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The two different types of software programs are (1) operating system software and (2) application software. The diagram below illustrates the levels of interaction among users, application software, operating system software, and the hardware system.
Figure 4 Interaction among hardware system, operating system software, application software, and users
The operating system software serves as the interface between application software and the hardware components. And, the application software interfaces with the users of the computer system.
Operating system software provides instructions to hardware system components. Examples of operating systems are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Macintosh operating system. When an input is entered, the operating system program provides instructions to send the input to appropriate hardware components for processing. Then, it provides instructions for the result to be sent to the appropriate output device. For example, when a user types using a keyboard, the Microsoft Windows operating system takes the input sent through the keyboard and displays the typed letters on the monitor. You will learn more about how operating system software works in Unit 3. Operating System Software.
Application software provides instructions that enable the user to perform specific tasks such as creating presentations, composing written documents, and editing images. Examples of application software programs are Microsoft Word and Notepad. Application software instructions are handled by the operating system. For instance, when you open a file using Microsoft Word, first the application provides the user-interface for you to specify which file you want to open (for example, the menu bar). Once you have selected the file, the application notifies the operating system that a certain file is needed. The operating system then requests for the file from the hard drive of the computer. You can view the application software currently on your computer by clicking on the Start button and select Programs. If you are reading this page online, then you are probably using the Internet Explorer or Firefox web browser program. More about how application software works will be discussed in Unit 4. Application Software.
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