The Five Parts of an Information System
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The Five Parts of an Information System
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The Five Parts of an Information System
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The Five Parts of an Information System
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The Five Parts of an Information System
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Software
• Application Software - helping endusers perform general purpose tasks
• System software - enables application software to interact with the computer
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Software
• Application Software - helps end-users perform general purpose tasks
• System software - enables application software to interact with the computer
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Software
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Software
End User
An end user is anyone who uses a microcomputer or has access to larger computers - that’s nearly everyone in today’s workforce. They enter commands and typically interact with application programs.
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Software
Application Software
Programs to create, organize, analyze, present and communicate information. For example, Excel is a spreadsheet application program that is used to analyze data.
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Software
System Software
“Background” programs that coordinate the application software requests with computer hardware.
Windows 2000 is a widely-used system program.
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Software
Computer Hardware
Devices that accept input, process data, store information, produce output and send communications. For example, a disk drive, keyboard, printer and modem are different types of computer hardware.
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• Packaged - “off the shelf”, pre-written programs (
General purpose)
• Custom - written for an organization’s specific purpose (Special purpose)
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Application Software - Basic Tools
• Word processors
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Application Software - Basic Tools
• Word processors
• Spreadsheets
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Application Software - Basic Tools
• Word processors
• Spreadsheets
• Database managers
• Graphics
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System Software
• “Background software”, manages the computer’s internal resources
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System Software
• Operating system
– Interface between application software
(and user) and the computer
– Runs programs
– Processes data
– Stores information
– Frees the user from complicated, technical tasks
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Examples of Microcomputer Operating
System Software
• DOS - original standard for
IBM compatibles
• Windows - a graphical operating environment
• Windows 2000, Windows
98
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Examples of Microcomputer Operating
System Software
• Windows NT - for powerful workstations & networks
• OS/2 - competitor to Windows 2000
• Macintosh Operating System
• Unix - originally for minicomputers, now used on microcomputers and
Internet servers
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