Part 1 Computer software basics

Word list:

to refer to – відноситись

comparison - порівняння

productive use – продуктивне використання

to be related to – відноситися, бути пов’язаним з чимось

a rectangular area – прямокутна форма

an option - варіант

to reside – перебувати, знаходитися

software packages – пакети програм

Read the text and explain the terms “computer software”, “system software” and “application software”.

A computer is directed by a series of instructions called a computer program that tells the computer what to do. Computer programs are commonly referred to as software. Before they can be performed the program instructions must be loaded from disk into the memory of the computer. Many instructions are used to direct a computer to perform a specific task. For example, some instructions allow data to be entered from a keyboard and stored in memory; some instructions compare two values stored in memory and direct the computer to perform alternative operations based on the results of the comparison; and some instructions direct the computer to print a report, display information on the screen, draw a color graph on a screen, or store data on a disk.

Most computer programs are written by people with specialized training. These people, called computer programmers, write the instructions necessary to direct the computer to process data into information using a computer programming language.

Computer software is the key to productive use of computers. With the correct software, a computer can become a valuable tool. Software can be divided into two types — system software and application software.

System software consists of programs that are related to controlling the actual operations of the computer equipment. An important in the system software is a set of programs called the operating system. The instructions in the operating system tell the computer how to perform functions such as load, store, and execute a program and transfer data among the system devices and memory. Many different operating systems are available for computers. An important part of the system software is the user interface.

Before any application software is run, the operating system must be loaded from the hard disk into the memory of the computer and started. The operating system tells the computer how to perform functions suchas processing program functions and transferring data between input and output devices and memory.

All software, including the operating system, is designed to communicate with you in a certain way. The way the software communicates with you is called the user interface. A user interface is the way you tell the software what to do and the way the computer displays information and processing options to you. One of the more common user interfaces is the graphical user interface (GUI). The graphical user interface, or GUI (pronounced gooey), combines text and graphics to make the software easier used. Graphic user interfaces include several common features such as icons, windows, menus, and buttons.

Icons are small pictures that are used to represent processing options such as an application or program, or documents.

A window is a rectangular area of the screen that is used to present information. The term Windows, with a capital W, refers to Microsoft Windows, the most popular operating system and graphical user interface for personal computers.

Application software consists of programs that tell a computer how to produce information. Application software resides permanently in storage, such as on a hard disk. You load a program into a memory when you need to use it. When you think of the different ways that people use computers in their careers or in their personal lives, you are thinking of examples of application software.

Most computer users do not write their own programs. In some corporation, the information systems department develops custom software programs for unique company applications. Programs required for common business and personal applications can be purchased from software vendors orstores that sell computer products. Purchased programs often are referred to as application software packages, or simply software packages. Some of the more widely used personal computer software packages are word processing, electronic spreadsheet, presentation graphics, database, communications, and electronic mail software.

Exercises to the subject: