Computer Technology -- Software Application

Computer Technology -- Software Application Types

The term "computer software" generally applies to two entirely different types of computer programs: (1) operating system software and (2) program application software (Evans, 2004). Operating system software is built into the computer system in ways that are not intended for the general user to access or view. They control things such as the way that the computer processes sounds through its sound card, the way it processes visual images and various Interne media formats into images on a display screen. In principle, system software packages are the sets of instructions that enable the many components of the computer hardware to do what they are supposed to do; they also provide the language through which different parts of the computer system communicate (Evans, 2004).

By contrast, the computer's program application software is packages of instructions that allow the user to add specific functions to computers to meet their particular computing needs (Evans, 2004). For example, someone who uses computers mainly for online gaming would want to install program applications that add the capability to play specific games to the computer. A "gamer" might also add software applications that increase the speed the loading of visual images and the processing speed. Meanwhile, someone who uses a computer more for graphic design would want to add software applications that increased the ability of the computer to generate complex graphic image designs. Someone who uses a computer mainly for editing videos and films would add software packages that permit specific video editing capabilities that are only useful to someone working in that field (Evans, 2004).

The other principal difference between system software and program applications is that system software is intended to operate completely out of the view of the ordinary computer user (Kizza, 2005). There is generally no need for computer users to view or make any changes to system software. There is almost nothing beneficial that an ordinary computer user can accomplish by making any changes to the settings of system software. The various options and possible settings pertain to issues that most computer users do not even know exist, let alone what they do or how they interrelate with other elements of the computer (Kizza, 2005).

About the only time most computer users ever view or make changes to system software settings is during troubleshooting and diagnostic procedures at the direction of computer specialists or technicians (Kizza, 2005). Typical examples of the way that most computer users access system software settings is when they are experiencing computer problems and technicians relay instructions for users to follow (usually over the telephone) so that the technician can conduct standard system setting and software conflict checks remotely. Usually those types of service calls begin with the technician instructing the user to determine the computer's operating system by clicking the "My Computer" icon, then "Properties" and then the "General" tab to identify the operating system (Kizza, 2005).