Foundation year
Lec.3: Computer Software
Computer For Health Sciences
COMP101
Lecturer: Dalia Mirghani
Year: 2014/2015
Software
1. OPERATING SYSTEMS
• The operating system or`OS is the foundation software
of a computer, that which schedules tasks, allocates
storage, and presents a default interface to the user
between applications.
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Some Functions of an Operating System:
1. Boot-up the computer.
2. Control the hard drives. (This includes such features as
formatting and defragmenting disks ).
3. Control input devices such as keyboards, mice and scanners.
4. Control output devices such as the video display and printer.
5. Control the external ports.
(Ports are the external connections that enable peripheral
devices to be connected to a computer. The important types of
ports are USB ports).
6. Provide the functionality for computers to be linked in a
network.
7. Provide the foundation for application software to be launched.
8. Enable application software to access and use the hardware.
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Operating systems can be classified as follows:
1. Multi-user
A multi-user operating system allows for multiple users
to use the same computer at the same time and
different times, examples :
Linux, Unix , and Windows 2000 (Server)
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Operating systems can be classified as follows:
2. Single-user, single task
This operating system is designed to manage the
handheld computers so that one user can effectively
do one thing at a time, example:
The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers .
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Operating systems ( Cont….)
3. Single-user, multi-tasking
Most people uses this operating system on their
desktop and laptop computers today,
Microsoft's Windows , Apple's Mac OS
Linux
Windows
Android
Mac
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Operating systems ( Cont….)
4. Real-time operating system (RTOS)
Is a computer operating system designed to handle
events as they occur. It commonly found and used in
robotics, cameras, and Medical devices (medical
imaging, nuclear medicine, medical diagnostics and
several medical applications).
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Popular Medical Operating Systems:
1. LynxOS:
GENIE Acquisition system
Nuclear Medicine Imaging
System
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Popular Medical Operating Systems:
2. QNX Neutrino RTOS
Medical Reference Design
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Graphical User Interface
(GUI)
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Old Operating System
Microsoft Disk operating system,
MS-DOS
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Graphical user interface
• Graphical user interface (GUI), is a type of user
interface that allows users to interact with electronic
devices through graphical icons.
• The most widely used type of graphical user
interfaces are WIMP systems. WIMP stands for
Windows Icons Menu Pointer.
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GUI basic components:
1) Pointer : A symbol that appears on the display
screen
and
that
you
move
to select objects and commands.
2) Pointing device : A device, such as a mouse, light
pen that enables you to select objects on the display
screen.
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GUI basic components:
3) Icons : Small pictures that represent commands, files,
or windows.
4) Desktop : The area on the screen that displays the
icons, gadgets, and taskbar.
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GUI basic components (Cont…)
5) Windows: You can divide the screen into different
areas. In each window, you can run a different
program or display a different file.
6) Menus : Most graphical user interfaces let you
execute commands by selecting a choice from a
menu.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of
GUI’s:
• Advantages:
 This type of interface is easy to use, especially for
a beginner.
 Easy to explore and find your way around the
system using a WIMP/GUI interface.
 Let you exchange data between different
software application.
• Disadvantage:
 Require a lot of memory (RAM) to run.
 Take up a much amount of hard disc space.
 They use more processing power.
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2. Programming Languages
Programming Language present a simplified means to execute
a series of instructions. It consists of a vocabulary and an
accompanying set of rules that tell the computer how to work.
Popular languages include:
- C++.
- COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language).
- Java.
- Visual Basic.
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Language Generations
1- Machine languages are the lowest level and
consist of numbers only.
2- Assembly languages are the next generation of
languages, that give the programmer the ability to
use names instead of numbers when telling the
computer what to do.
3- High level languages enables programmers to
develop software applications using ordinary words
and symbols rather than binary numbers.
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3. Applications Software
 Applications software (Also known as 'apps') are designed to
allow the user of the system complete a specific task or set of tasks.
Major types of applications or programs include the
following:
1) General – purpose software such as:
Word processor,
communications programs,
3. Applications Software
2) Educational programs such as:
Training software, Computer – assisted learning (Internet).
3) Utility programs are a group of software programs that help
with the management or maintenance of the computer and
protection of the computer from the unwanted intrusion such as:
Virus scanners, personal firewalls,
3. Applications Software
4) Personal programs help people manage their personal lives such
as: Calculators , calendars.
5) Entertainment programs
The class of software programs that the industry has designed for
fun such as:
Games an, simulations.
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Queries???
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