NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF

LESOTHO
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CS1311A
COMPUTER APPRECIATION,
AWARENESS AND SKILLS
Morolong KJ (Mr.)
CMP 207
kj.morolong@nul.ls
 Course Objectives
Computer Literacy Computer System Computer Hardware

What you will learn? What you will learn? What you will learn?
Computer literacy definitions Basic functions of Tangible components of a
and benefits. computers and categories. computer.

Computer Software Computer Networks Computer Security

What you will learn? What you will learn? What you will learn?
How to communicate with a Basic computer networking, The internet and basic
computer through programs. together with common computer security.
networking devices
 COMPUTER SOFTWARE

►A sequence of related instructions performed one step at a time by the CPU to

accomplish some task

►Software is also called a COMPUTER program

►Software can be divided into two types

o System software

o Application software
 SYSTEM SOFTWARE
►System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the
operations of the computer and its devices

►System software serves as the interface between the user, the application
software, and the computer’s hardware.

►Thus It provides the environment to run application software

►There are two types of system software

o Operating System
o Utility Programs
 OPERATING SYSTEM

►An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions

that work together to coordinate all the activities among computer hardware
resources
►An operating system can run from an optical disc and/or flash memory
►But in most cases, the operating system is installed and resides on the
computer’s hard disk.
►On handheld computers and many mobile devices, the operating system
may reside on a ROM chip
 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►The process of starting or restarting a computer is called booting

Cold boot Warm boot

• Turning on • Using the
a computer operating
that has
been system to
powered restart a
off computer
completely
 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

To shutdown a computer is to remove power from a computer’s main hardware

components in a controlled way.
An operating system includes various shut down options:

Sleep mode saves any open Hibernate saves any open

documents and programs to documents and programs to a
RAM, turns off all unneeded hard disk before removing
functions, and then places the power from the computer
computer in a low-power state
 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►A user interface controls how you enter data and instructions and how
information is displayed on the screen

►There are two types of user interface,

 Graphical user interface (GUI) and
 Command-line interface (CLI).

►Operating systems uses a combination of these interfaces to define how a

user interacts with a computer.
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►With a graphical user interface

(GUI), you interact with menus and
visual images
OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►With a command-line interface, a user

uses the keyboard to enter data and
instructions

►Network administrators and other

advanced users work with a command-
line interface to configure devices,
manage system resources, and
troubleshoot network connections
 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►Optimizes the use of RAM. OS decides which programs and data are
moved in and out of the main memory and when

►Virtual memory: a portion of a storage medium functioning as additional

RAM

►Windows ReadyBoost: can allocate available memory in flash memory

devices as additional memory cache
 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and
usage. These directories may contain files and other directories

►An Operating System does the following activities for file management:

 Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc.

 Decides who gets the resources.

 Allocates and De-allocates resources.

 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►The operating system determines the order in which tasks are processed
 OPERATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS

►A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports

information about various computer resources and devices
TYPES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
Stand-alone OS is a complete
operating system that can work on a
personal computer.

Server OS is an operating system that

is designed specifically to support
network. It is normally resides on a
server computer.

Embedded operating system is the

operating system that works on the
mobile devices and resides on a ROM
chip.
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

►A utility program is a type of system software that allows a user

to perform maintenance-type tasks, usually related to managing a
computer, its devices, or its programs

►Most operating systems include build-in utility programs

►Users often buy stand-alone utilities, however, because they offer

improvements over those included with OS
UTILITY PROGRAMS
UTILITY PROGRAMS

►A File manager is a utility that

performs functions related to file
management
 Displaying a list of files
 Organizing files in folders
 Copying, renaming, deleting,
moving, and sorting files and folders
UTILITY PROGRAMS

►A search utility is a program that

attempts to locate a file on your
computer based on criteria you specify
UTILITY PROGRAMS

► A disk cleanup utility searches for and removes

unnecessary files
 Downloaded program files
 Temporary Internet files
 Deleted files
 Unused program files
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

Defragmenting
► A disk defragmenter reorganizes the files
and unused space on a computer’s hard
disk so that the operating system accesses
data more quickly and programs run faster
UTILITY PROGRAMS

► A backup utility allows users to copy files

to another storage medium

► A restore utility reverses the process and

returns backed up files to their original form
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

► An antivirus program is a utility program that protects a computer against

viruses by identifying and removing any computer virus found on storage
media, or on incoming files.

► Most antivirus programs also protect against worms and Trojan horses.
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

A virus describes a potentially damaging computer program that affects a

computer negatively

A worm copies itself repeatedly in memory or over a network

A Trojan horse hides within or looks like a legitimate program

UTILITY PROGRAMS
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

►To prevent virus on your computer, practice the following

• Set up the antivirus program to scan on regular basis

• Never open an e-mail attachment unless you are expecting the attachment
and it is from a trusted source

• Set macro security in programs such as word processing and spreadsheet

so that you can enable or disable macros
• Write-protect your recovery disk
• Back up files regularly
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

Spyware is a program placed on a

computer without the user’s knowledge that
secretly collects information about the user
• A spyware remover detects and deletes
spyware and other similar programs
 UTILITY PROGRAMS

Adware displays an online advertisement

in a banner or pop-up window
• An adware remover is a program that
detects and deletes adware
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

►Application software consists of programs designed to make users

more productive and/or assist with personal tasks
 To make business activities more efficient

 To assist with graphics and multimedia projects

 To support home, personal, and educational tasks

 To facilitate communications
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

►The Difference between System software and Application software

o System software can run independently of the application software, while

application software cannot run without the presence of the system software.

o System software gets installed when the operating system is installed on the
computer, while application software is installed according to the
requirements of the user.
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

►Proprietary vs. Open Source software

The term open source refers to software whose source code (the medium in which programmers
create and modify software) is freely available on the Internet; by contrast, the source code for
proprietary commercial software is usually a closely guarded secret.

The most well-known example of open source software is the Linux operating system, but there
are open source software products available for every conceivable purpose.

Open source software is distributed under a variety of licensing terms, but almost all have two things
in common:
 the software can be used without paying a license fee

 anyone can modify the software to add capabilities not envisaged by its originators.
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE
►Available in a variety of forms:

 Custom software - performs functions specific to a business or company.

 Off-the shelf software - is a copyrighted retail software that meets the needs of a wide variety of users. e.g
Microsoft office suite

 Web application - is a web site that allows users to access and interact with a software from any computer
that is connected to the internet. e.g thuto and facebook

 Shareware - is a copyrighted software that is distributed at no cost for a trial period. To use a shareware
beyond trial period, you need to pay. e.g Internet Download Manager

 Freeware - is a copyrighted software that is provided at no cost at all. e.g Free download manager

 Public-domain software – is a software that has been donated for public use and has no copyrights
restrictions.
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

►Software suites

 A software suite is a collection of individual programs sold as a single

package. The software suite is designed to enhance the performance of our
work. It typically includes word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and e-
mail. Currently, Microsoft Office is a very popular example of software suite
being used. Examples of software suites are Microsoft office, Appleworks,
Ibm lotus smartsuite, Coral wordperfect office and Sun staroffice suite.
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE

►Forms of Obtaining software

 CD/DVD
 Web Based
 Downloads
 SOFTWARE UPDATES & UPGRADES

►A software update is an electronic patch that is provided to

users for these reasons:
 To repair features that aren't working right for some users.
 To add features to the software.
 To improve existing features (often called an enhancement).
 To make the software easier to use.
 SOFTWARE UPDATES & UPGRADES

►A software upgrade happens when you replace your

personal software with a newer version, typically without you
having to uninstall the old software and then install the new
software.

►Software companies usually sell upgrades at a discount to

reward customers for remaining loyal to their brand.
End of Lecture 3