CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 DEFINITION OF SOFTWARE

Software is the collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that

performs different tasks on a computer system. The term 'software' was first used by John

Turkey in 1958. At the very basic level, computer software consists of a machine language that

consists of groups of binary values, which specify processor instructions. The processor

instructions change the state of computer hardware in a predefined sequence.

1.2 DEFINITION OF HARDWARE

This are electronic devices that can follow instructions to accept input, process that

input, and produce information and also a physical device something that you're able to touch

and see. For example, the computer monitor you're viewing this text on or the mouse you're

using to navigate is considered computer hardware.

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CHAPTER TWO

CLASSES OF SOFTWARE

There are two major classes of software ---system software and application software, you

can think of application software as kind you use and think of system software as the kind the

computer uses.

2.1 System software

Handles technical details, operating systems, utilities, device drivers, and language translators

are types of system software programs

2.1.1 Operating systems coordinate computer resources, provide an interface between users and

the computer, and run application and also a collection of programs that handle many of the

technical details related to using a computer in many ways, an operating system is the most

important types of computer program without it your computer would be useless.

Functions

Every computer has an operating system and every operating system performs a variety

of functions. These functions can be classified into three groups:

Managing resources: These programs coordinate all the computer’s resources including

memory, processing, storage and devices such as printers and monitors, they also monitor

system performance, schedule jobs, provide security, and start up the computer.

Graphical user interface provides graphical elements such as icons and windows

Providing user interface: User interact with application programs and computer hardware

through a user interface.

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Running application: These programs load and run application such as word processors

and spreadsheets. Most operating systems support multitasking, or the ability to switch

between different applications stored in memory. With multitasking you could have word

and Excel running at the same time and switch easily between the two applications.

Features

Icons- graphical representations for a program or function

Pointer- controlled by a mouse and changes shapes depending upon its current

function.

Windows- rectangle areas for displaying information and running programs

Menus- provide a list of option or command

Dialog boxes- provide information or request input

Help- provide online assistance for operating system functions and procedure

2.1.2 Utility

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Utility software (also known as service program, service routine, tool, or utility routine) is

computer software designed to help manage and tune the computer hardware, operating system

or application software by performing a single task or a small range of tasks. Some utility

software has been integrated into most major operating systems.

Disk defragmenters can detect computer files whose contents are stored on the hard

disk in disjointed fragments, and move the fragments together to increase efficiency.

Backup utilities can make a copy of all information stored on a disk, and restore either

the entire disk (e.g. in an event of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in an event of

accidental deletion).

Disk checkers can scan the contents of a hard disk to find files or areas that are

corrupted in some way, or were not correctly saved, and eliminate them for a more

efficiently operating hard drive.

System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed and hardware

attached to the computer.

Anti-virus utilities scan for computer virus

Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows registry by removing old registry

keys that are no longer in use. And so many others.

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2.1.3 Device drivers

Device driver are specialized programs that allow devices such as a mouse, keyboard,

and printer to communicate with the rest of the computer.

Every device, such as a mouse or printer that is connected to a computer system has a

special program associated with it. This program, called a device driver or simply a

driver, works with the operating system to allow communication between device and

the rest of the system, each time the computer system is started, the operating system

loads all of the device drivers into memory.

Whenever a new device is added to a computer system, a new device driver must

be installed before the device can be used

Take for example the printer

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2.1.4Language translator

It converts the programming instructions written by programmers into a language that

computer understands and process.

2.2 Application software

This can be describe as end user software and used to accomplish variety of tasks. This include

Basic and Specialized application

2.2.1 Basic (general-purpose) applications are widely used in nearly all career areas. Programs

include browsers, word processors, and presentation graphics.

Browser is programs that access to web resources. This software connects you to

remote computer, opens and transfer files, displays text and images, and also browser

allow you to explore, or to surf, the web by easily moving from one web site to

another. Two well know browser are Netscape navigator and Microsoft internet

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explorer

Word processor

It creates text-based documents and are one of the most flexible and widely used

software tools. All types of people and organizations use word processors to create memos,

and faxes. Organizations create newsletters, manuals, and brochures to provide information

to their customers, student and researchers use word processor to create report. The three

most widely used processing programs are Microsoft word, Corel word perfect, lotus word

pro.

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2.2.2 Specialized application

Specialized applications are widely used within specific professions, applications

include

Graphics programs for creating professional-looking published documents for

creating and editing images, and for locating and inserting graphics.

Audio and video software to create, edit, and play music’s and videos.

Multimedia programs to create dynamic interactive presentations.

Web authoring programs to create, edit, and design websites.

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Emerging applications that merge artificial intelligence into variety of different

types of applications, including virtual reality knowledge-based system and

robotic.

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CHAPTER THREE

TYPES OF HARDWARE

3.1 Microcomputers

Microcomputers are the least powerful, yet the most widely used and fastest-growing, type of

computer. There are four types of microcomputer

Hardware microcomputer consist of;

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3.1.1 System unit: The system unit, also known as the system cabinet or chassis, is a container

that houses most of the electronic components that make up a computer system. Two important

components of the system unit are the Microprocessor and Memory.

The microprocessor controls and manipulates data to produce information .many times the

microprocessor is contained within a protective cartridge.

The memory also known as primary storage or random access memory (RAM) holds the

processed information before it is output. Memory is sometimes referred to as temporary storage

because its contents will typically be lost if the electrical power to the computer is disrupted.

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3.1.2 Input hardware consists of external devices—that is, components outside of the

computer’s CPU—that provide information and instructions to the computer. A light pen is a

stylus with a light-sensitive tip that is used to draw directly on a computer’s video screen or to

select information on the screen by pressing a clip in the light pen or by pressing the light pen

against the surface of the screen. The pen contains light sensors that identify which portion of

the screen it is passed over.

A mouse is a pointing device designed to be gripped by one hand. It has a detection

device (usually a ball, a light-emitting diode [LED], or a low-powered laser) on the bottom that

enables the user to control the motion of an on-screen pointer, or cursor, by moving the mouse

on a flat surface. As the device moves across the surface e cursor moves across the screen. To

select items or choose commands on the screen, the user presses a button on the mouse. A

joystick is a pointing device composed of a lever that moves in multiple directions to navigate a

cursor or other graphical object on a computer screen.

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A keyboard is a typewriter-like device that allows the user to type in text and commands

to the computer. Some keyboards have special function keys or integrated pointing devices, such

as a trackball or touch-sensitive regions that let the user’s finger motions move an on-screen

cursor. And also Keyboard -is a device to input text and characters by depressing buttons

(referred to as keys), similar to a typewriter. The most common English-language key layout is

the QWERTY layout.

3.1.3 Output hardware: Output hardware consists of internal and external devices that transfer

information from the computer’s CPU to the computer user. Graphics adapters, which are either

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an add-on card (called a video card) or connected directly to the computer’s motherboard,

transmit information generated by the computer to an external display. Displays commonly take

one of two forms: a video screen with a cathode-ray tube (CRT) or a video screen with a liquid

crystal display (LCD). A CRT-based screen, or monitor, looks similar to a television set.

Information from the CPU is displayed using a beam of electrons that scans a phosphorescent

surface that emits light and creates images. An LCD-based screen displays visual information on

a flatter and smaller screen than a CRT-based video monitor. Laptop computers use LCD screen.

Liquid crystal display

Printers take text and image from a computer and print them on paper. Dot-matrix

printers use tiny wires to impact upon an inked ribbon to form characters. Laser

printers employ beams of light to draw images on a drum that then picks up fine black

particles called toner. The toner is fused to a page to produce an image. Inkjet printers

fire droplets of ink onto a page to form characters and pictures.

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Computers can also output audio via a specialized chip on the motherboard or an add-

on card called a sound card. Users can attach speakers or headphones to an output

port to hear the audio produced by the computer. Many modern sound cards allow

users to create music and record digital audio, as well.

3.1.3 Secondary storage

Unlike memory, secondary storage device hold data and programs even after electrical power

to the computer system has been turned off. The most important kind of secondary media are

flash drive are widely used to store and transport data from one computer to another, hard disk

are used to store programs and very large data files using a rigid metallic platter, optical disks

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uses laser technology and have the greatest capacity basic types of optical disks are compact

discs (CDs) and digital versatile (or video) discs (DVDs)

3.1.4 Communication

At one time, it was uncommon for a microcomputer system to communicate with

other computer systems. Now, using communication devices, a microcomputer can

communicate with other computer systems located as near as the next office or as far

away as halfway around the world using the internet. The most widely used

communication device is modem, which modifies telephone communication form that

can be processed by a computer.

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CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE IN A COMPUTER

SYSTEM

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computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices

required to store and execute (or run) the software. At the lowest level, software consists

of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists

of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the

computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for

changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is usually written

in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use

(closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or

interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an

assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using

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a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via

an assembler.

Hardware needs software to tell it what to do.

Hardware=feet

Software = Brain, telling feet to move

Tangible parts of computer are referred to as hardware and non tangible parts of

computer are referred to as software. in clear words hardware is the body and

software is the soul.

IT’S LIKE HUSBAND-WIFE IN REAL LIFE.

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You need both hardware and software for the computer to work. Hardware is that you

can see like your monitor, CPU, keyboard, mouse etc. Software is that you cannot

touch such as your windows operating system, MS office, etc.

The computer is same as a empty bottle. It is useless unless there is some programming to

work with. Similarly the bottle is useless without any content, like water.

Hardware is like your body and software is like the air u breathes. U cannot use the

hardware without the software

Hardware is what you can see/touch. Software is what you cannot touch but will yield

results. Hardware components are controlled by software which have written program in it.

Both are in fact interrelated and are needed to perform an action.

Hardware means all the physical components attached with computer which we can see,

touch& which occupies some space. On the contrary software refers to a set of programs

which is designed to solve a particular problem.

What is the relationship between one person’s body and soul? It needs both to stay alive,

isn’t it? It’s the same with hardware and software in a computer.

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computer hardware are the physical components and devices required to store or run the

computer software.

4.2 THE BENEFITS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

TO THE SOCIETY

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About forty years ago, space and distance were formidable obstacles to what we could and could

not do with the computer. But today, micro miniaturization and data communications have

removed these obstacles. Micro miniaturization of electronic circuitry has made it possible to put

computers in wristwatches. Computers with capabilities similar to those of the mainframe of the

1960s are about the size of a fingernail. Data communication satellites make it possible for

computers in Nigeria to communicate with computers in Ghana, Libya, France or any other

country.

The door is now open for applications of computer that were only dreams and fantasies four

decades ago. The number and type of computer applications are limited only by our

imaginations. The following are brief variety of familiar computer application:-

Repetitive typing

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Record keeping-financial as well as personal

Training

Banking

Home security system

Telecommunication

Electronic mail delivery

Project management

Air line control

Crop and weather information monitoring

Health-diagnosis

Experimental modeling/data analysis

Computer aided manufacturing

Artificial intelligence/robotics

Fine art

University

Game etc.

And some of the benefits of computers are:-

Ability to perform rapid and accurate calculations

Ability to store large volume of data and information

Ability to supply stored information quickly and easily

Ability to analyze data quickly and easily with other computer

Ability to work continuously

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CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

5.1 SUMMARY

When you think of the relationship between software and hardware, perhaps you think of

just the word processor or monitor, yet there is more to it than that. The way to think about a

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microcomputer is, as part of an information system. An information system has five parts which

are people, procedures, software, hardware; data. So therefore, if there was no relationship

between software and hardware there would not be any microcomputer and if there were no

microcomputer there would not be information system, and that why microcomputer play vital

role in today’s world.

5.2 RECOMMENDATION

This seminar work is an important tool which would make one know the need for the

society to get orientated on the relationship between software and hardware in a computer system

because almost all businesses and universities have become aware that they must adapt to

changing technology or be left behind. Most organization now making formal plans to keep track

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of technology and implement it in their competitive strategies in order to keep track of their

various day to day activities and for the society at large to know the today computer

in order prepare for a better tomorrow (future)

5.3 CONCLUSION

To prepare for your future as a competent end user, you need to understand the basic parts

of software and hardware because software’s that are now available can do extraordinary number

of tasks and help you in endless numbers of ways. You can create professional looking

document, analyze massive amount of data, creating multimedia web page and much more with

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the help of hardware that would bring this whole things into reality on the monitor in order for

you to understand what you are actually doing and also for computer illiterate to understand the

need to be a computer literate.

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O’Leary, T, (2006). computes essential, hardware configuration, U.S.A, Ohio printing press,

pg 123.

Princeton, N,J,(2008). Word reference definition software. Retrieved on 19-08-2008 from

http://www.wordreference.com/html

Searle’s, B, and Sam, w, (2008). A reader guide of software & hardware, their applications,

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