W2 Computer Software

• Computer software


  General term for various kinds of programs used to operate computers and related devices
• Purposes of computer software


  • Translate instructions created in human language into machine language
  • Packaged or stored software is needed to make the computer an economic work tool
• Augusta Ada Byron (1815-1852)


  Mathematician who described the concept of a stored computer program
• Loop concept


  • Use of automatic repetitious arithmetic steps that the analytical engine would follow to solve a problem
• Augusta Ada Byron was the first programmer in computer history
• Charles Babbage (1792-1871)


  Invented (but never built) a device that he named the analytical machine, which could perform mathematical function and instructions communicated the machine
• John von Neumann (1903-1957)


  Proposed that both data and instructions could be stored in the computer and that the instructions could be automatically carried out
• The stored program concept was subsequently implemented as a major concept in the evolution of the computer
• America's founders decreed that a census be taken every 10 years and the first census was done


  August 2, 1790
• In 1860, it was found that the manual method of processing census were inadequate
• Joseph Jacquard


  A weaver from France who invented the Jacquard Loom, a device that uses blocks of wood with holes drilled in such a way that the threads to be woven into cloth could form a program to the loom
• Herman Hollerith (1860-1929)


  Used Jacquard's ideas but developed a machine that could read punched cards and tabulate the result. Patented his machine and punched-card system, and formed a company called "Tabulating Machine" which soon became "International Business Machine (IBM)"
• Keypunch machines and punched-card readers were withdrawn from the computer centers. IBM discontinued selling its puncher thus stopped the promotion of the punched-card method of entering programs and data into computers

  1984 - mid-1980s
• Grace Murray Hopper


  Mother of Computing, worked with the first digital (Mark I and mainframe) computers, developed many concepts and mathematical foundations of computer programming science, recognized that obscure assembly and machine-like programming languages limited access to the computer and therefore the utility of the machines, her work formed the foundation for the first truly English-like language (COBOL), had an early vision of computers working independently and together so that more could be accomplished
• System software


  A program that manages and supports the computer resources and operations of a computer system while it executes various tasks such as processing data and information, controlling hardware components, and allowing users to use application software
• System software


  • Starts up and initializes the computer system
  • Considered the first level of system control since it searches the OS in the hard drive and loads it in the RAM as the computer is turned on
  • Consists of instructions permanently burned onto a computer chip
• Basic I/O System (BIOS)


  Considered the first level of system control since it searches the OS in the hard drive and loads it in the RAM as the computer is turned on
• Operating System (OS)


  Responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of the computer, acts as a host for applications that are run on the machine, handles the details of the operation of the hardware relieving application programs from managing these details and makes it easier to write applications
• DOS (Disk Operating System)


  A medium through which the user and external devices attached to the system communicate with the system, translates the command issued by the user in the format that is understandable by the computer and instruct computer to work accordingly, also translates the result and any error message in the format for the user to understand
• GUI (Graphical User Interface)


  A program that enables a person to communicate with a computer through the use of symbols, visual metaphors, and pointing devices, replaced the arcane and difficult textual interfaces of earlier computing with a relatively intuitive system that has made computer operation not only easier to learn but more pleasant and natural
• Utility programs


  Designed to enhance the functions of the OS or to add facilities that the basic OS does not offer, include programs that provide algorithms (formulae) for efficiently sorting a large set of numbers or character-based items, copying files or parts of files, security programs, and the like, language translation utilities, www and web browsers
• Application software


  Programs that specify the information processing activities required for the completion of specific tasks of computer users
• Common software used in nursing practice

  Hospital Information System (HIS) including Admission, Discharge and Transfer (ADT) systems and Medication Administration Record (MAR) software<|>Charting software that computerizes patient records
• Packages sold with computers

  • Word processing
  • Presentation
  • Database system programs
  • Spreadsheet
• Computer software types


  Web browsers<|>Media players<|>Application software<|>Content access software
• Web browsers


  • Software for presenting, traversing and retrieving information resources on the Worldwide Web (www)
  • Examples: Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
• Media players


  • Software for playing back multimedia files (music, videos or both)
• Application software


  • Software presenting and managing information
• Content access software


  • Software for accessing information resources
• 3D computer graphics software

  • Animation software
  • Game development software (e.g. Maya, SketchUp, Blender)
• Common software used in nursing practice

  • Hospital information system (HIS)
  • Admission, Discharge and Transfer (ADT) systems
  • Medication Administration Record (MAR) software
  • Charting software
  • Computerized Patient Acuity System
  • Hospital e-mail system
• Chat rooms


  Electronic conference calls where multiple users can send and receive messages at the same time (synchronous)
• Social network


  Web addresses designed to create online communities focused around common interests, goals, or for people to interact
• Electronic bulletin board


  Early form of computer conferencing where users can post messages at their convenience (asynchronous)
• Reference software used in nursing practice

  • Drug guides
  • Medical dictionaries
  • Consult guides
  • Nursing books (E-Books)
• Program


  Result of expressing the algorithm in a programming language
• Algorithm


  Organized instruction sets
• Programming


  The process of writing an algorithm using programming language
• Programmer


  The person writing the set of instructions using programming languages
• Categories of programming languages

  • Machine language
  • Assembler language
  • High level procedural language
  • Non-procedural language
  • Natural language