Unit 4. Software
COMPUTER TALKING
Work in small groups and speak on the following questions:
1) What does software deal with? 2) Is installingof new programs or applications on your computer synonymous with installing of new software? 3) What is easier to upgrade software or hardware? Why? 4) By what means is software distributed?
2. Give your definition of software design looking at the diagram:
3. Work with your partner. Read the basic software terms. Give their definitions in English:
An application (app), some design patterns, to backup, a browser, some binary data, a bug, a compiler, some compression, an encoding, to debug, database, a dashboard, a default program, a hard drive, some firmware, a parameter, a programming language, a script, a screenshot, a spreadsheet, a template.
Look up in the dictionary.
READING
1. Read the text and name the main stages of software development:
Text 1.
There are several different approaches to software development. Some take a more structured, engineering-based approach to developing business solutions, whereas others may take a more incremental approach, where software evolves as it is developed piece-by-piece. Most methodologies share some combination of the following stages of software development: analyzing the problem, market research, gathering requirements for the proposed business solution, devising a plan or design for the software-based solution, implementation (coding) of the software, testing the software, deployment, maintenance and bug fixing.
Ask your partner if he has done any of the stages mentioned here.
2. Find the answers to these questions in the following text.
1) What is a design pattern? 2) What are the advantages of using design patterns? 3) What types of design patterns are mentioned in the text?
Text 2. Design patterns
In software engineering, a design pattern is a general repeatable solution to a commonly occurring problem in software design. A design pattern isn't a finished design that can be transformed directly into code. It is a description or template for how to solve a problem that can be used in many different situations.
Uses of Design Patterns
Design patterns can speed up the development process by providing tested, proven development paradigms. Effective software design requires considering issues that may not become visible until later in the implementation. Reusing design patterns helps to prevent subtle issues that can cause major problems and improves code readability for coders and architects familiar with the patterns.
Often, people only understand how to apply certain software design techniques to certain problems. These techniques are difficult to apply to a broader range of problems. Design patterns provide general solutions, documented in a format that doesn't require specifics tied to a particular problem.
In addition, patterns allow developers to communicate using well-known, well understood names for software interactions. Common design patterns can be improved over time, making them more robust than ad-hoc designs. Some authors allege that design patterns don't differ significantly from other forms of abstraction, and that the use of new terminology (borrowed from the architecture community) to describe existing phenomena in the field of programming is unnecessary. There are creational, structural and behavioral design patterns.
3. Read the text again and decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F).
1) A design pattern is a ready solution which can be directly applied for solving any problem.
2) A design pattern is just a new term but isn’t new technology.
3) Three types of design patterns mentioned in the text have their own targets and areas of use.
4. Work in groups. Share your ideas of design patterns application and their advantages and disadvantages. Report the results to the class.
5. Conduct a survey and find out who in your group can:
name and use a spreadsheet program
name and use a database program
name and use a word-processing program
insert graphics into a document
disable autocorrect
6. Read about different types of application software. Which ones do you know and use and which are new to you? Ask your partner.
Text 3. DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Word Processing Software: This software enables users to create and edit documents. The most popular examples of this type of software are MS-Word, WordPad and Notepad among other text editors.
Database Software: Database is a structured collection of data. A computer database relies on database software to organize data and enable database users to perform database operations. Database software allows users to store and retrieve data from databases. Examples are Oracle, MSAccess, etc.
Spreadsheet Software: Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 and Apple Numbers are some examples of spreadsheet software. Spreadsheet software allows users to perform calculations using spreadsheets. They simulate paper worksheets by displaying multiple cells that make up a grid.
Multimedia Software: They allow users to create and play audio and video files. They are capable of playing media files. Audio converters, audio players, burners, video encoders and decoders are some forms of multimedia software. Examples of this type of software include Real Player and Media Player.
Presentation Software: The software that is used to display information in the form of a slide show is known as presentation software. This type of software includes three functions, namely, editing that allows insertion and formatting of text, methods to include graphics in the text and a functionality of executing slide shows. Microsoft PowerPoint is the best example of presentation software.
Enterprise Software: It deals with the needs of organization processes and data flow. Customer relationship management or the financial processes in an organization are carried out with the help of enterprise software.
Information Worker Software: Individual projects within a department and individual needs of creation and management of information are handled by information worker software. Documentation tools, resource management tools and personal management systems fall under the category of this type of application software.
Educational Software: It has the capabilities of running tests and tracking progress. It also has the capabilities of collaborative software. It is often used in teaching and self-learning. Dictionaries like Britannica and Encarta, mathematical software like Matlab and others like Google Earth and NASA World Wind are some of the well-known names in this category.
Simulation Software: Used to simulate physical or abstract systems, simulation software finds applications in both, research and entertainment. Flight simulators and scientific simulators are examples of simulation software.
Content Access Software: It is used to access content without editing. Common examples of content access software are web browsers and media players.
Application Suites: An application suite is an important type of application software. It consists of a group of applications combined to perform related functions. OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office are the best examples of this type of application software. These application suites, as you know, come as bundles of applications like word processors, spreadsheets, presentation software, etc. Applications in the suite can work together or operate on each other's files.
Software that aid Engineering and Development of Products: These software are used in the design and development of hardware and software products. Integrated development environments (IDE) and computer language editing tools fall under this type of application software. Interestingly, software products are developed using other software, and software communicate with one another through software. Application programming interfaces which aid the communication of two or more software are examples of this application software type.
What other applications do you know? Ask your partner.