1. Information Technology
Software

2. Software
Software is the general name given to all the programs (or set of instructions) that direct the operations of the computer. It gives life to the hardware components of the computer.

3. Types of Software
Software can be classified into two main types, which are:
Application Software – programs that allows the computer to perform specific tasks.
System Software – programs that control the over all operations of the computer system, including the hardware components and the application software.

4. Application Software
Application Software are programs that perform specific tasks or solve particular problems. For examples word processing used to type a letter, spreadsheet for doing budgets, database management used for creating tables, etc.

5. Purposes of Application Software
The purposes of an application software:
Use as a business and productive tool
To support education, entertainment, and other personal needs
To support communication technologies
To assist with graphics and multimedia projects
To support desktop publishing

6. Categories of Application Software
General-purpose Software
Customized Software
Custom-written Software
Specialized Software

7. General-purpose software
General-purpose software is “off the shelf” or ready made software. This software is not written for any specific business or organization but can be used to suit their specific needs.

8. Examples of General-purpose Software
Word processing
Spreadsheet
Database Management
Presentation
Communication
Desktop publishing
Graphics
Computer Aided Design

9. Advantages of General-purpose Software
Installation can be easily done
Intensive training is not required to use it
These software are readily available

10. Disadvantages of General-purpose Software
The general-purpose software package may not specifically fit the user’s needs
The user purchases software for which some features are never used and may never be used

11. Customized Software
This refers to general-purpose software that has been modified to fit the user’s specific needs. It is a quicker way of getting a personalized version of a software.

12. Advantages of Customized Software
The user get exactly what he or she needs in terms of features and output
It fits the user’s needs exactly
The user is involved in the development of the software, which allows them to have more control over the result

13. Disadvantages of Customized Software
May have to wait a while until modification of the software is completed
Users request may not be carried out accurately because of lack of understanding on the part of the persons modifying the software

14. Custom-written Software
Custom-written software is referred to as tailor-made. This is a software that is written entirely to the specifications of the user. It is developed with the user’s needs and objectives in mind from start to finish.

15. Advantages of Custom-written Software
Developed for the user’s personal needs
User gets what he or she wants
All or most of the features built in the software are used

16. Disadvantages of Custom-written Software
Software development may take a long time to be completed
The development of this software can be expensive

17. Specialized Software
Special purpose software is designed to perform tasks specific to a particular application or field. Therefore it does not have as wide a range of features, and is not suitable for the average person. Examples of specialized software are accounting software, airline reservation software, payroll programs and rocket guiding software.

18. Advantages of Specialized Software
All or most features built in the software are used
Most efficient since it focuses on fewer tasks
Useful in areas where task may be impossible to be carried out by humans

19. Disadvantages of Specialized Software
Software development may take a long time to be completed
If the person who is trained to use the software resigns, then time will be lost and new staff will have to be trained

20. Integrated Software
Integrated Software refers to a single software that includes all or most of the major types of general-purpose software. Examples are Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, Lotus and Smart suite.

21. Advantages of Integrated Software
It takes up less disk space than individual application
It is usually easy to learn as the user interface for choosing commands is the same
It is usually cheaper than purchasing the applications individually

22. Disadvantages of Integrated Software
Not all the features of a single application are included
Some integrated packages do not contain all the applications that may be required to complete a task

23. Home Work
Write a paragraph on each of the following general-purpose software:
Word Processing
Spreadsheet
Database Management
Presentation