Principles of Information

Technology
Understanding Types &
Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

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

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

Operating Systems Software

Definition:
An operating system, also called OS, is
program code/software that tells the computer
hardware what to do.

IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

Operating Systems
Software Fundamentals

When a computer is turned on, it first begins a Power-On

Self Test, often referred to as POST.
During the POST, you may hear a series of beeps.
Depending on the manufacturer of the hardware, you
could hear any combination of long or short beeps, and
each combination has its own meaning.
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.
IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

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.
IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

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

IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

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

IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

Operating Systems
Software Components

Display/Appearance

Desktop color
Desktop background
Screensaver
Sounds
Mouse Pointers
Monitor Resolution

IT: PIT: Understanding Types & Uses of Software

Copyright Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.

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 cant 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.