TOPIC

Software

= COMPUTER SOFTWARE in mis

Software is a general term for variuos kind of programs used to operate and manipulate computer and related devices.In simply we can define hardware and software as such hardware is a in variable part of computer but software is a variable part because you can change your software on single hardware of computer.e.g you can run different operating system (win xp or win 98) on single hadware.

1)Application software for end users

Application software includes a variety of programs that can be subdivided into general- purposes and application-specific categories. General purpose application programs are programs that perform common information processing jobs for end users. For example word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, database management programs, and graphic programs are popular with microcomputer users for home, education, business, scientific, and other purposes. Because they significantly increase the productivity of the end users so sometime they called productivity packages. Other examples include web browsers, electronic mail, and groupware, which help to support communication and collaboration among workgroups and teams. One additional common way of classifying software is based on how the software was developed. Custom software is the term used to indentify software application that is developed within an organization for use by that organization. In other words, the organization that writes the program code is also the organization that uses the final software application. In contrast, COTS software (stand from commercial off-the-shelf) is software that is developed by a software developer with the intention of selling the software in multiple copies. In this case, the organization that writes the software is not the intended target audiences for us use.

Several characteristics are important in describing COTS software. First, as stated in our definition, COTS software products are sold in many copies with minimal changes beyond scheduled upgrade releases. Purchasers of the COTS software generally have no control over the specification, schedule, evolution, or access to either the source code or the internal documentation. A COTS product is sold, leased, of licensed to the general public but, in virtually all cases, the vendor of the product retains the intellectual property rights of the software. Custom software on the other hand, is generally owned by the organization that developed it and the specification, functionality, and ownership of the final product are controlled or retained by the developing organization.

Business application software

Thousand of the application-specific software packages are available to support specific application of end users in business and other fields. For example, business application software supports the reengineering and automation of business process with strategic e-business application like customer relationship management, enterprises resource planning, and supply chain management. Other examples are software packages that Web-enable application in electronic commerce, or in the functional area of business like human resource management and accounting and finance. Still other software empowers managers and business professionals with decision support tools like data mining, enterprise information portals, or knowledge management system.

Software suits and integrated packages

The popular general-purpose application software by looking at software suits. Thats because the most widely used productivity packages come bundled together as software suites such as Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite, Corel WordPerfect Office, and Suns Star office. Examining their components gives us and overview of the important software tools that you can use to increase your productivity. A software suite costs a lot less than the total cost of buying its individual packages separately. Another advantage is that all programs use a similar graphical user interface (GUI) of icons, tool and status bars, menus, and so on, which gives them the same look and feel, and makes them easier to learn and use. Software suites also share common tools such as spell checkers and help wizards to increase their efficiency. Another big advantage of suites is that their programs are designed to work together seamlessly and import each others files easily, no matter which programs you using at the time. These capabilities make them more efficient and easier to use than using a variety of individual package versions. Of course, putting so many programs and features together in one super-size package does have some disadvantages. Industry critics argue that many software suite features are never used by most end users. The suites take up a lot of disk space, from over 100 megabytes to over 150 megabytes, depending on which version of functions you install. So such software is sometime derisively called bloatware by its critics. The cost of suites can vary from as low as $100 for a competitive upgrade to over $700 for a full version of some editions of the suites.

Web browsers and more

The most important software component for many computer users today is the once simple and limited, but now powerful and feature-rich, web browser. A browser like Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator is the key software interface you use to point and click y0ur way through the hyperlinked resources of the World Wide Web and the rest of the internet, as well as corporate intranets and extranets. Once limited to surfing the Web, browsers are becoming the universal software plate form on which end users launch into information searches, e-mail, multimedia file transfer, discussion groups, and many other Internet applications. Industry experts are predicting that the Web browsers will be the model for how most people will use networked computer in future. So now, whether you want to watch a video, make a phone call, download some software, hold a video conference, check your e-mail, or work on a spreadsheet of your teams business plan, you can use your browser to launch and host such applications. Thats why browsers are sometime called the universal client, that is, the software component installed on all of the networked computing and communications devices of the clients (users) throughout and enterprise.

Electronic mail and instant messaging

The first thing many people do at work all over the world is check their e-mail. Electronic mail has changed the way people work and communicate. Millions of end users now depend of e-mail software to communicate with each other by sending and receiving electronic messages and file attachments via the internet of their organizations intranets or extranets. E-mail is stored on network servers until you are ready. Whenever you want to, you can read your e-mail by displaying it on your workstations. So, with only a few minutes of effort, a message to one or many individuals can be composed, sent, and received. Free e-mail packages like Microsoft Hotmail and Netscape Webmail are available to internet users from online services and internet service providers. Most e-mail software like Microsoft outlook Express or Netscape messenger can route messages to multiple end users based on predefined ailing lists and provide password security, automatic message forwarding and remote user access. Instant messaging (IM) is an e-mail/computer conferencing hybrid technology that has grown so rapidly that it has become a standard method of electronic messaging for millions of internet users worldwide. By using instant messaging, group of business professionals or friends and associates can send and receive electronic messages instantly, and thus communicate and collaborate in real time in a near-conversational mode. Messages pop up instantly in an IM window on the computer screens of everyone who is part of your business workgroup or circle of friends who are members of your IM buddy list if they are online, no matter what other tasks they are working on at that moment. Instant messaging software can be downloaded and IM services implemented by subscribing to many popular IM system, including AOLs instant messenger and ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo messenger.

Word processing and desktop publishing

Software for word processing has transformed the process of writing. Word processing packages computerize the creation, editing, revision, and printing of document (such as letters, memo, and reports) by electronically processing your text data. Top word processing packages like Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro, and Corel WordPerfect can provide a wide variety of attractively printed documents with their desktop publishing capabilities. These packages can also convert all documents to HTML format for publications as web pages on corporate intranets or the World Wide Web. Word processing also provide a helpful features packages. For example, spelling checker capabilities can identify and correct spelling errors, thesaurus features, grammar and punctuation errors as well possible suggest improvement in writing style and so on. End users and organization can use desktop publishing (DTP) software to produce their own printed materials that look professionally published. That is, they can design and print their own newsletters, brochures, manuals, and books with several type styles, graphics, photo and color on each page.

Electronic spreadsheets
Electronic spreadsheet packages like Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, and Corel QuattroPro are used for business analysis, planning, and modeling. They help you develop an electronic spreadsheet, which is a worksheet of rows and columns that can be stored on your PC or a network server, of converted to HTML format and stored as a Web page or web sheet on the World Wide Web. The computer performs necessary calculation based on the formulas you defined in the spreadsheet, and displays results immediately, weather at your workstation or website. For example, you could develop a spreadsheet to record and analyze past and present advertising performance for a business. You could also develop hyperlinks to a similar web sheet at your marketing teams intranet website. Now you have a decision support to help you answer what-if question you may have about advertising.

Groupware
is computer software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve goals. One of the earliest definitions of collaborative software is, "intentional group processes plus software to support them." (Peter and Trudy Johnson-Lenz [1]). The design intent of collaborative software (groupware) is to transform the way documents and rich media is shared to enable more effective team collaboration. Collaboration, with respect to information technology, seems to have several definitions. Some are defensible but others are so broad they lose meaningful application. Understanding the differences in human interactions is necessary to ensure that appropriate technologies are employed to meet interaction needs.

Collaboration requires individuals working together in a coordinated fashion, towards a common goal. Accomplishing the goal is the primary purpose for bringing the team together. Collaborative software helps facilitate action-oriented teams working together over geographic distances by providing tools that aid communication, collaboration and the process of problem solving. Additionally, collaborative software may support project management functions, such as task assignments, time-managing deadlines, and shared calendars. The artifacts, the tangible evidence of the problem solving process, and the final outcome of the collaborative effort, require documentation and may involve archiving project plans, deadlines and deliverables

Groupware and levels of collaboration

Groupware can be divided into three categories depending on the level of collaboration 1.

Communication
It can be thought of as unstructured interchange of information. A phone call or an IM Chat discussion are examples of this.

2.

Conferencing
(or collaboration level, as it is called in the academic papers that discuss these levels) refers to interactive work toward a shared goal. Brainstorming or voting are examples of this

3.

Co-ordination
refers to complex interdependent work toward a shared goal. A good metaphor for understanding this is to think about a sports team; everyone has to contribute the right play at the right time as well as adjust their play to the unfolding situation - but everyone is doing something different - in order for the team to win. That is complex interdependent work toward a shared goal: collaborative management

Presentation graphics
Presentation software (sometimes called "presentation graphics") is a category of application program used to create sequences of words and pictures that tell a story or help support a speech or public presentation of information. Presentation software can be divided into business presentation software and more general multimedia authoring tools, with some products having characteristics of both. Business presentation software emphasizes ease- and quickness-of-learning and use. Multimedia authoring software enables you to create a more sophisticated presentation that includes audio and video sequences. Business presentation software usually enables you to include images and sometimes audio and video developed with other tools.

Some very popular presentation software, such as Microsoft's Powerpoint and Lotus's Freelance Graphics, are sold stand-alone or can come as part of office-oriented suites or packages of software. Other popular products include Adobe Persuasion, Astound, Asymetrix Compel, Corel Presentations, and Harvard Graphics. Among the most popular multimedia authoring tools are Macromedia Director and Asymetrix's Multimedia Toolbook. These authoring tools also include presentation capability as well. Most if not all of these products come in both PC and Mac versions. Recently, a new presentation tool has arrived: your Web browser and the tools for creating Web pages, such as Microsoft's FrontPage and Adobe's PageMill. The ubiquity of these tools and the browser as a playback device make this a popular approach, especially when a presentation can combine HTML pages on the hard disk with links to outside sites (if you have a live Internet connection).

2)System software
Any program that manage and support a computerr system and its information processing activities is called system software.e.g operating system.

Types of system software

1) System management programs Program that manage the hardware,software,network and data resources of computer system during the execution of various information processing jobs of user.e.g operating system (windows). 2) System development programs Programs that help user develop information system program and produces and prepare user programs for computer processing.e.g language translator,editor.

END USER APPLICATION SOFTWARE SYSTEM SOFTWARE COMPUTER HARDWARE Operating system MS office/VLC/Opera

Operating system
Operating system is an integrated system of programs that manage the operation of CPU, control the input/output and stroge resources and activities of computer software and provides various support services as computer executes the application programs of user. An operating system is the

most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Function of OS

User interface Part of OS ad alllow you to communicate with it so you can oad programs,access files,and accomplish other task. There are 3 type of user interface 1- Commands driven All operation regarding event perform by using commands.It can http//www.google.com.Example of command driven interface is mention below in fig. 2- Menu driven In this interface all events and objects are seen in foam of tree through this you can easily excess youe required object or event.Left side of figer is mentioning menu driven interface. be in

3- Graphical user interface GUI that uses icon,bars,button,boxes,adother images.GUIs rely on pointing devices like electronic mouse or touchpad to make selection that help you get things done.Currently,the most common and widely recognized GUI is the Microsoft Windows Desktop .
COMMAND DRIVEN

GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE (GUI)

MENU DRIVEN

Resource management An operating system uses variety of resources management program to manag the hardware and networking resources of a computer system,CPU memory adjustment,secondary storage devices management and processor management. File management An operating system contain file management control the creation,deletion and access of field or program.e.g search box in win menu of taskbar.

Use to retrive any program and file

Task management Manage the accomplishment of computing task of end user,the program control which task get access to CPU and for how much time.when many different task run at a same time through single processor is called multitasking.e.g song+downloading+world file work run at same time etc.

Difference between multitasking & multiprocessing

Multitasking Multitasking is the ability of a computer to run more than one program, or task , at the same time. Multitasking contrasts with single-tasking, where one process must entirely finish before another can begin. MS-DOS is primarily a single-tasking environment, while Windows 3.1 and Windows NT are both multi-tasking environments Multiprocessing Multiprocessing is the use of two or more processors in a single computer to acheive greater throughput, economy of scale and increased reliability. Windows NT is a symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) system.

Types of operatins system

UNIX This operating system was develop by AT& T and introduced by IBM and sun-micro system company In market.It was command base OS.this was a multitasking,multiuser,network manage operating system. LINUX This was low cost more powerful and more reliable as compare to UNIX.In 1990s when it introduce in market soon get large market share from UNIX and WINDOWS but this was also partial command base OS. Mac OS-X This is latest OS in market introduce by Apple a famous company.In this GUI exist similar to WINDOWS and have multitasking,mulimedia,web browsers and e-mail etc. Microsoft windows

Ms DOS It was old OS in market.It also be known as single task and single user operating system.When Multitasking and GUI feature added in this it convert into windows. WIN 95 In 1995 MS introduce combination of MS DOS and windows with a new name WIN 95.Multitasking ,networking,multimedia and GUI was its prominent feature. WIN NT (new technology)

In 1995 another windows NT introduced but it was powerful multiuser and multitask OS that was install on many network server to manage the client/server network. WIN 98 & WIN ME(millennium edition) WIN 98 & WIN ME(millennium edition) were introduced in 1998 and 2000 respectavily with some new enhance feature. WIN 2000 By enhancing win NT, MS introduce new product with name WIN 2000 in year 2000. WIN XP In 2001 MS introduce WIN XP in two edition HOME and PROFESSIONAL edition.WIN XP was combination of WIN NT and WIN 2000 code base. WIN Server 2003 MS introduce a new server pack with four edition in 2003.It was full of web conectivity and multitasking approch. Data Warehousing: It is a database that contains data from many sources, including operational sources. It is updated periodically and it comes with a repository of metadata that describes precisely what each type of data means. Like database of Ufone customers, data of specific aged people that data is called database but the overall it is data warehousing. Firstly extracted data from mainframe and other databases. Prior to being placed in data warehouse, the data is processed to make it more usable for decision support. Data is maintained on the file server.

MANAGING INFORMATION:
We are in the information age and managing the information is the key activity of corporate activity. And these activates are mange by information system department not in I.T department. Information management issues: If information viewed as an assert,, as many companies now do, it must be treated differently from traditional asserts of Labour and capital, because it is different from them. Thomas Davenport at Boston University discusses three issues regarding managing information and these are following: 1) Value Issues 2) Usage Issues 3) Sharing issues

Value Issues:

Informations Value depends on the recipient and the context; it is contextual. In fact, most people cannot put a value on a piece of information until they have seen it. Information marketplace does exist inside and outside of the companies. The only practical way to establish the value of information is to establish the price for it and see whether anyone buys. Pricing possibilities include charge for the information itself rather than for the technology or the provider, charging for the document rather than a smaller unit; charging for the length of time or number of users and charging by value rather than cost. A number of tools are used to increase the value of information. Information Maps: these can be textual charts or perhaps even diagrammatic maps that point to the location of information, whether in written material, experts mind and so forth. Through these techniques mangers get quick answer from or get information by putting some question through information maps. Information Guides: Guides are people who know where desired information can be founds. These guides really save the time to searching some information. Business Documents: Business Documents are yet another tool for sharing information. They provide organization and context. One fruitful way to embark on information management is to uncover what document an organization needs. This process can be easier and more useful, than define common terms. Groupware: It is a tool that is getting greater value out of less structure information. It allows people share information across distance in a more structure manner than electronic mail. All thought it is cheaper way to get information but sharing of information is issue because persons culture background must be affects that.

Usage issues:
Information management is a management issue with how people use information. Three points must be focused in which Information complexity needs to be preserved. People do not share information even though its value grows as it is shared. Culture blocks sharings, especially in highly combative organizational culture. Technology does not change the culture.

Sharing Issues:
If information sharing is the goal, a number of contentious problems must be resolved. Technical solutions do not address the sharing issue.

Program A set of instruction that tell a computer what to do is called Program. A computer works according to the given instruction in a program. Computer program are written in program languages. A person who develops a program is called programmer. The programmer develops programs to instruct the computer how to process data to convert into information. Programming Languages A language is a mean of communication. A computer language is a means of communication between a user and the computer. A set of words, symbols & codes used to write a program is called Programming language. With the help of computer language a programmer tell a computer what to do. There are two types of computer programming language: 1) Low level languages 2) High level languages High level languages These language are near to computer hardware and far from human language. Computer can understand this language easily. Writing a program in low level language require a deep knowledge of internal structure of computer hardware. Following are two types of low level language. Machine language Assembly language

Machine language A type of language in which instruction are written in binary form is called Machine language. It is only language that is directly understand by the computer. Program written in machine language can be executed very fast by the computer. Program written in machine language are machine dependent. Every computer has its own machine language and it is difficult to understand. Machine language is also known as First Generation Language.

Assembly language Assembly language is a low level language. It is one step higher than machine language. In assembly language, symbols are used instead of binary code. These symbols are called Mnemonics. For example, Sub instruction is used to be substract two numbers. The assembly language is also called symbolic language. Program written in assembly language are easier to write & modify than machine language. Assembly language mostly used for writing system software. Assembly language is also known as Second Generation Language. High Level Languages A type of language that is closed to human language is called High level language. High level language are easy to understand, instruction of these language are written in English like words such as inputs & print etc. High level language are further divided into following categories Procedural language Object language Database query language

Procedural language Procedural language is also known as Third Generation language. In these languages a program is predefined set of instruction. Computer executes these instruction in the same sequence in which these instruction are written. Each instruction in this language tell the computer what to do and how to do. There are some types of procedural language:

FORTRAN

FORTRAN stand for FORmula TRANslation. It is mainly used for engineering application & scientific use. BASIC

BASIC stand for Beginner All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. It is used mainly by students to use the computer for solving simple problems.

COBOL

COBOL stand for common Business Oriented Language. It is specially design for business application. PASCAL

This language is used for both scientific & business application. It names was assigned in the honor of a French Mathematician PASCAL. C Language

C language is a popular language. It was developed by Dennis Ritchie at AT&T Bell laboratories in 1972. It was written as part of UNIX operating system. It is also known as middle level language because it provide the facilities to write application software as well as system software.

Object Oriented Language Object Oriented Program is a technique in which programs are written on the basis of object. An object is a collection of data and functions. Object may be representing a person, things or place in the real world. In OOP, data and all possible function on data are grouped together. Object oriented programs are easier to learn and modify. C++ and Java are object oriented language. Database Query Language Database is a collection of related data in an organized ways. Database query language is used to retrieve, insert, delete or search data from database. These are non procedural language. It is also known as Fourth Generation of Language. In non procedural language user only need to tell the computer what to do not how to do. Most popular database query language is SQL (structured query language)

Language Translators
Computer understands only machine language. A program written in high level or assembly language cannot be run on a computer directly. It must be converted into machine language before execution. Language processor or translator is software that convert these programs into machine language. Every computer has its own translators. Like

 Compliers Interpreters Assemblers Compiler A compiler is a program that converts the instruction of a high level language into machine language as a whole. A program written in high level language is called Source program. The compiler converts these source programs in machine code called Object program. The object program can be executed many times. The compiler check the each statements in the source program and generates machine instruction, compiler also check the syntax errors in the program. A source program containing an error cannot be compiled. A compiler can translate the program of only that language for which it is written. For example C compiler can translate only those program that are written in only C languages.

Interpreters An interpreter is a program that converts only statement of a program into machine at one time. It executes this statement before translating the next statement of source program. If there is an error in the statement, the interpreter stops working and displays an error message. The advantage of interpreter over compiler is that an error is found immediately. So the programmer can correct error during program development.

Assemblers An assembler is a Translating program that translates the instruction of program, written in assembly language into machine language.