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Introduction to Computer Applications
evolution of processor
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Recommended: Introduction to Computer Applications
Introduction
In as much as the computer is a vital device to its users, a lack of software would make it become an ordinary artistic invention. According to Goel (2010), the computer cannot perform any task on its own. This means that for a user to be able to conduct their tasks with the computer hardware, the software must be available in order to ensure that the users’ command are executed by the hardware (Goel, 2010, pg. 115). Thus, one can therefore deduce that the computer software acts as a go-between (interface) between the user and the computer hardware. Therefore, the computer software is in fact as equally important as the rest of the components of the computer system.
However, the computer software is intangible, i.e. it cannot be physically touched. This is because software is a program (Goel, 2010, pg. 115). A program is a step by step procedure that instructs a computer on what to do and when to do it (as cited from Dixit’s work, 2005, pg. 64, and Meakin, 1998). Software can be divided into two broad categories: system software and application software.
System software
According to Puntambekar & Dhotre (2008), system software consists of a variety of programs that support the operation of a computer. It allows us to interact with the applications without getting to know the background details of what is happening with the machine.
The system software provides basic functionality to the computer, controls the computer hardware and act as an interface between the user, application software and computer hardware. (Goel, 2010, pg.116). For this reason, most system software is strongly machine-dependent (Puntambekar & Dhotre, 2008, pg. 2).
Goel (2010) categorises the system software into two according to its functionali...
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...aedia Britannica online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/242033/graphical-user-interface-GUI
Sisodiya S. (n.d). Difference between Compiler and Interpreter. Message posted to http://www.engineersgarage.com/contribution/difference-between-compiler-and-interpreter
Jones W.D. (n.d). Object Codes, Loaders and Linkers. (Chapter 7). Retrieved from lecture notes online website: http://homepage.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/syssoft/fall00/notes/07link.html
Menu Interface (n.d). Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://www.teach-ict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/312_software_hardware/user_interfaces/miniweb/pg4.htm
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Software nowadays has extremely powerful uses such as; converting photographs into different line drawings, creating stretching points within an image that allows the user to transform the lines any way they want by clicking and dragging Lead-in phrase or paraphrase. . For these reasons some people believe that drawing ability has become less critical. And “(Research on students who use design software) suggested that the computer may be useful in the process of reinterpretation through its ability to provide rapid transformations.”
Lev Manovich’s Software Takes Command is the genealogy of software and an account of the effect that it’s had on all of us. This includes what he calls the “softwarization” of media which started with taking existing media and replicating its function using software to “create, store, distribute and access cultural artifacts.” Over the last 30 years our old media technologies such as record/cassette/CD players, film cameras, VHS, DVD, floppy disks have all been replaced by media software and despite this radical shift in our concept of media, we know next to nothing about how we got here. He is also interested in establishing and conveying a vocabulary in which to think about and categorize software.
Software systems are discrete-state systems that do not have repetitive structures. The mathematical functions that describe the behaviour of software systems are not continuous, and traditional engineering mathematics do not help in their verification." In other words some software can be so large that thorough testing can be almost impossible and so bugs in the software can go unnoticed. An example of this was when an Atlas-Agena rocket veered off-course when it was ninety miles up. Ground control had to destroy the $18.5 rocket.
A computer program is executable software that runs on a PC or computer system (Christensson). An executable file is a type in a computer file that runs a program when it opens (Christensson). Software is the instructions tell the computer what to do (“Software”). Software is the entire set of programs, procedures, and routines associated with the operation of a computer system, including the operating syst...
Software - the programs or language that controls the functioning of the hardware. Table of contents - a section on a CD that lists the locations of files to help a computer locate data.
Computers are a magnificent feat of technology. They have grown from simple calculators to machines with many functions and abilities. Computers have become so common that almost every home has at least one computer, and schools find them a good source for information and education for their students (Hafner, Katie, unknown). Computers have created new careers and eliminated others and have left a huge impact on our society. The invention of the computer has greatly affected the arts, the business world, and society and history in many different areas, but to understand how great these changes are, it is necessary to take a look at the origins of the computer.
Softwares are instructions, commands, or data that direct the operation of computer systems. Hardware is the physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other devices. Hardware such as electronic circuitry and other components of a computer use software or programs to make technology do things. Hardware is permanent and not flexible, while software or programming can easily be varied and modified. You can put an entirely new program in the hardware and make it create an entirely new experience for the user. People can change the modular configurations that most computers come with by adding new adapters or cards that extend the computer's capabilities.
Competitive advantage of an organization is aims to promote a more profits from competition. Achieved through many avenues include produce a quality product or a good service in the market. Competitive advantage helps the company maintain a good position in the long time and improve the quality of products as the company's image in the developed market potential. Outsourcing is an arrangement in terms of services provided to other companies or prepared at home. It is a trend that is becoming in information technology, is considered as the intrinsic to manage the business of the company. Available for contract and most of the companies managed by outsourcing such as business analysis in criticism by people outside the company.
Consumer software programs are compiled and translated into machine language before they are sold. Some manufacturers provide source code, but usually only programmers find the source code useful. Thus programs bought off the shelf can be executed, but usually their source code cannot be read or modified.
Without software, a computer would simply be an interesting experiment in an engineering lab. The software gives value to computers by using them to support day-to-day
For the purpose of sending secret messages there was introduced encryption. As encryption get developed few technique were standardized. They are;
System units are commonly mistaken as the Central Processing unit (CPU). System units sometimes called “computer chassis”, “base units” or “Tower cases” however are simply the housing for the integral parts of a computer. System units usual house all components of a computer excluding the monitor, Keyboard and mouse. System Units are a very simple component of the computer because they do none of the actual computing. They are usually just a square or rectangular prism made of some type of plastic or metal that hold all of the vital parts of a computer in a secure manner. Other than that there is not much to be said about the system unit.
Computers are ubiquitous. As our society grows towards being a culture connected through the Internet, and as prices of these machines gradually decrease, more and more have been purchased by families for their homes and as a result, children are beginning to learn to use the computer at an earlier age. Even if computers are not presently available at the home, a child will almost certainly be exposed to one at school or the library, among other places. Adults today are amazed at the amount of knowledge a child has at such an early age – children generally find that computers gives them a sense of power and accomplishment. “A computer is nothing more than a box of circuits that perform software level tasks for a user. Even the software is little more than instructions to the hardware to perform specified tasks. Therefore, a computer, in and of itself is, neither positive nor negative. Its inherent goodness or badness is determined by the user.” With that being said, there are many positive, with as many negative associations that come along with owning a computer.
The central unit is the basic part of the computer and includes all the main computer parts. It is the heart of the computer system. It is responsible for executing, or running the software. The software programs are translated into a series of codes made up of 1s to 0s that the CPU can understand. Every code means a certain operation should take place.
Software, such as programming languages and operating systems, makes the details of the hardware architecture invisible to the user. For example, computers that use the C programming language or a UNIX operating system may appear the same from the user's viewpoint, although they use different hardware architectures. When a computer carries out an instruction, it proceeds through five steps. First, the control unit retrieves the instruction from memory—for example, an instruction to add two numbers. Second, the control unit decodes the instructions into electronic signals that control the computer.