1. Software and Elements of
Information System
Lecture 4
Zikria Mian

2. Computer Software
• System Software
– Operating system
– Utility program
• Application software
– Software designed to assist users with their
personal tasks

3. Application software (continued)
• Examples
– MS Word
– Spreadsheet
– Database
– Project management
– Engineering (computer aided design
– Internet browsing
– Communication…….

4. Application software (continued)
• Installing and running Programs
– CDs
– DVDs
– Flash Disks
– Internet
• Software development
– C++, Java, Visual Basic, HTML etc

5. Computer categories
• Personal computers
– Styles
• PC
• Apple Mac
– Types
• Desktop computers
• Notebooks / Laptops

6. Computer categories (continued)
• Mobile computers
– Tablet PC
– Mobile devices
– UMPC
– PDA
– Smart phones
• Game consoles
– Sony
– Microsoft
– Nintendo

7. Computer categories (continued)
• Servers
– To manage networks
• Mainframes
– To manage multiple users spread to different
geographical locations
– Also act as servers
• Supercomputers
– For complex, sophisticated calculations e.g.
aerospace, medicine, nuclear energy research etc

8. Computer categories (continued)
• Embedded computers
– Digital electronics
– Automobiles
– Robotics

9. Examples of computer usage
• Home user
– Bills
– Banking
– Entertainment
– Shopping
– Communication
– Access to information
• Small office/home office user (SOHO)
– Basic helping softwares

10. Examples of computer usage
• Mobile user
– Emails
– File sharing
– Web access
• Power user
– Autocad
– Graphical tools
– Architectural tools etc
• Large business user
– Company performance monitoring
– Secure access to information etc

11. Elements of Information System
• For information to be valuable, it should be
accurate, organised, timely, accessible
and valuable. Five elements are required
to generate information
– Hardware
– Software
– Data
– People
– Procedures

12. Summary
• What is computer software and its types
• Computer categories
– Personal, mobile, servers, supercomputers
etc
• Examples of computer usage
• Elements of information system
– Hardware, software, people, procedures and
data