Technology Guide 2: Computer Software

Question One: What are main differences/distinction between system software and application software?

Systems software is a set of instructions that serves primarily as an intermediary between computer hardware and application programs. Systems software provides important self-regulatory functions for computer systems, such as loading itself when the computer is first turned on and providing commonly used sets of instructions for all applications

Applications software us a set of computer instructions that provide more specific functionality to a user. That functionality may be broad, such as a general word processing, or narrow, such as an organisation's payroll program. Essentially an application program applies to a computer to a certain need. Application programing refers to both the creation and modification and improvement of application software. Application software may be proprietary or off-the-shelf.

Question Two: What are the two main types of system software? Provide some examples of their functions.

There are two main types of system software based on function, these are:

• Control Programs (includes operating systems)- examples include: start up, file management, time management, scheduling, managing / running applications, file & print management, file recovery, memory management, scheduling tasks, network control

• System Support Programs: There are three types of system support programs, these are:

1. System Utilities (examples include: —file manager, uninstaller, disk scanner/defragmenter and backup)
2. System Performance Monitors (an example: task manager)
3. System Security Monitors (examples include: Windows Personal Firewall, various anti-spyware and anti-virus tools)

Question Three: What is the difference between proprietary and open source software? What considerations should be made when a business selects either software.

Proprietary software is software that is generally controlled by a single company (although the actual sale of products may be licensed to re-sellers/partners). It is usually protected by copyright and licenses, and sold commercially for profit

—Open source software is when the source code is made freely available to enable the further development of the software. Users can usually change, improve and re‐distribute the software to others. It is generally free to use, however business models exist that relate to buying it, installing and supporting it, providing training/certification, or in customising it.

When a business is selecting a software there are a several factors that influence this decision, these being:

• Size and location of the user base
• Availability of the system
• Costs (initial and subsequent)
• System capabilities
• Existing computing environment
• In-house technical skills

Question Four: What are some of the legal issues involved in acquiring and using software in most businesses/organizations?

Copyright laws and licensing are the main legal issues involved when it comes to buying and using software. Copying software is illegal and piracy is now a serious crime as it can cost software vendors up to $15 billion annually. When acquiring and using software for a business one needs to make sure they have bought the right amount of licenses needed for that business. In a recent trend, software companies are now using specialised firms to track all their software licenses when managing their assets.

Question Five: Choose an operating system, provide some details on it's developer, it license type and key benefits.

Operating System: Mac OSX

Developer: Apple Inc.

License Type: Proprietary, EULA

Some benefits:

• Increased responsiveness
• Quicker time machine backup
• Faster to wake up and shut down
• Faster, more reliable
• More disk space
• Advanced Quicktime technology
• More efficient file sharing

For more information about the Mac OSX:

www.apple.com/macosx

www.apple.com/macosx/refinements

www.apple.com/macosx/technology

www.apple.com/macosx/universal-access

www.apple.com/macosx/exchange/