Types of software

A computer requires more than just the actual equipment or hardware we see and touch to complete a job. It requires software i.e. programs for directing the operation of a computer or electronic data.

Software is the final computer system component. These computer programs instruct the hardware how to conduct processing. The computer is merely a general-purpose machine which requires specific software to perform a given task. Computers can input, calculate, compare, and output data as information. Software determines the order in which these operations are performed.

Programs usually fall in one of two categories: system software and application software.

System software controls standard internal computer activities. An operating system, for example, is a collection of system programs that aid in the operation of a computer regardless of the application software being used. When a computer is first turned on, one of the system programs is booted or loaded into the computer’s memory. This software contains information about memory capacity, the model of the processor, the disk drives to be used, etc. Once the system software is loaded, the application software can be brought in.

System programs are designed for the specific pieces of hardware. These programs are called drivers. They coordinate peripheral hardware and computer activities. User needs to install a specific driver in order to activate a peripheral device. For example, if you intend to buy a printer or a scanner you need to worry about the driver program in advance. This driver commonly goes along with your device. By installing the driver you “teach” your main board to “understand” the newly attached part.

Application software satisfies your specific need. The developers of application software rely mostly on marketing research strategies trying to do their best to attract more users/buyers to their software. As the productivity of the hardware has increased greatly in recent years, the programmers nowadays tend to include as much as possible in one program to make software interface look more attractive to the user. This class of programs is the most numerous and perspective from the marketing point of view.

Data communication within and between computers systems is handled by system software. Communications software transfers data from one computer system to another. These programs usually provide users with data security and error checking along with physically transferring data between the 2 computer’s memories. During the past 5 years the developing electronic network communication has stimulated more and more companies to produce various communication software, such as Web-Browsers for Internet.

Vocabulary

aid to attach присоединять control управление developer разработчик equipment general-purpose общего назначения internal main board memory capacity вместимость памяти peripheral regard отношение regardless security specific конкретный, определенный

to boot to check to complete to conduct to develop to direct управлять, руководить to handle управлять, обращаться to install устанавливать, встраивать to provide with to require to secure обеспечивать безопасность to transfer переводить, переносить Web-browser программа, позволяющая пользователю искать и считывать информацию с глобальной электронной сети интернет

Exercise 16

General understanding

1. What is software?

2. In what 2 basic groups could software programs be divided?

3. What is system software used for?

4. What is an operating system

5. What is a driver?

6. What is application software?

7. What is application software used for?

8. What is the tendency in application software market in recent years?

9. What is the application of the communication software?

Exercise 17

Which of the following is software?

Program, mouse, CPU, word processor, modem, web-browser, operating system, scanner, printer, display

Exercise 18

TRUE/FALSE

1. Computer programs only instruct hardware how to handle data storage.

2. System software controls internal computer activities.

3. System software is very dependable on the type of application software being used.

4. The information about memory capacity, the model of the processor and disk drives are unavailable for system software.

5. The driver is a special device usually used by car drivers for floppy-disk driving.

6. It is reasonable to ask for a driver when you buy a new piece of hardware.

7. Software developers tend to make their products very small and with poor interface to save computer resources.

8. Communication software is in great demand now because of the new advances in communication technologies.

9. Application software is merely a general-purpose instrument.

10. Web-browsers are the class of software for electronic communication through the network.

Exercise 19

Give definitions to the following terms using the vocabulary

Software, driver, application software, operating system, communication software, computer, peripheral device

Exercise 20

Find English equivalents in the text

1. Программное обеспечение определяет порядок выполнения операций.

2. Прикладные программы выполняют поставленную вами конкретную задачу.

3. Этот класс программ – самый многочисленный и перспективный с точки зрения маркетинга.

4. Системные программы предназначены для конкретных устройств компьютерной системы.

5. Устанавливая драйвер, вы «учите» систему «понимать» вновь присоединенное устройство.

6. Когда компьютер впервые включается, одна из системных программ должна быть загружена в его память.

7. Развитие систем электронной коммуникации за последние 5 лет стимулировало производство соответствующих программных продуктов возрастающим числом компаний-разработчиков.

Exercise 21

Group discussion

1. What do you think is more expensive – hardware or software?

2. Why do you think piracy (audio, video, computer software) still exist?