particular

systems and cannot be used with other hardware.
Its inner workings are protected information.
•Example, Apple computers and software for them
have been proprietary products for many years.
Application Softwares

WORD PROCESSORS

• Are usually the first application that leads people to using a

computer for their work.
• Normally have the following capabilities built into them. Spell
checking, standard layouts for normal documents, the ability to have
some characters appear in bold print, italics, or underlined.
• You can center lines, make text line up on the left side of the paper,
or the right side of the paper.
• You can save the document so it can be used again.
• And you can print the document. Two of the most common
programs are WordPerfect an Microsoft Word.

Examples of Word Processing Software

Lotus WordPro
Microsoft Word XP
Word Perfect
 How “word processing” was
invented
In 1950’s to 1970’s, computers were used mainly to manipulate
lists of numbers, names, and addresses. Those manipulators were
called data-processing (DP), so the typical computing center was
called data-processing center (DP center), run by a team of
programmers and administrators called the data-processing
department (DP department).

Old computers systems were expensive, unreliable, and

complex. They need big staffs to do continuous repairs,
reprogramming, and supervision. They were bureaucratic and
technological nightmares.

Secretaries who wanted to write and edit reports preferred to

use simple typewriters. When easy-to-use word-processing
programs were finally invented for computers, secretaries
were afraid to try them because computers had developed a
scary reputation.
That’s why the term “word-processing” was invented. Wang,
IBM, and other manufacturers said to the secretaries, “ the
machines we want to put on your desk are not those dreadful
computers; they’re just souped-up typewriters. You like
typewriters, right? Then you’ll like these cute little machines
also. We call them word processors”.

The trick worked and secretaries aquired word processors,

especially the Wang Word Processor and the IBM
Displaywriter. Today’s secretaries are unafraid of computers,
understand IBM PC clones, and run word-processing programs
on them.
 The Development of
Word Processing Program
1980’s

Electric Pencil - The first word-processing program for microcomputers.

Wordstar- more powerful than Electric Pencil.

Multimate- first program that made the IBM PC imitate a

Wang word-processor.
Displaywrite- which made the IBM PC imitate an IBM Displaywriter.
PC-Write- shareware you could try for free before sending a donation to
the author.
Xywrite- ran faster than any other word-processor.
1991
WordPerfect 5.1- which ran on the IBM PC.
1992

Windows 3.1- was the first version of Windows that was good enough to
become popular. Companies and consumers began switching from DOS
to Windows and wanted a good Windows word-processing program.
Unfortunately, WordPerfect 5.1 used DOS not Windows. Windows 3.1
included a word-processing program called Write, but was stripped
down.
Ami- a French word for “friend”. The first good word-processing
programs for Windows.

Ami Pro- improved version of Ami. Published by a company called

Samna, which got bought by Lotus, which got bought by IBM. Has
been renamed WordPro.
Microsoft Word- invented by Microsoft and made better than Ami
Pro.
SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE

• Are commonly used for accounting purposes such as tabulating of

complex mathematical equations with a row and column matrix.
• Spreadsheet packages are designed to use number and formulas to
do calculations with ease.

Examples of Spreadsheet Software:

Microsoft Excel XP Lotus 123 Quicken

1979

Viscalc- the first spreadsheet program invented. Designed by Dan Bricklin

and coded by Bob Frankston.
Supercalc- the second spreadsheet program. More superior to Viscalc.
Invented by a company called Sorcim.

1983
1-2-3 –a much better spreadsheet program. Designed by Mitch Kapor and
coded by Jonathan Sachs for the IBM PC. It ran fast and was suppose to
handle three things: spreadsheets, graphs, and word-processing. Mitch an
Jonathan called their company Lotus Development Corporation.

1985
Excel- invented by Microsoft. Runs on both the Mac and the IBM PC. It
is the best spreadsheet program.

Excel XP- newest version of Excel.

DATBASE SOFTWARE

• Is a program that manage large amounts of data organized as

fields, records, and files. Database structure information so you can
search the database by specific or generalized content called a
query.
• Are most popular with business information systems and companies
needing to keep track of detailed information such as school,
hospital, utility firm and etc.
Examples of Database Software

Microsoft Access

Lotus Approach
Database Management System (DBMS) or Information Retrieval System

 A database program is a program that manipulates lists of facts. It

can store information about your friends and enemies, costumers
and suppliers, employees and stockholders, students and teachers.
 It puts all that data about your life and business onto a disk, which
acts as an electronic filing cabinet. Then it lets you retrieve the data
easily. It can generate mailing lists, phone directories, sales reports,
and any other analyses you wish.
 PRESENTATION SOFTWARE

• Is designed to showcase information to an audience.

• it is used extensively in business to display graphics, charts,
diagrams, photos, and text block to highlight information.

Examples of Presentation Software

Lotus Freelance Graphics Microsoft PowerPoint

 WEB BROWSERS

• Is a program that you use you view web pages.

Examples of Web Browsers

Internet Explorer

Netscape Navigator
PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGER
(PIM)
• A software designed to organize names, addresses, and random
notes for easy and efficient retrieval. It is electronic equivalent of a
conventional book-type personal organizer.
• Usually features an automatic dialing telephone list, a
programmable calendar and an automatic reminder scheduler.
• It is ideal for people with hectic schedules who spend a lot of time
working with their computers.

Examples of PIM

Lotus Organizer
 Integrated Software Packages
• Is a single software program that includes multiple applications.
• It generally include a word processing program, an electronic
spreadsheet program, database software, a personal
management program and limited graphics capabilities.
• The application have a common interface they “look alike” and
users cut and paste data from one application to another.
• Are cheaper compared to the combined cost of separate
standalone software.
• It also requires less storage space on the computer hard drive.

Examples of Integrated Software Packages

Microsoft Works

Lotus Works
 APPLICATION SUITES

• Is a bundle of application that were created, packaged and designed

to work together. Like the integrated package, it includes a word
processing program, an electronic spreadsheet program, database
software, a personal management program and graphics
applications.
• It is both powerful and versatile and offer more options for users to
manipulate and organize data.
• However, they require more computer memory than integrated
packages.
Thank You for watching my
presentation.

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