Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
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COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
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Subject: Computing
Class: SHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 10
Grade code: 2.1.2.LI.2
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 2.1.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.1.2.LI.2
Theme: COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE & ORGANISATION
Subtheme: COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
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This lesson explores the world of computer software, the invisible force that brings a computer to life. In Ghana today, from the smartphone we use for Mobile Money transactions to the computer that processes our BECE and WASSCE results, software is everywhere. A computer or a phone without software is just a useless piece of metal and plastic. By understanding the different types of software and what they do, we become more powerful and efficient users of technology. This knowledge helps us choose the right tools for a task, troubleshoot common problems, and protect our devices from harm.
What is Computer Software? Think of a computer system like preparing a meal, for example, Jollof rice. The hardware is like the physical ingredients and tools: the rice, tomatoes, oil, the pot (sufuria), the stove, and the ladle. The software is the recipe and the cook's instructions. It is the set of step-by-step instructions that tells the hardware what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.
Formal Definition: Software is a set of instructions, data, or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks. It is the intangible part of a computer system that tells the hardware what to do.
Software is broadly divided into two main families or types: System Software Application Software
Let's look at each one in detail. A. System Software: The Manager System software is the software that manages and controls the computer hardware. It provides a platform for the application software to run. You do not directly use system software to write a letter or chat with a friend, but without it, the computer cannot even start. It is the foundation.