it software 3

IT Software- General Learning Rationale

· The contemporary era business environment around the world inherently demands that the work force have a proficient understanding of basic computer hardware and software.

· More and more jobs across the globe are focusing on digital work and services sectors.

· Understanding general business software opens users towards a greater understanding of applications and systems development linked with professions that are increasingly in demand.

· Computer usage (and software in particular) has drastically changed human behavioral competencies in terms of approach to thought processes, values, and overall lifestyles.

· Undoubtedly, software is not only embedded in virtually every job profession, but in our daily lives and the foreseeable future.

Overview of General Software Types: System Software vs. Applications Software

System Software

· Computer software programs designed to run computer hardware and applications.

· Common examples include operating systems (OSX, Windows, Linux, etc.)

· File management utilities (Antivirus software included)

Applications Software

· Any applications that run on computer systems, such as:

1) Word processing software

2) Spreadsheet software

3) Desktop Publishing software

4) Database software

5) Communication software

6) Presentation software

7) Internet Browsers

8) Email Programs

Two Essential Components Necessary for

Computers to be Computers

1.An Operating System (System Software) for Applications to run on hardware.

2.A Language for communicating commands for the computer and software programs.

Chronological Overview of Software Eras of Critical Importance

· General Purpose Mainframe Computer Era: Approx. 1955-Present

(Consider Super Computers Today)

· PC Era: 1975/76- Present

· Client-Server Era: 1982/83- Present

· Enterprise Computing Era: 1986/90-Present

· Dotcom Era: 1990-2000 (Y2k)

· Mobile Generation: 2000-Present

· Internet of Things: 2013/14-Present

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)

ENIAC vs PC

Early PC Era

• MITS Altair 8800 designed by Edward • Apple II designed by Steve Wozniak Roberts in 1975 First Commercially and Steve Jobs.

Successful PC • First PC that envisioned consumer

electronics and provided “workspace

applications platforms.”

Original Apple

Original Apple Founders

Microsoft’s Inception

· Developed the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800

· Microsoft was originally devoted to the programming languages business.

· Upon founding Microsoft, were later contacted by IBM to provide an operating system and programming language to develop the first IBM

5150 PC.

· Were friends since high school.

Apple II’s “Killer App”- VISICALC

•

VISICALC: ”Visible Calculator” Created by Dan Bricklin (left) and Bob Frankston

(

Right

)

•

First

Spread

Sheet

•

Set

the tone

for what would drastically

change

the

way

Accounting

&

Finance

Along

with

other

business processes

and

strategies are

done.

VISICALC

SAMPLE

See Bibliography for Photo

Credits

VISICALC

SAMPLE

See Bibliography for Photo

Credits

Overview of Killer Apps Initiated in the 1980’s that Became the Industry Standard Software Solutions Today

· Apple II: VISICALC

· IBM 5150 PC: Word-processing

· Apple Macintosh: Graphics and Desktop Publishing Software

· Windows OS Editions: Microsoft Office Suite

· Linux OS: Apache WebServer

Path to First IBM PC: Bringing Hardware and

Software to the Global Audience

· Seeing the Apple II’s success in leading the new PC era, IBMbecomes determined to enter and dominate the market.

· IBM settles on an “open architecture” strategy (Non-IBM software and programming)

· IBM visits Bill Gates at Microsoft HQ for OS and Programming Language necessary to construct the IBM PC.

· Interactive Digital Research, CPM, and Tim Patterson’s QDOS

· Microsoft purchases full rights for QDOS for $50,000 and makes history, providing IBM with its template for its first PC.

International Business Machines (IBM)

KEY FACTORS

IBM 5150 PC (First IBM

PC

):

See

bibliography

of

references

for

photo

credits

.

· Prior to the 5150, IBM was in the general mainframe business and not the PC business.

· IBM’s success entering the PC industry was due in large part to their years of experience, company size, and “household name” in the computer world at the time.

· Apple began to lose market share on its Apple II as a result of IBM’s entry to the PC market.

World of Clone

· Columbia Data Products releases first clone more or less compatible with IBM PC.

· One major rationale for Clone Computers related to undermine “Big Brother” IBM.

· Compaq was the first IBM Compatible PC, providing a more affordable hardware computer that offers IBM software compatibility.

· Building a clone involved interpreting ethical vs. unethical practices via ROMBIOS (Read Only Memory Basic Input Output System) chip analysis.

PCs

Compaq Portable PC IBM PC Compatible Clone- 1982 designed by by Rod Canion, Jim Harris and Bill Murto, three senior managers who left Texas Instruments and invested $1,000 each to form their own company.

Sources Cited. See References

Other Hardware PC Models that Further Popularized the

Need for Software Development and Implanting it as a Major Industry

Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III Commodore PET

XEROX PARC LABORATORIES SIGNIFICANCE

· PARC: Palo Alto Research Center

· Boasted having at one point up to 56 of the 100 most notable computer scientists working in its west coast US center. Accomplishments Include

1. Laser Printers

2. Computer-generated bitmap graphics

3. The GUI graphical user interface, featuring windows and icons, operated with a mouse.

4. The WYSIWYG text editor

5. Interpress, a resolution-independent graphical page-description language and the precursor to Post Script.

6. Ethernet as a local-area computer network]

7. Fully formed Object-oriented programming

8. Model view controller software architecture

Alto: First computer designed from its inception to support an operating system based on a GUI.

Source Cited in BibliographyReferences

Apple Macintosh’s Legacy in Developing New Creative Industries via Software

· Employed the GUI and Mouse

· Bill Gates and Microsoft team helped develop some of the Applications Software

· Invigorated new concepts surrounding the pomp and circumstance of tech launch events.

· Initially proved to have less enthusiastic sales results, in large part due to a “reactive” and short-sighted business environment unaware of the new industries that emerged as a result of the mac.

· New industries included: Computer Art, Desktop Publishing, Graphic Design, etc.

Software as a Standard in Developing New Business Processes CLIENT-SERVER ERA

Basic Components

· Client: Any process that requests specific services from server processes.

· Server: A process that provides requested services forclients.

· Both clients and servers can reside in the same computer or in different computers connected by a network.

Variations on Client Server

· The key to client/server power is where the requested processing takes place.

· In mainframe systems and Application Server-based systems, all processing takes place on the server and the client is used to display the data screens.

· With PC and File servers, all processing takes place on the PC and the server is used only for storage

· There are many variations of these models today with the internet and contemporary digital technologies

· The client/server environment provides a clear separation of server and client processes.

Bibliography of References Cited