Computer Software and Hardware
- Client software that reads and
What is a Computer?
- One that computes a
Programmable electronic device that can
store, retrieve and process data.
What is a System?
- A regularly interacting or
Interdependent group of items forming a
unified whole.
Two Components:
1. Hardware
2. Software
Computer Software
- A set of programs, procedures,
Algorithms and its documentation
concerned with the operation of a data
processing system.
Types of Software:
A. Application Software
a. General Purpose Application
Program
- Software that perform common
information processing jobs for the
user such as: word-processing,
presentation management, web-
browsing etc.
b. Application-Specific Programs
- Software designed to accomplish a
specific purpose. These kinds of
software tend to be inflexible in
purpose. E.g. ERP, CRM, SCM
Software Suites
- A collection functionally related
software, often sharing similar GUI,
bundled together.
Productivity Suites
- Collections of productivity programs
to be used by knowledge workers.
Examples:
1. Word Processors
2. Electronic Spreadsheets
3. Presentation Software
Web Browser
renders web pages.
- Primary vessels for carrying out e-
mail, instant messaging, social
networking
Software Acquisition Options
Organization have a choice for their
software needs:
1. Purchase COTS Commercial
Off-The-Shelf) software that are
ready-made software produced
for commercial use.
2. Custom-built software are built-
on demand either by the
organization own IT dept. or
third-party software development
3. Subscribe to ASPs (Application
Service Providers) are business
firms that other software services
through the internet.
B. System Software
a. System Management Programs
- Software that run, manage, and/or
support computer hardware,
networking, application software
execution and data resources.
Examples:
- Operating Systems
- Network Management Programs
- System Utilities
Operating System
- Collection of software that
manages computer hardware
resources for computer
programs.
- Vital component of the system
software
Device Drivers
- Computer Program that operates
or controls a particular type of
device that is attached to a
computer
- Driver typically communicates
with the device through the
computer bus

b. System Development programs
- Software that are used in creating,
or facilitating the creation of new
computer software.
Integrated Development Environment
- Programs bundled together for the
development of a new software
Programming Languages
- Artificial language designed to
communicate to a machine
- Used to create programs that control
the behavior of a machine
Levels of Programming Languages
1GL – Machine Language
- Lowest level of programming
language
- Easiest to understand by hardware,
hardest to code by humans
- Uses binary and opcodes
2GL – Assembly Language
- Still a low level language but easier
than machine language.
- Uses symbolic coded instructions
3GL – High – Level Languages
- Much easier for humans
- Uses statements
- Need to be compiled or interpreted
4GL – Natural Languages
- Even more closer to human
language than 3GLs
- Uses structured language approach
and sometimes graphical symbols
Other Languages
Web Languages
- Web application development
language and frameworks also exist.
Markup languages such as HTML, XML
help make up web applications
Scripting Languages such as PHP, AJAX,
and JavaScript give interactivity to static
HTML pages.
Frameworks such as .NET, WordPress,
Apache struts make development much
easier and organized.
Computer Hardware
Types of Computer Systems
1. Microcomputer Systems
- Everything from a smart-phone to
PC that includes tablets, netbooks,
desktop PCs
Personal Computers
- Common example for
microcomputers.
- Used for personal, professional and
business use
Network Servers
- Are used to serve small LANs,
Internet Apps, and intranet websites
Mobile Devices
- Are hand-held microcomputers also
exist in a form of tablet PCs, PDAs
and smartphones
2. Midrange Systems (Minicomputers)
- Anything larger than microcomputers
but smaller than a mainframe.
- Are usually front-end servers used to
help mainframe computers
- Usually physically the size of
cabinets or refrigerators
3. Mainframe Systems
- The largest and the most powerful of
computer types.
- Able to do hundreds of thousands of
MIPS
- Used for super-servers, scientific-
research, by the military, for solving
mathematical equations
 Computer Hardware
- Collection of physical elements that
comprise a computer system.
- Refers to physical parts or
components of a computer
Basic Data Flow between Hardware Devices
Input Process Output
Storage
Computer System Devices
Input
Pointing Devices
- Most common input devices, only
being out staged by the keyboard
- Includes trackball, track point, touch
screens
Speech Recognition Devices
- Speech/voice recognition system
make multi-tasking easier for
business people.
- Great value to people with
disabilities
Optical Scanner
- Mainly used to operations people
- Great for scanning documents and
instantly converting them into digital
format
Barcode Scanners
- Invaluable to POS transactions, and
can also be used for warehousing
Outputs
Video Outputs
- Primary output devices on most, if
not all, workstations
- Give better quality images , less
strain in the eyes
Printouts
- Are invaluable tools to any business
or organization.
Inkjets – fast, quiet, high-quality and
low cost
Laserjets – fast, quiet, smuge-proof
Dot-matrix – old, slow, low quality
Sound Output
Storage
R.A.M – serves as computers “main
memory”. Comes in different sizes and
speeds
Hard Disk Drives – secondary storage
device for storing long term memory
Solid State Drive – successor of
HDDs. Pure electronic much faster and
durable than HDDs
Process
Microprocessors – are most
commonly used form of the CPU.
P.I.C.s – programmable integrated
circuits embedded systems, robotics
and other electronic.
- Serve as smaller, simpler
microprocessors
Other Embedded Chips – processors
can also be found in other parts of a
PC, such as sound cards, video cards
and network interface cards.