24 TOPIC 1

KEY TERMS

application software:
a type of software that
provides services needed by the user
database: a collection of data that is related
software: the instructions that tell a computer what to do
systems software: a type
of software that provides
services needed by the computer

Microsoft applications
ACTIVITY 12
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

An employee has a file that is 100 MiB. How would you calculate how many
bytes are in the file?
If the employee sends the file to another employee across a 5 gigabit
connection, how would you calculate how long this would take in seconds?

SOFTWARE

Software is all the instructions that tell a computer what to do. There are
several different types of software that you are going to learn about.

SYSTEMS SOFTWARE VS APPLICATION SOFTWARE

The two main types of software used by a computer are systems software and
application software.

The purpose of systems software is to allow the computer to run efficiently. It

helps to maintain the computer and perform tasks that the computer needs. It
also allows the user to interact with the computer and control the hardware.
Examples of systems software include:

operating system

antivirus

firewall

drivers

disk defragmentation

compression software.

Microsoft Apps

×目
Excel
P

Word
ES

Power- Point
OneNote

OneDrive
Skype
The purpose of application software is to perform services for the user. It
allows the user to use the computer to carry out tasks. Examples of
application software include:

word processor - to create a CV for a job, to produce business reports and so

on

spreadsheet - to create a budget for household bills, to track company

expenditure, etc.

database - to store a list of products and prices and to track sales

photo editing software - to change the lighting effects on images

video editing software - to create a video for an online advertising campaign

web browser - to search for information on the internet

games - to have some relaxation time.

TOPIC 1

KEY TERMS

driver: a type of systems software that allows devices to communicate with

the operating system interrupt: a type of signal that is sent to the processor in
a computer to gets its attention multitasking: when multiple tasks are
executed by a computer at the same time
operating system: a type
of systems software that manages the hardware and software in a computer
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

THE ROLE OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM

25

The operating system in a computer is a very important piece of software. It

allows a user to interact with the computer as well as manages lots of
processes within the computer. There are four main areas that the operating
system manages; these are:

managing devices

managing processes

Managing devices
managing users

managing security.
The operating system manages devices using the peripheral devices that are
connected to the computer. A computer cannot be used without input and
output devices, so managing these devices is important. Some examples of
peripheral devices managed by the operating system are:

keyboard

mouse

monitor
printer

scanner.

Not all peripherals and computers are built to use the same computer-based
languages. This means that there needs to be a system that can translate
between the two to make them compatible. A driver is used for this purpose,
and drivers are managed by the operating system. The operating system
allows the correct drivers to be installed to make sure that the peripheral
device and the computer can communicate effectively.
A peripheral device will send a signal called an interrupt to the computer
when it needs to get
the processor's attention about a task. The operating system manages these
interrupt signals and decides which interrupts to send to the processor.

Managing processes
Thousands of processes are carried out each second in a computer. The
operating system manages the process of moving data to and from storage
and memory within the computer. It moves data in and out of the RAM. It
makes sure that enough memory is allocated to each task that needs to be
performed by the computer. It also makes sure that no two tasks try to access
the memory locations in the RAM.
You will often want to do more than one task at a time on a computer. You
could be listening to music while researching information on the web to do
your homework. When multiple tasks are being done on the computer at the
same time, the computer uses multitasking. This is when the processor is able
to process more than one task at a time. The operating system decides which
tasks need to be processed next and how long the computer should spend
doing each task, before switching to another.

Managing users
There are several ways in which an operating system manages the needs of
the user. These are as follows.

It provides the user with an interface that they can use to interact with the
computer. This is often a graphical user interface. This means that it has
features like windows, icons, menus and pointers to help the user.

It allows different users to create their own account on the same computer.
26 TOPIC 1
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

It allows users to use a range of actions with their files, such as open, close,
move, delete and copy files.

It provides a platform to run application software that allows the user to use
the computer for different tasks.

Managing security
The operating system can provide a range of security features for a computer.
These include the following.

Allowing users to set a username and password for their account.

Allowing levels of access to be set for data that is normally linked to a

username. This means that certain users can be restricted from seeing data on
the computer or from doing anything more than viewing it. This can ensure
that data is kept confidential if necessary. It can also make sure that data is not
accidentally deleted by a user.

Running utility software such as antivirus, anti-malware and a firewall to keep

a computer safe from various types of threats.
TOPIC 1
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
27

TABLE 1.4: SOURCES OF SOFTWARE (Continued)

KEY TERM

Creative Commons: an organisation that provides different types of licences

for software distribution
Source Creative Commons
Description
Creative Commons is an organisation that provides licences so that people can
distribute their software. The licences use a standard way to give permission
on how their software can be used by setting copyright terms. There are four
different types of Creative Commons licence.
• Attribution - to use the software code you must credit the author of the
software.

• Share Alike - to create a modification of the software, it must also have the
share alike licence.

Software licences
Non-commercial - the software must only be used for non-commercial
purposes.
No derivatives - a user can modify the software but they cannot share a
modification of the software.

Table 1.5 shows the different types of licences under which software is
distributed.

TABLE 1.5: SOFTWARE LICENSING MODELS

SKILLS

CREATIVITY

KEY TERMS

free software: software that allows the user to study, modify and share the
source code; a fee can be charged for the software
open-source software: software that allows the user to study, modify and
share the source code; a fee is not charged for the software
proprietary software:
software that is not
distributed with the
source code
ACTIVITY 13

Create an infographic that could be displayed on your classroom wall to show

the different roles of an operating system.

SOURCES OF SOFTWARE
Software is developed by thousands of individuals and organisations around
the world. Table 1.4 shows the different sources from which software can be
obtained.

TABLE 1.4: SOURCES OF SOFTWARE

Source

Free
Description
Free software is software that is developed and then released, allowing the
user a wide range of freedom to study the source code for the software,
modify it and share it. The reference to 'free' in the software title does not
mean that the software is distributed without a fee. It refers to the freedom
that the user has with the software. Software that is available without a fee is
actually called freeware. One example of free software is Firefox.
Open-source Open-source software is similar to free software. It allows the
user to study,
modify and share the software code. Open-source software is nearly always
provided without a fee. Audacity is an example of open-source software.
Open-source software relies on large communities to develop and test the
software to improve it.
Proprietary
Proprietary software is software that is not distributed with the source code.
The source code is protected, meaning that the user cannot see it and is not
able to study, modify or redistribute the code. One benefit of proprietary
software is that it is extensively tested by the developer, and the developer
will also offer support for the software. One example of proprietary software
is Microsoft Office.
Licence
Single user

Multiple user

Institutional

Fixed term

Indefinite

Network
Description
This type of licence allows a single user to use the software. It is typically
designed so that the software can only be installed and used on a single
computer.
This type of licence allows the software to be installed and used on a set
number of computers. For example, a five user licence can be installed on five
different computers. The set number of computers often needs to be within
the same building. This type of licence allows all computers that belong to an
organisation to have software installed on them. The fee for this type of
licence is normally based on an approximate number of users in the
organisation. For example, 1 to 20 users would mean a particular set fee,
while 21 to 40 users would be a higher fee. This type of licence allows
software to be installed and used for a fixed period of time. After the fixed
period of time the payment for the software can either be cancelled or it can
be renewed for another fixed period of time. This type of licence has now been
adopted by many companies, including Microsoft. Microsoft Office requires a
subscription from users, normally on a yearly basis.
An indefinite software licence is also known as a perpetual licence. It allows a
user to use the software indefinitely. With this type of software, the user
normally pays a single fee upfront that allows them to buy the software, then
the user can use the software on an ongoing basis without any further
payment.
This type of licence is based on where the software is installed. It means that
the software is installed on a server in the network, and any client computers
that are part of the network and connected to the server can use the software.
(Continued)
28 TOPIC 1

KEY TERMS

automatic software
update: a setting that can
be applied to software
updates to install
them without a user's intervention
compatibility issues: problems that can arise when an update
to software causes the
software to not function properly
software patch: a set of changes used to fix errors
Updating software
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Once software has been installed on a computer it is likely that it will need to
be regularly updated. This is to make sure that the software has the most up-
to-date code that is available. Developers release software updates for several
reasons, including to:

fix any bugs that have been reported

add new features to the software

improve the security of the software

change the look of the interface for the software.

Table 1.6 shows the different ways that software updates can be released by a
developer.

TABLE 1.6: TYPES OF SOFTWARE UPDATE

Type of update
Patch
Automatic

or improve functionality in software

Upgrade

software upgrade: a
whole new version of
existing software that
contains new features and functionality

SKILLS

ANALYSIS, REASONING
Description
A software patch is normally a quick-fix that is released by a software
developer to fix a set of errors or improve functionality. It is often used to
quickly fix a security vulnerability that has been found in the software. Open-
source software can often be poorly supported with software patches if the
community stops developing the software and updating it. An automatic
software update is an update that does not require the user to continually
consent to the software being updated. The user can set the software to have
automatic updates. This means that the software will be updated
automatically every time the software developer releases an update. Large
software developers like Microsoft are constantly updating their software and
will recommend that automatic updates are set. This is to make sure that a
user's software is without errors and known security vulnerabilities are fixed.
A software upgrade is normally a whole new version of an existing software
that contains lots of new features and functionality. This type of update
normally completely replaces the old version of the software with
a new version.

One issue that can arise from updating software is compatibility issues. This
means that the update to the software causes the software to not function
properly. One example of this is the software update being designed to run on
newer hardware, so it doesn't run efficiently on older hardware. Another
example of this would be an operating system being updated and no longer
supporting older hardware or applications.

ACTIVITY 14

You need to have the skills to select software to meet the needs and
requirements of an individual or organisation. This activity will help you.
Selma is a software developer who has a new application that she wants to
release. She needs to choose which type of software she wants to release. She
could release the application as free software, open-source software or
proprietary software, or choose a Creative Commons licence. Selma is worried
about her source code being stolen, but likes the idea of people being able to
modify her software to suit their needs.

Analyse the suitability of each of these software types and write a

recommendation for Selma to state which one she should choose and why.
TOPIC 1
SKILLS

ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

THINKING LIKE AN IT SPECIALIST

Software development is a huge industry that creates thousands of new
applications each year. Many of these applications are for mobile devices.
Some of these applications will be free software, some will be open source,
some will be proprietary. Can you think of an idea for an application? Would
you release your application as free software, open-source software or
proprietary software? Why?

CHECKPOINT

1. What are two features of a device that make it more portable?

2. What are two ways in which devices can be connected?

3. What is a biometric device and what kind of feature is it an example of?
4. What is a microprocessor and what is its role in an embedded system?
5. How can RAID storage be used to increase the performance of a computer?

6. What are two examples of systems software?

7. What are two examples of application software?

8. What is the Creative Commons?

9. What is an institutional software licence?

10. What is a software patch?

EXAM PRACTICE
1. A laptop uses firmware.
29

(a) State the purpose of firmware.

[1 mark]
(b) Give one example of an item that is present in firmware.
[1 mark]
(c) A printer is connected to the laptop.
Identify the most appropriate type of wired connection to connect the printer
to the laptop. Write the correct letter in your exercise book.
[1 mark]
A HDMI cable

B USB cable

C
Ethernet cable

D VGA cable

2. A computer uses systems software and application software.

(a) Explain the difference between systems software and application software.
[2 marks]
(b) The computer has an operating system. One role of the operating system
is to manage users.

(i) Give two ways an operating system manages users.

(ii) Give one other role of the operating system.
[2 marks]
[1 mark]
30 TOPIC 1
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

(b) A finance organisation buys an institutional licence for the software.

3. A software development company releases their software as proprietary
software.
(a) Explain what is meant by proprietary software.
[2 marks]
Describe what the institutional licence allows the finance organisation to do.
[2 marks]

4. An employee has a text file that has 12288 characters. Each character in the
file is 1 byte.
(a) Calculate the size of the text file in kibibytes.
[1 mark]
(b) Calculate the size of the file in bits.
[1 mark]
(c) The employee sends a 30 GiB file to another employee across their
network
that uses a 10 megabit per second ethernet connection.
Construct an expression to show how long, in seconds, it should take to
transfer the file.
[3 marks]
UNIT 1

TOPIC 2

NETWORKS
一期

Connection and communication are a big part of our lives and society. The
development of networks has led to more opportunities for us to connect and
communicate. In this topic you will learn about many different types of
networks and the components that are used to create them. This includes the
different kinds of connection that we can make between our devices, such as
wired and wireless connections. The development of networks has also
created security issues when using our devices. You will learn what some of
these security issues are and how we can help keep our devices safe when
using a network.
31
62 TOPIC 2
NETWORKS

3. The table contains terms and descriptions of network metrics.

Copy and complete the table with the missing terms and descriptions.

Term
[4 marks]

Description This is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred from
one device to another in a set amount of time.
Latency
This is the amount of data that actually passes through the network from one
device to another in a set amount of time.
Error rate

4. The OSI model is a model on which protocols are based. It has seven
different layers.
(a) Copy and complete the diagram to show the missing layers of the OSI
model. The
layers should be shown in order.

Application
[4 marks]

Transport

Physical

(b) Describe the role of the transport layer in the OSI model.
[3 marks]

5. An IP address can have an IPv4 or an IPv6 format.

Explain three differences between an IPv4 and IPv6 format.

[6 marks]
6. Explain how a firewall can be used to help keep data that is stored
on a computer safe.
[4 marks]
UNIT 1

TOPIC 3

THE ONLINE ENVIRONMENT

Many of us use the internet and the world wide web on a daily basis, but what
do we really know about them? In this topic you will learn about different
types of web pages and the scripting methods that are used to build them.
You will also learn about online environments and online communities, and
how they are used by people as places of work, places to share information
and places to connect about shared interests. When we use the internet, we
leave a digital footprint. You will learn how this happens and how we can
make sure that we are responsible about the digital footprint that we leave.
There are also risks to using the internet surrounding our personal data and
identity, and some of these risks are linked to cloud computing. You will learn
to recognise these risks, understand the impact they have and learn how to
keep yourself safe when online.
6
63