1. Types of Software
Chapter 2

2. Contents This presentation covers the following: Operating System
User Interface
Utility
Application Software

3. Basic Layering Hardware Operating System Utilities
Applications Software
Programming Languages
This diagram generalises how software is layered in terms of its use in a system. The hardware is at the core of any system.

4. Operating System
The Operating System (OS) is software which is used to control hardware.
Hardware is not able to run on its own. It needs instructions from software.
It is a partnership in a sense that hardware needs software for it to run properly and software needs hardware so that it can run properly.

5. Operating System
It will manage hardware resources such as memory allocation, processing requirements, data storage and peripheral devices.
It also manages things like keyboard and mouse inputs, sending outputs to the correct device.

6. Operating System
There are many different OS systems also; Windows, Linux, BEOS.

7. User Interface
The user interface is the system by which a user can interact with a system.
The common formats include:
Menu Driven
Form
Command Line
Natural Language

8. User Interface
User interfaces are often called GUIs (Graphical User Interface).
Some GUIs are known as WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers) interfaces.
Not all GUIs use WIMP interfaces, but may use some aspects of WIMP.

9. Utility
These small programs assist the OS with monitoring and maintaining a system.
Utility applications are often included with OS software including:
Virus Checking
Firewalls
File Compression Software
Disk cleanup and Defragmenter

10. Application Software
These programs allow the user to perform tasks and solve problems.
These types of software application include:
Word Processors
Databases
Spreadsheets
Graphic Packages
Programming Language Applications

11. Take Note: What is the role of the operating system?
Identify two different types of application software.
Describe two different user interfaces.
What does WIMP stand for?
What is a GUI?
Describe two different utility programmes.
How could a library make use of a spreadsheet, database and world processor?