A studio with the wrong tools
Pixel Nest is a made-up design studio with four staff. They buy cheap laptops and free software. Then a customer sends a huge picture file. The laptops freeze and the work is late.
Hardware and software must fit the job. This lesson shows the main kinds and what each is for.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say which hardware and software suit a given task in an organisation.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Operating system | the software that runs a device and its programs |
| Utility software | a small tool that looks after a device |
| Application software | a program that does a job for the user |
| Server | a computer that gives a service to other devices |
| Client | a device that asks a server for a service |
| Open source | software whose code anyone may read and change |
| Proprietary | software owned by a company that controls its use |
| Cloud computing | using programs and storage on another company's computers over the internet |
| Peripheral | a device you plug into a computer, such as a printer |
| Accessibility | making IT usable by people with different needs |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Why organisations use hardware and software
IT helps with many jobs. People talk and work together. Staff make products or give services. Shops take payments. Files are stored and sent. Websites reach customers. Staff can work from home.
Each job needs the right mix of hardware and software. One piece alone rarely does it.
Types of software
| Type | What it is | Studio example |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Runs the device | The system on each laptop |
| Utility software | Looks after the device | A backup tool or virus scanner |
| Application software | Does a job for the user | Picture editing, email |
| Cloud software | Runs on another company's computers | Shared file storage |
| Mobile app | A program on a phone or tablet | A client approval app |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.