CHAPTER 3

TYPES
OF
SOFTWARE
PA RT - 2
CONTENTS
➢ Application Software
❖ General Purpose Software
✓ Word Processing Software
✓ Spreadsheets
✓ Database Management Systems
✓ Graphics, multimedia, and presentation applications
❖ Specific Purpose Software
✓ Accounting Management Software
✓ Reservation System
✓ HR Management Software
✓ Inventory Control System
✓ Billing System
❖ Customised (Bespoke) Software
❖ Mobile Applications
 APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Application software is a term which is used for software created for
a specific purpose. It is generally a program or collection of programs
used by end users. It can be called an application or simply an app.
In fact all the software other than system software and programming
software are application software.
Thus, a software which is developed to help the user to perform
specific tasks is called application software.
Application software programs are created to facilitate a
variety of functions, including but not limited to:
• managing information
• manipulating data
• constructing visuals
• coordinating resources
• calculating figures
Various examples of Application
Software are:

• Word processing software

• Database programs
• Entertainment software
• Business software
• Educational software
• Computer-aided design(CAD) software
• Spreadsheet software etc.
Application software can further be subdivided into three categories :

Application Software

General Purpose

Specific Purpose

Customised(Bespoke)
 GENERAL PURPOSE APPLICATION SOFTWARE
General purpose application software is a type of application that can be used for a variety of
tasks. It is not limited to one particular function. For example, a word processor could be classed
as general purpose software as it would allow a user to write a novel, create a restaurant
menu or even make a poster. Some other examples include spreadsheets, databases, desktop
publishing packages, graphics packages etc.
A general purpose application, sometimes known as 'off-the-shelf' is the sort of software that
you use at home and school. This type of software tries to be a 'jack-of-all-trades’. These
software allows users to perform a range of different tasks in one application, saving disk space,
money and time. Nearly all home computers have general purpose applications.
General purpose application software are
also known as packages. Some of the
packages are as follows :
➢ Word Processing Program
➢ Spreadsheet Program
➢ Graphics, Multimedia and Presentation
Program
➢Database Program
➢ Desktop Publishing Software
➢ Browser
➢ WORD PROCESSING SOFT WARE
A word processor, or word processing program, does exactly what the name implies. It
processes words. It also processes paragraphs, pages, and entire papers. Thus, it allows entering,
editing, formatting and printing text.
You can use a word processor to create almost any kind of document be it a term paper,
business letter, theses work, memos, legal document, newsletter, reports and even a book.
Some examples of word processing programs include Microsoft Word, WordPad,
Notepad, WordPerfect (Windows only), AppleWorks (Mac only), and OpenOffice.org Writer.
➢ ELECTRONIC SPREADSHEETS
Spreadsheet is a long sheet of rows and columns on the
computer screen to do data analysis and calculation. In
other words, a spreadsheet is a grid which interactively
manages and organises data in rows and columns. It is also
called as Electronic Spreadsheet.
Thus, an Electronic Spreadsheet is a program that accepts
data in tabular form and allows users to manipulate /
calculate / analyse data in the desired manner. Spreadsheets
not only allow manipulation of data but also can generate
graphs and charts to show the relationships among
numbers more vividly. Nowadays, three-dimensional
spreadsheet programs are available that help you create
not only a single worksheet, but numerous worksheets
that are linked to one another.
Some popular spreadsheet
programs are as follows :
❖ Lotus 1-2-3
❖ Microsoft Excel
❖ OpenOffice.org Calc
❖ QuattroPro
❖ Gnumeric
➢ DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (DBMS)
A database management system (DBMS) is a software package designed to define, manipulate,
retrieve and manage data in a database. A DBMS generally manipulates the data itself, the data format,
field names, record structure and file structure.
Database management software extends your ability to organize collections of data stored in your
computer and provides tools for listing subsets of the data that meet specified criteria.
Thus, A Database Management System (DBMS) is a package that can create, handle and manage bulk
of stored data.
Popular DBMS packages are : OpenOffice.org Base, MS Access, Oracle etc.
➢ PRESENTATION SOFT WARE
The software that can create professional looking visual aids is
called Presentation Software. The visual aids can be computer
images, paper printouts, or photographic transparencies.
Presentation software is used to enhance language learning.
The use of presentation software encourages use of all four
language skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking and
Listening. Presentation software makes the ability to
communicate messages to a group of people much simpler than
any other delivery methods.
Presentation graphics software provides predefined backgrounds
and sample page layouts to assist in the creation of computer-
driven slide shows in combination with a data projector.
Navigation from page to page (slide to slide) can be done
manually or automatically every so many seconds.
Some very popular presentation software, such as
Microsoft's PowerPoint , OpenOffice.org Impress and Lotus's
Freelance Graphics, are sold stand-alone or can come as part of
office-oriented suites or packages of software. Other popular
products include Adobe Persuasion, Astound, Asymetrix Compel,
Corel Presentations, and Harvard Graphics.
 SPECIFIC PURPOSE APPLICATION SOFTWARE

The specific purpose software are the software which are designed and used for
a specific set of task. Unlike General purpose application software that are designed to carry
out common tasks , the specific purpose application software are developed by
programmers to perform only specific task.
Specialist application packages are generally not available in shops and they often have to be
purchased directly from the manufacturer or a specialist firm. These applications are designed to
be used for specific tasks such as company payroll, stock control systems, appointment systems,
e-commerce sites etc. The applications have not been written for a specific company. They have
been developed by a manufacturer to try to provide all the features that they anticipate a
company might need. Like general purpose software, there may be many features that the
company does not need, or the features which are available may not work exactly as they would
like in their business.
It is possible for developers to adapt this specialist software somewhat and make it more specific
for the company needs. However, they are limited in what can be changed.
Some examples of Specific Purpose Software are : Web Browsers, Calculators,
Media Players, Calendar Programs, Accounting Software, Reservation
Software, HR Management Software, Inventory Management Software,
Billing Software etc.
❖ Accounting Management Software : This software allows you to process and manage
accounting operations. Accounting software is mainly used in organizations to record and keep
track of business revenues, payrolls, receivables and payables on a periodic basis. Tally. ERP 9 is a
popular specific purpose software used in financial accounting.
❖ Reservation System : It helps holiday makers and business travelers by arranging attractive
holiday packages and business tours for them. The users can use this software to get information
related to travelling, booking bus, air or railway tickets and getting hotel accommodation.
❖ HR Management Software (HRMS) : This software manages employees-related data in an
organization. This data includes employees’ personal details (such as name, date of birth and
educational qualifications), skills (area of expertise), capabilities, performance reports and salary
details.
❖ Inventory Control System : Inventory management software automates the process of
inventory management, such as receiving, storing, tracking, shipping and accounting of inventory.
Using this software helps organizations perform various activities, such as managing the flow of
materials, coordinating inventory related activities within and across various production units,
tracking the overflow or requirement of raw materials, etc.
❖ Billing System : This software performs all tasks related to the billing process such as creation of
invoices, receipts and purchase orders. It allows easy access to transaction details, such as the date
of purchase, quantity and price.
CUSTOMIZED (BESPOKE) SOFTWARE
Customized software refers to software developed by an in-house development group, a
software firm, or an independent software developer for a particular group or organization. Since
this software is developed or modified according to the needs of the client, it is also known as
tailor-made or bespoke software.
The advantages of using customized software are as follows :
❑ The software possesses only those features that are required by an organization.
❑ The software works according to the business needs of an organization.
❑ It is better to opt for customized software than buy new software because it can be customized to
fulfil the different needs of an organization.

Customized software has the following disadvantages :

❑ It takes long time to develop customized software.
❑ A lot of money is needed to develop customized software.
❑ A team of business analysts, programmers and testers is required to build a customized application.
❑ Customized software cannot be directly installed everywhere because of the lack of necessary
infrastructure and resources required for its installation.
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Mobile applications are a type of application software which are specifically designed to run on a
mobile device. Like other application software, a mobile application also serves a specific purpose. But
mobile applications are little different from PC/Desktop based application software. Unlike those
application software, mobile applications are designed to work with limited resources such as limited
memory, limited battery, limited screen size etc. These applications can be either installed on a device
during its manufacturing process or downloaded later from an apps store or marketplace using the
Internet. Some mobile applications are paid while many other are free. Mobile apps are present in
huge numbers on the Internet. They are categorized in such a way that a user can easily search and
download them from online app collection stores such as Apple Inc.’s App Store or Google’s Play
Store.
Mobile apps can be games such as Pubg, Angry birds etc. ; utility apps such as Alarm or notes etc. ;
entertainment apps such as Netflix, Spotify etc. ; social networking apps such as Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram etc. and many more.