Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition 2
Objectives
• Explain the difference between application software and system software
• Enumerate the different generations of programming languages and explain how they differ
• Cite the latest major developments in application and system software
• Identify and explain the roles of Web programming languages
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Objectives (continued)
• Explain the types and uses of Web site design tools
• Clarify the differences between proprietary software and open source software
• List characteristics that are important in evaluating packaged software applications for business use
• Understand the problem of software piracy and how it affects businesses and consumers
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Software: Instructions to the Hardware
• Applications: computer programs that contribute to productivity
• Software: a series of instructions to a computer to execute processes
• Two major categories of software:– Application software: enables task completion
– System software: • Enables applications to run on a computer• Manages components and devices
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Programming Languages and Software Development Tools
• Programs are needed for every computer operation• Programming: process of writing programs• Machine language: the only language that
hardware understands– Consists of long strings of 0s and 1s
• Assembly language: easier to program than machine language because it uses words for commands
• High-level programming languages: use English-like statements
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Programming Languages and Software Development Tools (continued)
• Software development tools: develop software with little knowledge of programming languages
• Third-generation languages (3GLs): known as “procedural” languages– Programmer must detail logical procedure
– Includes languages such as COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, RPG, Pascal, and C
– One 3GL statement = five to 10 assembly language statements
Programming Languages and Software Development Tools (continued)
• Fourth-generation languages (4GLs): use more English-like statements – Speed up the development process
– Built around database management systems
– Include many preprogrammed procedures
– One 4GL statement = several 3GL statements
• Debugging: process of locating and fixing program errors
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Programming Languages and Software Development Tools (continued)
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Visual Programming
• Visual programming languages: create graphical screen objects by selecting icons from a palette
• Common visual programming languages include:– Microsoft Visual Basic
– Borland Delphi
– Micro Focus COBOL
– ASNA Visual RPG
– Visual C++
• Developer can still work at the code level
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Object-Oriented Programming
• Object-oriented programming (OOP): modular approach to programming
• Advantages:– Ease of maintenance
– Efficiency in application development
• Object: contains data elements (data members) and the methods to manipulate that data– Data members can only be accessed through the
object’s methods
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Object-Oriented Programming (continued)
• Objects are reusable and are combined to create complex programs
• Popular OOP languages include Smalltalk, C++, Object Pascal, and Java
• Increasing amount of software developed for the Web using languages such as Java, JavaScript, J2EE, and PHP
• Applet: code produced by a Web programming language– Runs same way on different operating systems
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Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters
• Source code: program as originally written by the developer
• Object code: program in machine language that can be run by the computer
• Procedural languages need programs to translate source code to object code
• Two types of language translators: – Compilers
– Interpreters
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Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters (continued)
• Compiler: translates entire source code to object code but does not execute the code– Scans for syntax errors
– Generates error messages if syntax errors found
• Interpreter: scans one statement at a time– If error-free, interprets and executes the
statement
– Goes through the program until an error or end of program is encountered
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Language Translation: Compilers and Interpreters (continued)
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Application Software
• Application software allows nonprogrammers to develop their own tools
• Application-specific software: programs designed to perform specific jobs
• General-purpose application software: programs that serve multiple purposes– Usually comes as packaged software
• Packaged software: software that is ready to install from external storage media such as CDs
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Office Productivity Applications
• Productivity tools: assist normal office work– Include word processors, spreadsheets,
presentation tools, file/database software, graphics programs, desktop publishing tools, and project management applications
• Word processors: used to create text documents
• Spreadsheets: store numbers and perform complex mathematical, statistical, and financial analysis functions
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Office Productivity Applications (continued)
• Presentation tools: develop impressive presentations quickly
• File/database management tools: create and manipulate local or shared databases
• Graphics programs: create intricate graphical images and manipulate digital photographs
• Desktop publishing tools: develop items for publication, such as pamphlets, newsletters, cards, calendars, etc.
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Office Productivity Applications (continued)
• Project management tools: help plan projects and track progress
• Suite: collection of various applications that perform multiple interrelated functions– Includes Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite,
OpenOffice.org, ThinkFree
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Hypermedia and Multimedia
• Hypermedia: a feature that enables users to access information by clicking text or graphics
• Web page authoring tools: enable hypermedia features– Often part of other applications such as word
processors and presentation tools
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Hypermedia and Multimedia (continued)
• Multimedia software: handles many different types of data
• Often used in:– Education: lessons presented in multimedia
– Training exercises
– Compiling and integrating data for business situations
Mashups
• Mashup: an integrated application containing some or all features from several applications– Provides enhanced features for the end user
• Web site design tools: used to change the content of Web pages– Includes FrontPage, SharePoint Designer,
Expression Web from Microsoft, Adobe Dreamweaver, and GoLive
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Groupware
• Groupware: an application that enables workers to collaborate in real time over Web– Integration of multimedia technology and Web
technology
– Allows for remote collaboration
– Eliminates travel times and facilitates expression and exchange of ideas
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Virtual Reality• Virtual reality (VR): an application that mimics
sensory reality using software– Simulates sight, hearing, and touch
– Uses equipment such as goggles, gloves, earphones, and moving bases
• VR devices provide two elements:– Immersion: user senses that she/he is
surrounded by the simulated environment
– Interaction: allows users to simulate changes in the environment using VR devices
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Virtual Reality (continued)
• VR environment senses movement, responds to signals, and provides feedback to user
• Businesses use VR to decrease cost of planning buildings, machines, and vehicles
• Avatar: an imaginary figure used to represent real person
• VR on the Web includes public gathering applications– Second Life: an imaginary world using avatars to
allow real people to meet and communicate
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3D Geographic Software
• Similar to virtual reality
• Used to develop three-dimensional models of geographic locations
• Models are created from land and aerial photographs
• Helps with navigation when tied to global positioning system software
• Useful for city planners, service agencies, tourism, and travel agencies
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System Software
• System software: deals with essential operations between the user and computer such as:– Loading, copying, and deleting files
– Managing memory resources
– Operating peripheral equipment
– Encompasses compilers and interpreters
• Applications must be compatible with system software
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Operating Systems
• Operating system (OS): most important program on the computer– Recognizes input from keyboard and mouse
– Sends output to computer display
– Keeps track of files and directories
– Runs applications
– Manages memory
• Usually developed using low-level programming languages such as assembly languages
• Also known as “platforms”
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Application program interfaces (APIs): software included in the OS that can be used by application program developers
• Utilities: perform other OS functions such as:– Hardware diagnostics
– Disk check
– File sorting
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Operating Systems (continued)
• OS’s position in logical operation of the computer:– User interacts with user interface using menus,
icons, and application commands
– Application converts user input into OS commands
– OS commands the CPU to carry out the operation
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Operating Systems (continued)
• OS must manage the system by allocating hardware resources to applications
• OS provides several services, including:– User interface
– Memory allocation, including the use of virtual memory (hard disk used as an extension of RAM)
– Plug-and-play (PnP): recognize and run a device as soon as it is physically attached
Operating Systems (continued)
• Driver: software that enables OS to control a device
• Additional OS services include:– Database management
– Networking
– Security
• Different computers and types of microprocessors use different OSs
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Operating Systems (continued)
• Popular PC operating systems– Windows XP and Windows Vista
– Linux
– Mac OS
• Popular network OSs that are compatible with DOS, Windows, and MAC clients include:– Netware
– Windows Server
• Linux: a free OS based on UNIX
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Other System Software• Other types of system software include:
– Compilers and interpreters– Communications software– Utilities– Database management systems
• Communications software: supports transmission and reception of data across computer networks
• Utilities include antivirus programs, firewalls, and antispyware/antiadware programs
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Open Source Software• Proprietary software: sold/licensed for profit
– Source code is private and not available– Developer retains all rights to the software; user
purchases a license to use the software
• Open source software: free source code– Developed through voluntary collaboration of
programmers– Fewer bugs because many programmers review the
code
• Popular open source software includes Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, MySQL, and PERL
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Open Source Software (continued)
• Not all free software is open source– Microsoft Internet Explorer is free but proprietary
• Linux: best known open source OS– Includes free versions and versions that charge
for support and additional features
– Popular because of its versatility, but has limited number of applications that run on it
– Runs on mainframes, PCs, handhelds, and electronic devices
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Software Licensing
• Software is usually licensed• Licensed software: provides limited permission
to use the software– Time-limited license requires annual fees
• Several licensing models– Permissive model: anyone can use and sell
modified versions of the software– General public license (GPL): anyone can use
and make modified versions, but cannot sell modified versions for profit
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Considerations for Packaged Software
• Many goals and custom requirements are considered during development process of in-house software
• Factors when purchasing large software packages are more complex, including:– Cost
– Time to implement
– Cost of interrupting operations
– Modification costs to customize the software
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Summary
• Software: a collective term for computer programs
• Two categories of software: system or application• Programming languages and software
development tools are used to develop software• Increasing amount of software is linked to the
Internet• Code written in non-machine language must be
translated by compilers or interpreters
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Summary (continued)
• Some application programs are custom designed, and many are packaged
• Office productivity tools such as word processors and spreadsheets help improve worker efficiency
• Hypermedia and multimedia technology are useful for training, education, research, and business
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Summary (continued)
• Groupware combines hypermedia and multimedia with Web technologies for collaboration
• Virtual reality tools help build models of products and structures
• Three-dimensional geographic software helps model maps and locations
• Many applications support Web services and access to information on the Web
Summary (continued)
• Most important system software is operating system
• Open source software is distributed freely via the Web
• Software is either purchased or licensed• Purchase decisions should evaluate suitability,
ease of learning, ease of use, vendor reputation, expected quality of vendor support
• Software piracy is still a significant problem
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