Learning Objectives / Whāinga Ako

Supports DDDO Progress Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6; CT Progress Outcomes 2, 8 

• Define what "software" is and differentiate it from "hardware."

• Define what an "application" (app) is and provide examples.

• Explain the relationship between software and applications.

• Identify different types of software and their general purposes.

• Understand that software is created by humans.

• Demonstrate understanding of how applications function and are created to develop digital outcomes. 

Getting Started / Whakataki (Prior Knowledge Required)

To get the most out of learning about Software & Applications, it's essential to have a clear understanding of:

• Digital Devices: Can you identify common digital devices and explain their basic Input → Process → Output cycle?

• Hardware: Do you understand that hardware refers to the physical parts of a digital device?

• Input & Output: Can you identify how you communicate with devices (input) and how they communicate back (output)?

Quick Check: If hardware is the "body" of a digital device, and it needs instructions to function, what do you think those instructions are called? 

What are Software and Applications?

While hardware is the physical "body" of a digital device, software is its "brain" or "instructions." Software is a set of instructions, data, or programs that tells a computer or digital device exactly what to do and how to do it. You can't touch software, but it makes the hardware functional.

An application, often shortened to "app," is a type of software designed to perform a specific task or a set of tasks for the user. Applications are what most of us interact with directly on our phones, tablets, and computers every day.

All applications are software, but not all software is an application. Software is a broad term that includes operating systems, utility programs, and applications. Applications are the part of the software that helps us perform specific jobs, like writing a document or playing a game.

Think of it like this:

• Hardware: The oven, pots, and ingredients in a kitchen.

• Software: All the recipes, cooking techniques, and cooking instructions in a cookbook.

• Application: A single recipe in that cookbook, like "How to Bake a Cake."

Examples of Applications:

• Web browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

• Word processors (Google Docs, Microsoft Word)

• Photo editors (Google Photos, Adobe Photoshop)

• Video games (Minecraft, Fortnite)

• Social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram)

• Music streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music)

How It Works / Me Pēhea te Mahi

Software acts as a bridge between the end-user and the hardware. It takes your inputs, processes them, and tells the hardware how to produce the desired outputs.

1. User Interaction: You (the end-user) provide input (e.g., click a button in an app).

2. Software's Role: The application's software receives this input and uses its pre-programmed instructions to decide what needs to happen next. It communicates these instructions to the Operating System (which we'll learn about next!).

3. Hardware Execution: The Operating System then tells the specific hardware components (like the CPU and memory) to perform the necessary tasks.

4. Output: The hardware performs the task, and the software translates the result back into a format that the user can understand as output (e.g., text appears on the screen, a sound plays).

Software is always being updated and improved by humans to add new features, fix problems, or improve performance.

Assessment / Te Aromatawai

Check your understanding of Software & Applications.

1. Multiple Choice: Which of the following best describes software?

   • a) The physical parts of a computer.

   • b) The instructions that tell a computer what to do.

   • c) The electricity that powers a device.

   • d) The person who uses a computer.

2. Short Answer: Give an example of an application and explain how it helps an end-user accomplish a task.

3. Scenario: You are using a digital camera app on a smartphone to take a photo.

   • Is the smartphone hardware or software?

   • Is the digital camera app hardware or software?

   • How do these two work together to take and save a photo?

Key Takeaways / Mātauranga

• Software is the set of instructions that tells hardware what to do.

• An application (app) is a type of software designed for a specific user task.

• Software enables the interaction between end-users and digital devices.

• Software is created by humans and is constantly evolving.

What's Next?

Now that you understand the crucial role of Software and Applications, you're ready to explore how they interact with the physical device and how they are managed:

• Operating Systems: Learn about the most important software on a digital device, which manages all hardware and runs all other applications.

• File Types: Understand how different kinds of digital content (created by applications) are organized and stored.

• File Management: Explore how to effectively organize, store, and retrieve all your digital files and applications.

• User Interface (UI): Discover how applications are designed to be visually appealing and easy for end-users to interact with.

• Computer Program: Dive deeper into how software and applications are actually built using code.

• Digital Ethics & Society: Consider the broader impact of the software and applications we create and use on people and communities.

Continue your journey by clicking on the links to these exciting topics!