The document discusses the distinction between application software and system software, outlining that application software serves specific tasks while system software governs hardware functionality. It highlights the responsibilities of operating systems, including input/output management, memory management, and security, as well as the roles of utilities like antivirus programs and file management systems. The document also describes graphical user interfaces (GUIs) designed to simplify user interaction with computer systems.

1. Systems and Software

2. Applications software
 Application software allows users to perform useful tasks by
being applied to a particular problem. Application software
would not normally be applied to the management of the
resources of the computer such as memory or time spent
processing jobs.
 Application software is used for a specific job and purpose or
application ( hence the name) such as ordering, payroll,
stock control, games, creating websites, image editing and
so on.
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3. Operating
System
Graphical
User
Interface
SYSTEMS
SOFTWARE
File
Management
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Utilities

4. Systems software
 System Software controls the computer hardware and thus
providing a platform for application software to do a useful
task.
 The majority of these programs are supplied by the
manufacturer of a particular hardware component within your
computer. However, some are supplied with the operating
system such as “Windows explorer” which allows you to
access files.
 System software consists of four programmes: the operating
system, Graphical User interface (or GUI), file management
and utilities.
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5. Operating systems
 The main purpose of an operating system is to allow the
applications to interact with computer hardware, lets it
behave in a predictable way so that the application software
can use it.
 The operating system performs specialist tasks vital to the
functioning of the computer or other device with an operating
system. These are:
Diagnostic
checks
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Input/output
management
Memory/data
management
Security and
other tasks

6. Diagnostic checks
 This is when the operating system performs and initial check
of the entire system when the computer is switched on (e.g.
booted up).
 These preliminary checks are very important for the safety
and smooth running of the computer, as it shows any
problems within the operating system.
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7. Input/output management
 The operating system controls the receipt of inputted data
from the input devices such as the keyboard, mouse or touch
screen..
 It also controls the output of information by sending it to the
monitor and/or other output devices.
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8. Memory/Data management
 The operating system also controls the memory and data
aspects of the computer as well as the input and output
processes.
 It controls the memory allocated by programs, as multiple
programs could be held in memory simultaneously.
 It also controls the flow of data to and from the main
processor, as well as working out where to store the data on
the hard disk drive.
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9. Security and extra information
 The operating system deals with security issues such as
usernames and passwords.
 It also handles the interrupts occur when an application
software contains bugs or if there was a hardware fault.
 Some of the current most popular operating systems include
Windows, Macintosh os-x, UNIX and Linux.
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10. Utilities
 A utility is a program that performs a very specific task and a
series of utilities comes as part of the systems software.
 Utilities are not widely regarded as applications because they
are fairly simple and will only perform one very specific task,
which is always related in some way to managing the
computers main resources.
 Examples of utilities include:
File
converters
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Virus
scanners

11. File Converters
 File converters convert computer data inputted into a system
from one format to the another.
 Each computer program handles data in a different manner.
 Whenever any one of these variable is changed, data must
be converted in some way before it can be used by a
different computer, operating system or program.
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12. Virus Scanners (Anti-Virus
Software)
 Antivirus or anti-virus software is software used to prevent,
detect and remove malware such as: computer viruses,
malicious BHOs, hijackers, ransom ware, key loggers,
backdoors, rootkits, Trojan horses, worms, malicious LSPs,
diallers, fraud tools, adware and spyware.
 Computer security, including protection from social
engineering techniques, is commonly offered in products and
services of antivirus software companies, such as MacAfee
and Norton security.
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13. File management
 A file manager or file browser is a computer program that
provides a user interface to work with file systems.
 The most common operations performed on files or groups of
files are: create, open, edit, view, print, play, rename, move,
copy, delete and search/find.
 More complex operations include the ability to modify file
attributes, properties and file permissions.
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14. Graphical User Interfaces
 A Graphical user interface (GUI) is a type of user interface
that allows users to interact with electronic devices and files
through graphical icons and visual indicators.
 GUIs were produced to enable people with basic IT
knowledge access the computers files and devices with
ease, as learning how to use a command input interface was
complicated and took time.
 GUI’s are used by virtually everybody, with experience or not,
and are used on virtually all of the operating systems around
the globe (including mobile devices), including Mac OS and
windows being the most popular.
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