1. European Computer Driving Licence Syllabus version 5.0
Module 1 – Concepts of ICT
Chapter 3 – Software
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware

2. Software
A list of instructions (the program) that tell a computer what to do
Software types include:
operating system
applications
utilities
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware

3. Operating system software
A series of programs that organise and control a computer
Provides an interface so that the user can communicate with the computer
Communicates between software and hardware devices
Organises the storage and retrieval of information
Manages the smooth running of programs running in RAM by allocating the required resources
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware

4. Popular operating systems
Microsoft Windows is the most widely-used operating system (OS)
OS2 is an OS created by IBM
Macintosh (MacOS) was created by Apple
MS-DOS was the precursor of Windows but text-based
Linux is a popular alternative open-source OS
Unix is another OS used in companies or universities
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware

5. The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
The most basic software within the PC
Stored in ROM or flash memory
Ensures the hardware operates properly
Records basic information about the PC
Usually configured by the manufacturer
No user intervention is usually required
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware
Pass ECDL5 for Office 2007
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 3 Software
© Pearson Education Ltd 2009

6. Application software Programs that let you do your work, for example
Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, Access etc.)
graphic editors (e.g. Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW etc.)
Typesetting software (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Quark Express etc.)
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware

7. Utility software
Programs that let you do your work efficiently and securely, for example
backup software
file compression software
anti-virus software
compilers
Module 1 Concepts of ICT
Chapter 2 Hardware