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Beginners
How To Guide
The Basics of Information Technology
Software
Software can be defined as the set of instructions for
the computer - it dictates what is to be done. Software
runs on (i.e. operates on) hardware. A list of instructions
that undertakes a particular requirement or task is
known as a "program." The two major categories
of software are "system software" and "application
software." System software is made up of control
programmes for the computer itself, such as the operating
system and database management system (DBMS). Application
software is any programme that processes data for the
user (e.g. inventory, payroll, spreadsheets, word processors,
etc.).
Often people confuse software with data however it is
not data - it tells the hardware how to deal with the
data - in simple terms software is "run" (i.e.
a set of instructions is initiated) and data is then
processed. The data itself often comes in the form of
databases - which are files that are originated and
managed by a database management system (DBMS). DBMSs
can manage data in many different formats such as text,
sound, images and video Database and file structures
are determined by the software being used.
Required Equipment and Connections for setting up
a basic PC workstation
You need to, at least, budget for the cost of an
entry (beginner) level PC with some basic software such
as Microsoft Works, a printer and a scanner.
Your Internet connection via a high-speed line (in this
example, DSL) would involve the cost of a modem plus
the ISP's costs. This type of standard starter pack
should suffice in most startup situations and the facilities
can always be "ramped up" should demand increase.
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