Computer Software Falls Into One of Three

¶ … computer software falls into one of three categories: compilers and other translator programs, software applications, and system software. Describe and give examples of each.

All three types of software are essential for the successful operation of a computer. Compliers are the applications that translate programming code into actual software applications professionals can use to do their jobs. Examples are the compilers used for translating C++, C# or in legacy systems, COBOL, into actual applications for use. The compiler takes source code and transforms the many logic conditions, branching and definition statements present in source code into applications. Software applications are those programs that users interact with to do their jobs, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and millions of others. Applications are often designed to support a specific series of tasks or a significant process area of a business, as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is designed to accomplish for example. The third type of software, systems software, is the operating systems used for managing the many functions of the computer itself. The role of the operating system is that of orchestrator; it keeps the many subsystems, programs and subtasks that make an entire computer work synchronized so applications can complete tasks. Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7.0, 8,0 and the Apple Macintosh X are all examples of operating systems.

What are some of the ways that operating systems and user interfaces have evolved since the earliest PCs were introduced?

The evolution of user interfaces for operating systems has progressed rapidly over the last three decades. From the text-driven interfaces of the initial UNIX and MS-DOS operating systems to the initial graphical user interfaces of the Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Macintosh operating systems, the transition from text to graphical interfaces signaled the availability of systems for a much broader customer base of users. Following the transition fo text-based operating systems to relatively simple graphical interfaces, Apple and Microsoft led the development of highly sophisticated graphical user-interface-based operating systems capable of streamlining complex processes across an entire enterprise. The introduction of operating systems entirely graphically-based with Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 7 signaled another shift in the development of this type of software.

What are some advantages of using a spreadsheet over using a calculator to maintain a record of sports scores or workout summaries? Are there any disadvantages?

The most valuable advantages of using a spreadsheet over a calculator include the ability to see the history of the calculations or time, followed by the flexibility of graphing them over time, in addition to exporting the entire history of sports scores and workout summaries to other programs as well. The disadvantages are that the data is not as portable in digital form across all platforms, and that the data must always be entered in the given program to be traceable or measurable. A third limitation is constraints of the application itself. There may be additional calculations that would be interesting to do, yet if the application doesn't support it, a second or third application would need to be used.

If you enter "=A1*B1" in cell C1 of a worksheet, the formula is replaced by the number 125 when you press the enter key. What happened?

You multiplied A1 by B1 and received the result, which is 125. The figures in A1 and B1 could have been 5 and 25 respectively or any other combination of figures that would have led to 125 being the results of the multiplication.

Presentation-graphics software can produce good presentations and bad presentations. Describe several factors that distinguish the two.

Good presentations are those that minimally use text and tell a powerful story through images and graphics. Good presentations also take into account the audiences' needs and requirements. Bad presentations are packed full of figures and text, are difficult to read and attempt to define too many complex concepts quickly.

Which two technological factors limit the realism of a bitmapped image? How are these related to the storage of that image in the computer?