Chapter 12 - Software
Unit 1
Role and function of application software
Contents
• Revise software concepts
• Role of application software
• Multimedia software
• Communication software
Application software
Definition: Is software that produces an end product that has some use.
System software
Definition: Software helps to manage the computer hardware as well as the
applications that are stored on a computer
Mobile Applications
• Mobile apps written specifically for use on mobile phones, especially smartphones
and tablet computers.
• Internet applications that run on
smartphones and other mobile devices.
• Trimmed down versions of the larger
applications found on personal computers or written for the mobile environment
Mobile Applications
• Mobile-based instant messaging client (Gmail)
• Easier to use the Internet on their portable devices.
• Make your work easier by highlighting apps specially designed to perform tasks on a small screen.
• Android Apps for Mobile Business Tasks
Online applications software
• A online or web application is any
application that uses a web browser as a client.
Examples:
• Word processors
• Online spreadsheets
• Presentation tools
• Video editing
Web apps - Advantages
• Create and share work online
• Collaborate on projects and documents online
• Can be accessed anywhere via internet
• Don’t need the app on the computer
• Free use
• Don’t use hard disk space
Web apps - Disadvantages
• No internet = no access to files or apps
• Rely on third party for online storage
• No control over software upgrades
• Shut down of web app = lose online document
Online storage
• Online storage is accessed via the Internet and is not shown in your directory structure.
• Ability to share documents and collaborate with other people on the documents
Cloud computing
• Involves using the Internet to access
applications and store documents so that they are accessible to you anywhere in the world on any computer that has Internet access.
• SkyDrive, Ubunto One, DropBox and Google Docs
• 1GB free storage space
Advantages of online storage
• Data and info accessed globally – internet access
• Allow others to access files instead of e- mailing to them
• Safety due to offsite backups
• Storage can be scaled up or down
• Can use theses online storage for free
• Can share files with only certain people
Disadvantages of online storage
• Hackers can gain access to online data
• Cost of online storage maybe an issue
• Closure of the online storage company
• Unavoidable circumstances such as server downtimes, weather issues causing
disruptions
Intranet
• Is a private shared network resource within a company or organisation.
• It is used to share data, hardware and
software resources and is often web-based.
• Example: Moodle, Train your brain
Wiki
• A Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content
• Example: Wikispaces or Wiki spot
Social networking
• A website where a user sets up his or her personal online profile and builds social relations or social groups based on
common interests, photo, music, video or other activities, with other registered
users.
• MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook
Advantages of social networking
• Communication
• Promote blogs, services or products, etc.
• Cheaper
Disadvantages of social networking
• Cyber bullying
• Steal personal information of users
• Cyber crackers break into profiles of users and steal their passwords.
• Cyber crackers also design false profiles and penetrate other persons’ social
environments. The cyber criminals
mislead users to open certain documents and infect the victim computers with the a worm.
Blogs
• It’s a web application that enables you to keep an online diary.
• Uses a diary format working in reverse chronological order to feed your
information on a specific topic
• Online journal
• Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual.
• Examples: blogger.com or blogspot
Uses of a Blog
• Online personal diary
• Information and discussion on a specific topic
• Promote product or enhance interaction
• Forum for teachers and learners
Advantages of Blogs
• Easy to create
• Quick and easy to update
• Increase knowledge
• Improves writing skills
• Solution provider
• Social media
• Money – promoting or selling products
Disadvantages of Blogs
• Infringes privacy
• Undermines communication between people
• Hard to maintain – constantly update
• Time consuming task – to maintain
• Content and comments are not based on facts
Good practices when blogging
• Post frequently
• Respond to comments
• Kill flames
• Blog postings short
Communication software
• Software that enables the exchange of
information between computing devices.
• Convergence of technology
• Email software
Convergence of technology
• Coming together of two or more disparate technologies.
• Technological convergence is the process by which existing technologies merge into new forms that bring together different
types of media and applications.
Communication software - VoIP
• Voice over Internet Protocol
• Skype – phone calls and live video chats over the internet
• No international costs
• You need a high-speed Internet connection, VoIP software and a microphone. (Ex. Skype)
Advantages of the use of VoIP services
• VoIP makes it possible to transfer pictures and data.
• Friends and family can easily stay in contact.
• VoIP to VoIP calls are free.
• A lot of the VoIP service providers levies a monthly fee which enables the user to make unlimited calls within a certain geographic
area. A nominal fee is levied on calls which are made outside this areas.
• Learners and teachers across the whole world can easily contact each other en learn from one another.
Disadvantages of using VoIP services
• VoIP users may sometimes experience problems with the quality of the sound.
• VoIP can be unreliable at times, and data can be lost
• Need broadband internet connection for VoIP
• Power supply interruptions is a big problem.
• It is much easier to make a 911 emergency call from a traditional phone than using a VoIP
service.
• Experience problems to make a connection during peak times.
Blog storm
• A slang term that describes the use of blogging to push an event or subject to mainstream news. A blog storm is when the blogosphere collectively writes
thousands or more posts about a
particular subject, topic or event, and as a result, the story is picked up by
mainstream media and carried over to newspapers, television and radio.
Blogsphere
• Meaning all blog, it is an expression used to describe the 'world of blogs'
Blogola
• A slang term used in marketing circle to describe the act of bribing or paying
influential bloggers to create a buzz in the blogosphere about a specific product or technology in their blog.
Chapter 12 - Software
Unit 2
Managing Software
Windows compatibility issues
• The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information.
• The CPU has small built-in memory areas called registers that hold is determined by whether it is a 32-bit or 64-bit register.
• The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of RAM more effectively than a 32-bit system.
How can I tell if my computer is
running a 32-bit or a 64-bit version of
Windows?
• Control Panel
• System
Patch
• Pieces of software designed to fix problems or bugs with or update a computer program.
• Fix security issues in programs
• The patches which update software to write over glitches are designed to protect users from
hackers or malicious software downloaded from the Internet
Versions
• Solve compatibility issues
• A piece of software is written by a computer programmer, it has to be compiled into a version that the
computer’s operating system can understand.
Service Pack
• A service pack is a collection of patches for an application or operating system that
provides a single, easy installation that fixes a number of issues.
• Can include new features in the software
• Fixes existing problems
• Downloaded from the developer’s website.
• Word – SmartArt can not be edited in earlier version.
Updating software - Benefits
• Security issues – fixed
• Known bugs (problems with program) fixed
• Latest features are available
Updating software - Disadvantages
• Unsuccessful software update can stop the software working properly.
• Cause your operating system to stop working properly
Restore points
• Enable you to return your computer to its condition before the software update or new software installation.
• Create a restore point
Activate automatic windows updates
• Control panel
• System
• Change settings
• Windows update