Computer Interface

Computer Interface

Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer i.e. the components which will be seen and touched.

Examples of Hardware are following:

    * Input devices -- keyboard, mouse etc.

    * Output devices -- printer, monitor etc.

    * external storage devices -- magnetic disc, CD, DVD etc.

    * Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

Computer Hardware

Relationship between Hardware and Software

    *Hardware and software are mutually addicted to one another. Both of them must work together to create a computer produce a useful output.

    *Software can't be utilized without supporting hardware.

    *Hardware without set of programs to work upon can not be utilized and is useless.

    *To get a specific job done on the pc, relevant software should be loaded into the hardware

    *Hardware may be a one-time expense.

    *Software development is extremely expensive and may be a continuing expense.

    *Different software applications will be loaded on a hardware to run different jobs.

    *A software is an interface between the user and  the hardware.

    * If hardware is that the 'heart' of a computing system, then software is its 'soul'. Both are complimentary to every other.

Software:

Software could be a set of programs, which is meant to perform a well-defined function. A program may be a sequence of instructions written to unravel a specific problem.

There are two forms of software

* System Software

* Application Software

System Software:

The system software is the combinations of programs which are designed to work, control, and extend the processing capabilities of the pc itself. System software is generally prepared by computer manufactures. These software products comprise of programs written in low-level languages which interact with the hardware at a awfully basic level. System software is the interface between hardware and also the end users. Some samples of system software are package, Compilers, Interpreter, and Assemblers etc.

Application Software

Features of system software are as follows:

* near system

* Fast in speed

* Difficult to style

* Difficult to grasp

* Less interactive

* Smaller in size

* Difficult to control

* Generally written in low-level language

Application Software: Application software products are designed to satisfy a selected need of a selected environment.  Software applications are prepared in the computer lab also can come under the category of Application software. Application software may include one program, like a Microsoft's notepad for writing and editing simple text. it should also encompass a set of programs, often called a software package, which work together to accomplish a task, like a spreadsheet package.

Examples of Application software are following:

* Payroll Software

* Student Record Software

* Inventory Management Software

* taxation Software

* Railways Reservation Software

* Microsoft Office Suite Software

* Microsoft Word

* Microsoft Excel

* Microsoft Power point

 Features of application software are as follows:

* near user

* Easy to style

* More interactive

* Slow in speed

* Generally written in problem-oriented language

* Easy to know

* Easy to control and use

* Bigger in size and requires large cupboard space

Operating System:

Software could be a collection of system programs that controls and co-ordinates the operations of a computing system. It provides an interface for the user to interact with the pc. A computer is needed a software to work. Without software package, a computer is sort of a car with no fuel. User interface is employed to interact with the pc to perform various tasks. User gives commands to computer and enters the information into computer. These are samples of user interfacing. The software plays the most role for interfacing between user and computer. The input devices like keyboard and mouse are commonly used for giving commands to computer. 

Types of Operating Systems Based on the computer program, there are two kinds of Operating systems:

1. Graphical User Interface operating system

2. command line interface operating system

1- Graphical User Interface operating system (GUI) package presents commands in graphical form. for instance, application programs, commands, disk drives, files etc. are presented within the variety of icons. Usually a command is given to the pc by clicking with mouse on the icon. GUI also provides menus, buttons and other graphical objects to the user to perform different tasks. GUI is incredibly easy to interact with the PC. Examples of GUI operating systems are Windows, Linux, and Solaris. Today Windows is usually utilized in PCs. In Windows, mouse is employed as device.

2-Command Line Interface operating system : A program line software package provides a electronic communication on the pc screen. The commands are given to the pc by typing on the keyboard. The commands are typed per the predefined format. The users must memorize commands and rules of writing these commands. it's not a simple thanks to interface with the pc. Example Examples of program line operating systems are DOS (Disk Operating System), and Unix etc.

Characteristics of Software System 

Memory Management -- keeps tracks of primary memory i.e. what a part of it's in use by whom, what part isn't in use etc. and allocates the memory when a process or program requests it. 

*Processor Management -- allocates the processor(CPU) to a process and deallocates processor when it's not required.

*Device Management -- keeps track of all devices. this is often also called I/O controller that decides which process gets the device, when, and for a way much time.

*File Management -- allocates and de-allocates the resources and decides who gets the resources. 

* Security -- prevents unauthorized access to programs and data by means of passwords and similar other techniques. 

*Job accounting -- keeps track of your time and resources employed by various jobs and/or users. 

*Control over system performance -- records delays between request for a service and from the system.

 *Interaction with the operators -- The interaction may occur via the console of the pc within the type of instructions. software acknowledges the identical, does the corresponding action and informs the operation by a visual display unit. 

* Error-detecting aids -- Production of dumps, traces, error messages and other debugging and error-detecting methods. 

*Coordination between other software and users -- Coordination and assignment of compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other software to the varied users of the personal computer systems.

Utility software

Utility software is system software designed to assist analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer Utility software, together with software package software, may be a style of system software. It supports the pc infrastructure, distinguishing it from application software which is geared toward directly performing tasks that benefit ordinary users.

Types of utilities

* Anti-virus utilities scan for computer viruses.

* Archivers output a stream or one file when given a directory or a group of files. Archive suites may include compression and encryption capabilities. Most of the archive utilities have a separate un-archive utility for the reverse operation. 

* Backup software makes copies of all information stored on a disk and restore either the complete disk (e.g. in an occasion of disk failure) or selected files (e.g. in a happening of accidental deletion).

 * Clipboard managers expand the clipboard functionality of software. 

* Utilities in Cryptographic encrypt and decrypt the streams and files. 

* Data compression utilities output a shorter stream or a smaller file when supplied with a stream or file.

* Data synchronization utilities establish consistency among data from a source to a target data storage and contrariwise. There are several branches of this kind of utility: o File synchronization utilities maintain consistency between two sources. they'll be wont to create redundancy or backup copies but also are accustomed help users carry their digital music, photos and video in their mobile devices. o Revision control utilities cater to situations where over one user attempts to simultaneously modify the identical file.

* Debuggers are wont to test and "debug" other programs, mainly to unravel programming errors. they're also utilized for reverse engineering of software or systems.

* Disk checkers scan an operating Winchester drive and check for logical (filesystem) or physical errors.

* Disk cleaners find files that are unnecessary to operation, or take up considerable amounts of space. Disk cleaner helps the user to make a decision what to delete when their fixed disk is full. 

* Disk compression has utilities of transparently compress/uncompress the contents of a disk, which increasing the capacity of the disk. 

* Disk defragmenters are detecting the computer files whose contents are scattered across several locations on the disk, and move the fragments to 1 location to extend efficiency.

 * Disk partition editors divide a personal drive into multiple logical drives, each with its own filing system which may be mounted by the software and treated as a private drive.

* Space analyzers provide a visualization of space usage by getting the dimensions for every folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing the distribution of the used space.

* File managers are giving a convenient method of performing routine data management, email recovery and management tasks, like deleting, renaming, cataloging, uncataloging, moving, copying, merging, generating and modifying data sets. 

* Hex editors are normally modify the text or data of a file. These files may be data or an actual program. * Memory testers check for memory failures. 

* Network utilities are used to analyze the computer's network connectivity and configure the network settings, check data transfer or log events. 

* Package managers are wont to configure, install or maintain up to now other software on a computer.

 * Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows Registry by removing old registry keys that are not any longer in use.

* Screensavers are designed to stop phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the pc isn't in use. Now a day’s screensavers are used for entertainment or security. 

* System monitors monitor resources and performance in a very ADP system.

* System profilers provide detailed information about the software installed and hardware attached to the pc.