Chapter 3

What is a "killer" app? What was the killer app for the PC?

A killer app is application software that is so useful that people will purchase the hardware just so they can run it. The killer app for the PC was the spreadsheet (Visicalc).

Explain what an ERP system does.

An ERP (enterprise resource planning) system is a software application with a centralized database that is implemented across the entire organization.

What is your favorite software application? What tasks does it help you accomplish?

Google Chrome. Allows me to the web Quickly and easily

Which of the following are operating systems and which are applications: Microsoft Excel, Google Chrome, iTunes, Windows, Android, Angry Birds.

Microsoft Excel (application), Google Chrome (application), iTunes (application), WIndows (operating system), Android (operating system), Angry Birds (application)

What is open-source software? How does it differ from closed-source software? Give an example of each.

Open-source software is software that makes the source code available for anyone to copy and use. It is free to download, copy, and distribute. Closed-source software does not make the source code available and generally is not free to download, copy, and distribute. There are many examples of both, such as: Firefox (open source), Linux (open source), iTunes (closed source), Microsoft Office (closed source).

How did the Y2K (year 2000) problem affect the sales of ERP systems?

Organizations purchased ERP software to replace their older systems in order to avoid any problems with the year 2000 in their software.

Come up with your own definition of software. Explain the key terms in your definition.

Software instructs the hardware on what it needs to do. Software is created by someone who programmed it.

What does a software license grant?

Software licenses are not all the same, but generally they grant the user the right to use the software on a limited basis. The terms of the license dictate users' rights in detail.

What are the functions of the operating system?

The operating system manages the hardware resources of the computer, provides the user-interface components, and provides a platform for software developers to write applications.

How would you categorize the software that runs on mobile devices? Break down these apps into at least three basic categories and give an example of each.

There are various ways to answer this question. Students should identify that there are mobile operating systems and mobile apps. Most likely, students will break down mobile apps into multiple categories: games, GPS, reading, communication, etc.