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PRINCIPLES OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Understanding Types &
Uses of Software
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Lesson Objectives
■ Define operating systems software
■ Identify fundamentals of operating systems software
■ Define application software
■ Identify components of operating systems software
■ Identify open source and proprietary licenses
■ Demonstrate proper use of system management tools
IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software
All rights reserved.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013.
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Operating Systems Software
Definition:
An operating system, also called OS, is
program code/software that tells the
computer hardware what to do.
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Operating Systems Software Fundamentals
■ When a computer is turned on, it first begins
a Power-On Self Test, often referred to as
POST.
■ The OS is responsible for the look of the
desktop at power-up.
■ The OS usually is loaded onto the hard drive
memory of the computer.
■ The OS allows the hardware pieces to
communicate with each other.
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Operating Systems Software Fundamentals
■ The OS displays icons on the desktop of different
programs/applications that are loaded onto the computer.
■ Application software: programs written to perform a specific
function specified by the user such as Word processing or a
spreadsheet application.
■ As the user is creating a document, the OS is what allows the
key presses on the keyboard to register as alphabet
characters, or numbers, or symbols on the application.
■ When you save the document, it is the OS that allows the
document to be placed in the memory on the drive the user
selects.
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Operating Systems Software Fundamentals
■ Most modern Operating Systems have a user friendly GUI
■ GUI: stands for Graphical User Interface
■ Example of GUI: Most current Operating Systems use the
same basic picture/icons for each window using graphics:
– Each button in the upper right corner performs the same function,
no matter which window or application you have open
– Minimize
– Maximize/Restore
– Close
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Operating Systems Software Components
■ If you open the control panel you will
see many available
components/functions of the
operating system
■ Adding new hardware
■ Security settings
■ Performance Tools
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Operating Systems Software Components
■ Display/Appearance
– Desktop color
– Desktop background
– Screensaver
– Sounds
– Mouse Pointers
– Monitor Resolution
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Proprietary vs.
Open Source Software
■ Proprietary: software that is the property of the
maker and can be used by the purchaser/customer
but only with certain restrictions. It can’t be
reproduced, modified, or resold by the customer.
■ Open source: software that allows the user to modify
the program structure/ computer code. Users may
distribute the modified version.
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