Subsidiary

ICT for
Uganda

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 Background
• As mentioned in Topic 5 (Computer Hardware), computer
software is compared to your mind. Each and everything
that happens inside the computer is controlled by some
form of software: from the high level word processors,
games and other applications, to the low-level device
drivers that tell your hardware exactly what it has to do to
make them work properly.
Software is a collection of computer programmes and
related data that provides instructions to computer
hardware. It is these instructions which tell the hardware
that it needs to print a document or save a file or display a
webpage, etc.

• Learning Outcome: The learner should be able to describe

the major categories
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UACE SUB-ICT Computer Softwareand their functions.
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 Presentation Outline
UACE Sub – ICT Topic 6:
Computer Software
• Sub Topic 1. System Software
• Sub Topic 2. Application Software

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 Introduction
• Computer software refers to the electronic
instructions and procedures that control the
operation of a computer.

• There are two major types of software: System

software and application software.

• System software e.g. the Operating system

manage and coordinate all the other computer
programs, devices, resources and activities.

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 Introduction
• While Application software like, Word-
processors, Spreadsheets, Media players and
Games solve the specific or exact needs of the
user.

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 Introduction
• Computer
software can
be generally
classified
and broken
down as
shown in the
following
chart:
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 Sub Topic 1: System Software
Sub topic Objectives:
1. Types of system software e.g.
operating systems, utilities and
programming languages.
2. Functions of operating systems.

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 Sub Topic 1: System Software
• System software is a set of programs that
control or maintain all the operations of
the computer and its devices, such as the
CPU, communication links, and peripheral
devices.
• System Software Includes:
– An Operating system,
– Device Drivers, Firmware,
– Utility Programs and
– Programming Languages,Translators and Library
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 Operating Systems
• An operating system is a generalized
program that manages and coordinates
all the activities taking place within a
computer system.

• The operating system functions as a

middleman between the user and the
computer, as well as between application
software programs and the hardware
devices.
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 Device Drivers

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 Device Drivers
• To communicate with the hardware
devices, the operating system relies on
device drivers.
• A device driver is a program that accepts
instructions and then converts them into
commands that the device understands.
• Each device on a computer, such as the
keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, card
reader/writer, and scanner, has its own
device driver.
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 Where does the OS reside?
• In most cases, the operating system is installed
and resides on the computer's hard disk.
• During the boot process, usually the operating
system will look first in drive C: (the
designation for the hard disk drive) for the OS
system files.
• On handheld computers and many mobile
devices such as smart phones, however, the
operating system may reside on a ROM chip.
• Permanently written data, instructions, or
programs written to a ROM chip with in a
device by its manufacturers are collectively
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 Utility Programs
• Utility software refers to system software
designed to analyze, optimize, enhance and
maintain a computer in good working
conditions.
• Utility software usually focuses on how the
computer system operates. Although operating
systems typically include some built-in utilities,
many stand-alone utility programs are available.
• Examples include Antivirus, screen saver, file
compression, backup, disk checkers, disk
cleaners, disk defragmenters, file managers,
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 Utility Programs
1. Antivirus utilities are programs 5. Disk checkers can scan the
that scan for computer viruses, contents of a hard disk to find files
block, remove, and disinfect files. or areas that are corrupted in
2. A screen saver is a program that some way, or were not correctly
automatically fills the computer’s saved.
screen with moving images or 6. Disk cleaners can find files that
patterns when the computer is not are unnecessary to computer
in use. Screensavers were operation, or take up considerable
originally designed to prevent amounts of space.
phosphor burn-in (ghosting) on 7. Disk defragmenters can detect
CRT monitors. Currently, computer files whose contents are
screensavers are used primarily broken and spread across several
for entertainment, advertising or locations on the hard disk, and
security purposes. combine the fragments to
3. Backup utilities can make a copy increase efficiency.
of data stored on a disk, and can 8. A search utility is a program that
restore it in case of data loss. attempts to locate a file on your
4. Cryptographic utilities encrypt and computer based on criteria you
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 Utility Programs
9. Disk partitioning utility can divide 12. Merge utility for merging or
an individual drive into multiple combining different files in one.
logical drives, each with its own 13. A file compression utility shrinks the
file system which can be size of a file.
mounted by the operating 14. A personal firewall is a utility that
system and treated as an detects and protects a personal
individual drive. computer from unauthorized
10. Archive utilities output a stream intrusions.
or a single file when provided 15. An uninstaller is a utility that
with a directory or a set of files. removes a program, as well as any
Archive suites, at times include associated entries in the system
compression and encryption files.
capabilities. 16. A diagnostic utility compiles
11. File managers provide a technical information about your
convenient method of computer's hardware and certain
performing routine data system software programs and then
management tasks, such as prepares a report outlining any
deleting, renaming, cataloging, identified problems.
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 Programming Languages
• A programming language is a notation for writing
computer software.
• Programming languages are can be used to create the
procedures and specifications of a computation or
algorithm.
• When computers execute programs written in
languages such as BASIC, C, Java, etc., the computer
must convert these humanly readable instructions into
a form it can understand.
• Compilers, interpreters, and assemblers are special
language translation library programs that translate the
higher-level language programs into the lowest level
machine language that the computer can execute.
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 Functions of operating systems
Most operating systems e) Monitoring
provide similar functions that performance
are outlined as follows : f) Providing file
a) Starting a computer, management.
(Booting the computer) g) Administering security.
b) Providing a user interface, h) Managing resources.
c) Managing programs, i) Coordinating tasks,
d) Configuring devices, and Spooling.
(Device drivers are often j) Managing memory,
needed). Plug and Play
k) Establishing network
devices are recognized
connections
automatically.
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 Functions of operating
systems

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 a) Starting a computer, (Booting the
computer)
• The process of starting or
restarting a computer is
mainly managed by the
operating system.
• When you instruct the
computer to Turn Off, (See
figure), the operating
system properly closes any
open processes and
programs, saves your
settings, and shuts down
the computer.

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 b) Providing a User Interface

• Computer users interact with software through

its user interface.
• A user interface is the part of the software with
which you interact; it controls how data and
instructions are entered and information is
presented on the screen.
• It is through the user interface of an operating
system that you communicate with the
computer.

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 Types of user interfaces

• Three types of user interfaces are:

i. command-line interface (CLI),
ii. menu-driven interface (MDI), and
iii. graphical user interface (GUI).
• Most operating systems use a combination of
these types of user interfaces to define how
you interact with your computer.

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 Command-line interface

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 Command-line interface
• Command-line interfaces often are difficult to
use because the commands used require
exact spelling and punctuation.
• Minor syntax errors, such as a missing period,
generate error messages.
• Command-line interfaces, however, give a user
more control to manage detailed settings, and
execute programs faster.

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 Command-line interface (cont)
• Shown here are some typical CLI commands.
• NB To view a list of more common commands, type
help at the command prompt.

25
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 Menu-driven interface
• Amenu-driven interface provides
menus as a means of entering
commands.
• Menu-driven interfaces are easier to
learn than CLI because users do not
have to cram keywords for
commands.
• The characteristic of being easy to
learn and use is described as being
user-friendly.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 Menu-driven interface

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 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Most of today's software programs have a
graphical user interface (GUI).
• A GUI is a user Interface in which visual
images such as icons and buttons are used to
issue commands.
• Of all the interfaces a GUI typically is the most
user friendly, because it does not require you to
know any command language.

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 Disadvantages of a
GUI as compared to CLI

• GUI requires the computer to have

more RAM as compared to
Command Line.
• Command line instructions
execute faster than GUI
instructions.

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Examples of
Elements/
Objects of a
GUI

30
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 Examples of Elements/ Objects of a
GUI
• Icons • Radio Buttons
• Command Buttons • Preview areas
• Drop Down Lists • Slider buttons
• Check boxes • Tabs
• List Boxes • Menus
• Dialogue boxes • Text boxes
• Windows • Toolbars
• Cursor • e.t.c.
• Scroll bars

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 c) File management
• The operating systems help to organize files
and folders on a computer’s hard disk drive.

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 d) Managing Programs

• Operating systems can support just one user

running one program or many of users running
multiple programs.
• These various capabilities of operating
systems are described as
• (i) single tasking,
• (ii)Single-user and multi-user,
• (iii) multitasking, and
• (iv)multiprocessing,

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 d) Managing Programs (cont)

• In addition to
application programs,
an operating system
manages other
processes.
• Some of these
processes are memory
resident.
• They include utilities
and routines that
provide support to
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 e) Managing Memory

• The purpose of memory management is to

optimize the use of RAM. RAM holds data and
instructions while the processor is using them.
• The operating system allocates, data and
instructions to an area of memory while they
are being processed, and carefully monitors
the contents of RAM.
• Finally, the operating system releases these
items from RAM when the processor no longer
requires them.
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 e) Managing Memory (cont.)
• If you have many programs running at a go, it is possible to
run out of RAM. So, the OS may have to use virtual
memory.
• With virtual memory, the operating system allocates a
portion of a storage medium, usually the hard disk, to
function as additional RAM.
• As you interact with a program, part of it may be in
physical RAM, while the rest of the program is on the hard
disk as virtual memory.
• Users may notice the computer slowing down while it uses
virtual memory, because virtual memory is slower than
RAM.
• The area of the hard disk used for virtual memory is called
a swap file
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 f) Coordinating Tasks

• The operating system determines the order in

which tasks are processed.
• A task, or job, is a piece of work or operation
that the processor manages.
• Tasks include receiving data from an input
device, processing instructions, sending
information to an output device, and
transferring items from storage to memory and
from memory to storage.
• Thousands of tasks can be going on in a
computer simultaneously.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 f) Coordinating Tasks (cont.)

• Sometimes, a device may be busy processing

one job when it receives a second job.
• This occurs because the processor operates at
a much faster rate of speed than peripheral
devices.
• For example, if the processor sends five print
jobs to a printer, yet the printer can print only
one document at a time.
• When this happens, the OS allocates / assigns
memory to the jobs in the execution queue in
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 f) Coordinating Tasks (cont.)
• A BUFFER is an area of memory or storage in which data
and information is placed while waiting to be transferred
to or from an input or output device.
• Operating systems typically use a technique called
spooling to increase computer system efficiency.
• SPOOLING refers to the process of putting tasks that need
to be done into a buffer until they can be executed.
• The operating system commonly uses a print spooler with
print jobs. A print spooler, intercepts documents to be
printed from the operating system and places them in the
queue in the buffer.
• As soon as the print job is placed in the buffer, the CPU is
available to process the next instruction.

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 Spooling (illustration)

• Spooling increases both processor and printer

efficiency by placing print jobs in a buffer on
disk before they are printed.
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 g) Configuring Devices

• If you add a new device to your computer, such

as a printer, its driver must be installed before
the device will be operational.
• For devices with Plug and Play support, the OS
recognizes the new device and loads the
necessary drivers automatically.
• It also checks for conflicts with other devices.

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 g) Configuring Devices (cont)

• For devices that are not Plug and Play,

Windows operating system provides a wizard
to guide users through the installation steps.
• If you have an Internet connection, the Wizard
will search an online repository of device
drivers.
• If Windows still is unable to find a driver, you
can download one from the manufacturer's
Web site manually.
• Alternatively you can install the drivers from a
CD-ROM provided with the purchased device.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 h) Establishing an Network
Connection
• Operating systems typically provide a means to
establish Network connections.
• This is through a "Connect to a network"
Wizard that guides users through the process
of setting up a connection between a computer
a network provider.
• Some operating systems also include a Web
browser and an e-mail program, enabling you
to begin using the Web and communicate with
others as soon as you set up the Internet
connection.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 i) Monitoring Performance
• The OS monitors the performance of the computer
system.
• It keeps track of each computer job, the various
system resources and devices, the processor usage,
the amount of unused physical RAM, and network
usage.
• Operating systems typically contain a performance
monitor.
• A performance monitor is a program that assesses
and reports information about various computer
resources and devices.
• The information in performance reports helps users
and administrators
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 j) Administering Security

• The OS helps users to administer computer

access security by use of a user name or user
ID and a password, before a user logs on to, a
computer.
• After entering a user ID and password, the
operating system compares the user's entry
with a list of authorized user names and
passwords.
• If the entry matches the user name and
password kept on file, the operating system
grants the user access.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 j)Administering Security (cont)

• To protect sensitive data and information as it

travels over the network, a network operating
system may encrypt it to prevent unauthorized
users from reading the data.
• Encryption is the process of encoding data and
information into an unreadable form.
• When an authorized user attempts to read the
data, it is decrypted, or converted back into a
readable form.

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 TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS

• Early operating systems were proprietary and

device -dependent.
• A device-dependent program is one that runs only on
a specific type or brand of computer.
• Proprietary software is privately owned and limited to
a specific computer model.
• The trend today is toward device-independent
operating systems that will run on computers provided
by a variety of manufacturers.
• Three basic categories of operating systems exist
today.
• They are stand-alone OS, network OS, and embedded
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 Stand-alone operating
systems
• A stand-alone operating system is a complete
operating system that works on a PC.
• Examples of popular stand-alone operating
systems include:
• Mac OS X, UNIX, Linux, MS-DOS and Windows
(XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8,
Windows 10 etc.).

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 Mac OS
• Macintosh operating system was released in
1984 with Apple’s Macintosh computers.
• Mac OS X includes features such as a GUI,
multitasking, large photo-quality icons,
• built-in networking support, email, online
shopping, enhanced speech recognition,
• CD burning, and enhanced multimedia
capabilities.

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 50
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 UNIX
• UNIX is a multitasking operating system
developed in the early 1970s by scientists at
Bell Laboratories.
• Some versions of UNIX have a command-line
interface, and others offer a graphical user
interface.
• Power users often work with UNIX because of
its flexibility and power.
• Manufacturers such as Sun and IBM often sell
personal computers and workstations with a
UNIX operating system.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 Linux
• Linux is one of the fastest growing operating
systems.
• Linux is a free, open source, UNIX-like operating
system.
• Open source software means its code is provided
for use, modification, and redistribution. It has no
restrictions from the copyright holder.
• Some versions of Linux are command-line. Others
are GUI.
• Linux comes with very many utilities and
applications such as open office.
• A Live CD of Linux allows users to boot from it and
preview the operating
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 MS-DOS
• In the early 1980s, Bill Gates’ Microsoft
Corporation introduced DOS (Disk Operating
System) as its first operating system for IBM
PCs.
• DOS originally used a command-line interface.
• Later versions of DOS included both command-
line and menu-driven user interfaces.
• Today, DOS is rarely used because it does not
offer a graphical user interface and it cannot
take full advantage of modern computer
microprocessors.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
US_Navy_Specialist_uses_the_existing_DOS-based
54
_food_service_management_system
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 Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft introduced an operating environment
named Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985.
• It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a
multi-tasking graphical user interface-based
operating environment on the PC platform.
• Since then, Many versions have been released,
each with various new innovative features and
functions.
• These include Windows 2.0, Windows 95, 98, Me,
Windows NT 3.1, Windows 2000, Windows XP,
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows
8.1 and Windows 10
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 Screenshot of Windows 1.01

56
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 Windows
Windows
Vista
Vista
Features

57
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 Windows88Start
Windows StartScreen
Screen
(Replaced the start menu)

58
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 Network Operating Systems

• A network operating system (NOS) is an

operating system that supports a network and
typically resides on the server.
• Some stand-alone OS systems include
networking capability.
• However, network operating systems are
designed specifically to support all sizes of
networks.
• Examples of network operating systems
include Windows Server 2003, 2008, Solaris,
and NetWare, UNIX server, and Linux server.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 Embedded Operating Systems

• An embedded operating system is an operating

system that resides on ROM chips and typically
used on handheld computers and small
devices.
• Popular embedded operating systems today
include Windows Embedded CE, Windows
Mobile, Palm OS, Embedded Linux, and
Symbian OS.

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 Embedded Operating Systems

61
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 Factors to consider when choosing
an operating system
• When choosing an operating system for a
computer the following factors may be
considered:
• The type of computer in terms of size and
make. Operating systems are available for all
sizes of computers.
• The hardware configuration of the computer
such as the memory capacity, processor speed
and hard disk capacity should meet the
required minimum requirements for a the
operating system to run well.
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UACE SUB-ICT 6: Computer Software
 Factors to consider when choosing
an operating system
• The application software to be installed on the
computer should be supported by the
operating system. For example Microsoft
Office 2010 cannot run on Windows 2000.
• The operating system should be user friendly.
This depends on the skills of the intended
users of the computers.
• The operating system should have adequate
information and help guides for user reference.

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 Factors to consider when choosing
an operating system
• The cost of the operating system.
• Reliability and security provided by the
operating system.
• The number of processors and hardware
devices it can support.
• The number of users it can support
• The availability of basic utilities and
accessory programs within the operating
system.

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 Sub Topic 2. Application Software
Sub topic Objectives:
• To be able to identify and describe the
different types of application software
(with examples).
– Focus on types of application software will
be on Off-shelf, Custom-tailored, Shareware,
Freeware and Open-source application
software.
• To be able to explain the uses of
application software.
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 Classifications of Application Software
• Application software consists of programs
designed to perform specific tasks for end-
users.
• The common Classifications of application
software include:
– Off-the-shelf (standard) software,
– Custom (bespoke) software,
– Shareware, Freeware,
– Open-source, Public-domain software,
– Web-based software, copyrighted software,
– Special Purpose and General purpose.
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 Off-shelf software

• This refers to packaged software that is

designed to meet the needs of a wide
variety of end users.
• Off the shelf software is mass-produced,
commercially sold software, and
copyrighted.
• Microsoft Office Word and Adobe
Photoshop are examples of Off the shelf
software.
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 Custom (bespoke) software,
• Custom software is tailor-made software,
which is developed at a user's request to
perform specific functions.
• Sometimes, when a company cannot find
packaged soft-ware that meets its unique
requirements, it pays computer programmers
to write custom software that is specifically
tailored to meet the needs of the company.
• Custom software usually costs more than
packaged software.
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 Comparison of the characteristics Standard
and Custom Software
STANDARD SOFTWARE IS… CUSTOM SOFTWARE IS…
1. Easy to use, because it is 1. Unique, and requires
known by many people. extensive training before use.
2. Cheaper because it is 2. Expensive because it
massively produced and requires hiring a programmer.
packaged for commercial
purposes.
3. Easy to acquire because it is 3. Difficult to acquire due to the
already made. time needed for programming
it.
4. More reliable because it is 4. May contain programming
tried and well tested by many errors since it is not tested
users. adequately.
5. Containing online help to guide 5. Usually lacking online help
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 Copyrighted software

• Copyrighted software refers to computer

programs with restrictions regarding use,
modification, and redistribution.
• You have to pay for copyrighted software
and must not copy it without permission
from the manufacturer.
• Copying copyrighted software without
paying for it is clearly unethical and illegal.

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 Shareware
• Shareware is copyrighted software that is
distributed at no cost for a trial period.
• To use a shareware program beyond that
period, you send payment to the program
developer.
• In some cases, a scaled-down version of
the software is distributed free, and
payment entitles the user to the fully
functional product.
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 Freeware
• Freeware is copyrighted software
provided at no cost by an individual
or a company that retains all rights to
the software.
• Therefore, other programmers cannot
include freeware in applications they
intend to sell.

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 Open-source,
• Open source software is software
provided for use, modification, and
redistribution. This software has no
restrictions from the copyright holder.
• Open source software usually can be
downloaded from the Web at no cost.

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 Public-domain software,
• Public-domain software has been
donated for public use and has no
copyright restrictions.
• Anyone can copy or distribute public-
domain software to others at no cost.

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 Web-based software,

• Web-based software refers to programs hosted

by a Web site.
• Users access and interact with Web-based
software from any computer or device that is
connected to the Internet.
• Many Web sites allow free access to their
programs; some charge a fee.
• Examples of Web-based software include e-
mail, Website builders, online games, travel and
mapping software ,e.t.c.
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 Web-based software

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 Special Purpose (Specialized)
Software
This refers to computer programs developed and
dedicated to accomplish particular jobs only.
Programs that run on special purpose computers
like ATMs are special purpose software.
Other Examples of specialized software include:
• Business – Transaction and Sales
Management software.
• Science and Engineering software etc..

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 General purpose software

• This refers to a Wide a variety of

application programs that perform many
common tasks.
• Varieties of General purpose application
programs include Word processing
programs, Spreadsheet programs, web
browsers, Graphics programs, etc.

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples

(A)Word Processors – Used for producing

textual documents like letters, notes,
reports, memos, etc. Examples Include:
• WordPerfect,
• Lotus Word Pro,
• Word Star,
• OpenOffice.org Writer,
• Microsoft word.

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples

(B)Spread sheet software - Used for

performing calculations, and the creating
of graphs. Examples include:
• Microsoft Excel,
• Lotus 1-2-3,
• KSpread,
• OpenOffice.org Calc,

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
(C).Database management software (DBMS)-
Used to create and manage an organized
collection of related and structured information
(a database). Examples include:
• Lotus Approach,
• Microsoft Access,
• OpenOffice.org Base,
• Corel Paradox,

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
(D). Presentation software - These applications
are used for making presentations and slide
shows that can aid a speech presentation.
Examples include:
• Screencast ,
• Microsoft PowerPoint,
• OpenOffice.org Impress,
• Adobe Persuasion,

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 E) Communications software

• One of the main reasons people use

computers is to communicate and share
information with others. A variety of
communications software options exist.
Common communications software includes
Web browsers, e-mail software, chat rooms,
newsgroups, Text messaging, FTP programs,
blog software, and teleconferencing software.

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
• (F).Computer aided design (CAD) software -
Used by engineers and architects to produce
technical drawings such as designs of
building structures and floor plans
Examples include
• ArchiCAD,
• AutoCAD, e.t.c.

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 CAD software - illustration

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
• G). Desktop publishing software - These are
applications used for creating publications like
cards, flyers, calendars, brochures, Newsletters,
Certificates, etc. Examples include:
• Microsoft Publisher,
• Celframe Publisher,
• Adobe Page Maker,
• e.t.c.

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
(H).Web browsing software for displaying
Webpages from the internet or html
documents on computers. Examples Include:
• Mozilla Firefox,
• Internet Explorer,
• Safari,
• Opera mini
• Netscape Navigator,
• Google chrome e.t.c.

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
(I). Web authoring software – Used by
webmasters for building websites. Examples
include:
• Microsoft FrontPage,
• Adobe Dreamweaver,
• Microsoft Expression Web,
• Antenna Web Design Studio

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
• (J). Media Players for Audio and Video
playback on computers. Examples include:
• Windows Media Player,
• Nero Showtime,
• JetAudio,
• Power DVD,
• VLC Media Player, e.t.c.

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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
(K) Graphics software – Used by graphic
designers to create and design artistic graphics
and to manipulate visual images on a computer
such as logos, cartoons etc. Examples include
• Paint,
• Adobe Photo shop,
• Corel Draw,
• Adobe Illustrator etc.

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 Graphics Software - Illustration

• A digitally
altered
photograph
shows sports
star Michael
Jordan (born
1963)
meeting
famous
scientist
Albert
Einstein (who
died in 1955).
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 Uses of Popular Application software
varieties and their Examples
(L) Accounting software helps companies to
record and report their financial transactions.
• With accounting soft-ware, you perform
accounting activities related to the general
ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable,
purchasing, invoicing, job costing, payroll
functions, etc.
• Examples include Quick Books

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 Accounting software

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 M) Audio and video editing software

• Audio editing software lets users produce

studio quality soundtracks.
• With video editing software, you can modify
video clips: you can reduce the length of a
video clip, reorder a series of clips, or add
special effects such as words that move
horizontally across the screen, etc.

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 Audio and video editing software

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 N) Images Viewing software

• This refers to computer applications primarily

used for previewing digital photographs on the
computer screen.
• Many have basic features such as viewing
thumbnails, slideshows, printing and simple
editing such as cropping and resizing.
• Examples of Image viewers include:
Microsoft Office Picture Manager, Windows
Photo viewer, Picasa photo viewer, etc.

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 O) Reference software

• Reference software provides valuable and

thorough information for all individuals.
• Popular reference software includes
encyclopedias, dictionaries, health/medical
guides, and travel directories.
• Examples include:
• Encyclopaedia Britannica 2011 Ultimate
Reference DVD
• Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium, e.t.c.

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 P) Note Taking software
• Note taking software enables users to enter
typed text, handwritten comments, drawings, or
sketches anywhere on a page and then save
the page as part of a notebook.
• The software can convert handwritten
comments to typed text or store the notes in
handwritten form.
• Examples include Microsoft Office OneNote.

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 Note Taking software

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 Q) Text Editors

• Text editors are simple word processors that

are generally used to type without any special
formatting.
• Text editors are mainly used to create small
notes, memos and programs.
• Examples of common text editors are: Notepad,
Notepad++, Sublime Text, Gedit,wordpad etc.

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 R) Gaming Software

• These are programs developed as electronic

game that involve human interaction with a
user interface to generate visual feedback on a
computer.
• Common computer games include solitaire,
chess titans, Racing, StarCraft, Need for Speed,
e.t.c.

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 S) Email Software / Email
client
• Email software (Commonly known as email client) is a
computer program used to access and manage a
user's email account.
• Web applications that provide message management,
composition, and reception functions are sometimes
also commonly referred to as webmail.
• Popular locally installed email clients include
Microsoft Outlook, Pegasus Mail, Mozilla's
Thunderbird, KMail, Evolution and Apple Mail.
• Popular web-based email clients include: GMail,
Yahoo! Mail, mail.com, Lycos mail, and Hotmail.

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 Software Suites

• A software suit is a collection of individual

application soft-ware programs sold as a
single package.
• When you install the suite, you install the entire
collection of applications at once instead of
installing each application individually.
• At a minimum, suites typically include the
following software applications: word
processing, spreadsheet, database, and
presentation graphics,
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 POPULAR SOFTWARE SUITES
SUITE Word Spreadshe Presentatio Database
NAME Processor et n Program Manageme
nt Software
Lotus Lotus Lotus 1-2-3 Lotus Lotus
Smart Word Pro Freelance Approach
Suite Graphics
Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft
Office Word Excel PowerPoint Access
KOffice KWord KSpread KPresenter Kexi
OpenOffic OpenOffic OpenOffice.OpenOffice. OpenOffice.
e.org e.org org Calc org org Base
Writer Impress
WordPerfec WordPerf Quattro Corel Corel
t Office ect Pro Presentatio Paradox
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 POPULAR SOFTWARE SUITES
SUITE Word Spreadshe Presentation Database
NAME Processo et Program Manageme
r nt
Software
Celframe Celframe Celframe Celframe Celframe
Office Write Spreadshe Power Data
et Presentation Access
Ability Ability Ability Ability Ability
Office Write Spreadshe Presentation Database
et
Kingsoft Kingsoft Kingsoft Kingsoft (None)
Office Writer Spreadshe Presentation
ets
Apple Apple Apple Apple (None)
iWork Pages UACENumbers
www.mukalele.net Keynote
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 Advantages of using software suites

• Costs significantly cheaper than buying each

of the application package separately
• Easy to learn and use because applications
within a suite usually use a similar interface
and share common features such as clip art
and toolbars.
• Easy installation because all the various
applications can be installed at once.

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 Factors to consider before obtaining
a software program
• correctness — the software should do what it
is supposed to do, according to the design
specifications.
• robustness — the software should be stable,
and it should respond well to unexpected
conditions e.g. wrong input.
• user-friendliness — the software should be
easy to use by users from the intended
audience.
• adaptability — the software should be easy to
customize/modify to adjust to the needs of the
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 Factors to consider before obtaining a
software program (cont)

• reusability — the parts of the software code

should be easily reused to build other
programs.
• interoperability — the software should be able
to interface with other software systems.
• efficiency — the software should make good
use of its resources i.e. (memory, disk, CPU,
network)
• portability — the software should be easy
transfer from one system to another.
• security — the software should be able to
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 Characteristics of Good
computer software
• ...provides the required functionality.
• ...is usable by real (i.e. simple) users.
• ...is predictable, reliable and dependable.
• ...functions efficiently.
• ...has a "life-time" (measured in years).
• ...provides an appropriate user interface.
• ...is accompanied by complete documentation.
• ...can be easily customized/configured.
• ...can be "easily" maintained and updated.

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 Learning Aids and Support Tools for
Application Software

• To assist in the learning process, many

programs provide off line Help, Web-based
Help, wizards, and templates.
• Off line Help is the electronic equivalent of a
user manual. It usually is integrated in a
program. In most programs, the F1 key or a
button on the screen starts the Help feature.
• Web-based Help provides updates and more
comprehensive resources to respond to
technical issues about software.
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 Learning Aids and Support Tools for
Application Software
• A wizard is computer program that guides a user
through a procedure of completing a task. The wizard
asks the user questions and then automatically
performs actions based on the responses.
• For example, spreadsheet software includes wizards
for creating charts and building functions.
• A template is a document that contains the layout and
formatting necessary for a specific document type.
• For example Word processors contain templates for,
cover sheets, flyers, letters, resumes/CVs, etc..

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 Subsidiary
ICT for
Uganda

End of Topic 6:
Computer Software

Next Topic 7: Electronic Spreadsheets I

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