GNVQ Advanced IT - Unit 6

Investigate software

Requires students to investigate categories of software, the purpose of software and applications software packages, the features of a computer program, and the different modes of operation of software.

1. describe categories of software and their purposes
2. explain the purposes of application software packages
3. explain features of computer programs
4. describe different modes of operation of software 

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Categories of software: applications software, operating systems, utilities, user interface software, languages, program generators, expert systems, database management systems.

Purposes of categories of software: use for common data processing tasks, system control, simplification of user interface, software production, creation and conversion of code, management of shared data.

Purposes of applications software packages:  processing (documents, numerical data, graphics, structured data), modelling, controlling, expert systems.

Features of computer programs: code, program structures, data types, data structures, method of translation, constructs (sequence, repetition, selection)

Modes of operation: function keys, character keys, multiple key combinaations), menu, graphic interface

• describes categories of software and their purposes.
• explains the purpose of applications software packages
• explains features of two computer programs
• describes different modes of operation of software

Operating system (PC1 range) software which provides the environment in which applications programs can be executed

Utilities  (PC1 range) software which performs common tasks such as file management, editor facilities, diagnostic routines.

User intereface software (PC1 range) software used to improve the simplicity with which users can interact with the system, eg. GUI (graphical user interface; WIMP) or menu selection system.

Language software (PC1 range) software that enables the production of computer programs.  The program is produced as code which must be translated into machine code for execution.

Program generators (PC1 range) programs which help users to write their own programs, by expanding simple statements into program code.

Expert systems (PC2 range) applications which allow users to benefit from the knowledge of human experts. The knowledge is built into the system as a set of rules which may be updated with use.

Features of computer programs (PC3 range) the two computer programs selected by the tutor should have sufficient statements, modules or sub programs between them to cover the range of features of programs.  These programs are unlikely to contain less than 50 statements, should indicate program structure and modular components.

Students do not need detailed knowledge of the code, but tutors should give sufficient information about the program code and structure to enable them to, explain the features.

Data types (PC3 range) the characteristics of the data used, which may differ for each type of system. Examples of typical data types are character, number (integer, real), graphic, logic (Boolean), date.

Data structures (PC3 range)  an organised grouping of data items, eg arrays, lists, queues, records , stacks, strings, tables, trees.

Method of translation (PC3 range)  a translator is a program language processor which converts the program statements into another form, eg machine code. There are three common types: Interpreters, Compilers and Assemblers