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A Brief Guide To Computer Software

While most users rate computers in terms of their manufacturer or hardware, computing devices would be rendered almost unusable for most people without the software we run on them.

Published

2 years ago

June 16, 2021

TwinzTech

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While most users rate computers in terms of their manufacturer or hardware, computing devices would be rendered almost unusable for most people without the software we run on them. Sure, Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and RAM, etc. are essential but, underneath, it’s the software we run on our machines that make them work and provide a helpful service.

Table of Contents

1. The two types of computer software

In broad terms, computer software can be split into two types:

Operating Systems (OSs): Used to control the hardware and provide a virtual interface between hardware and user.

Applications: Application software programs (now commonly referred to simply as ‘apps’) perform practical benefits for users, e.g., programs like Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop.

2. The constant battle to maintain software security

One common consideration between OSs and applications is the need for code security during the development phase and further down the line to keep software updated and protect users from hackers. Cybercriminals are constantly trying to exploit issues and find backdoor security flaws in software.

For this reason, when you’re offered updates to your OS or the programs you run, you should install them as soon as possible to save leaving yourself exposed to new risks.

3. The early days of software programming

While its strength seems hard to believe, the first computer program was written back in 1843 by a mathematician, Ada Lovelace, to work with a physical machine built by Charles Babbage. Programming has come a considerable way since computers nowadays rely on a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to interpret software compiled in specific programming languages to understand and execute instructions set by the user.

Software programming languages to learn

4. The development of Operating Systems – a crucial turning point in modern-day computing

All computer-driven devices run an Operating System to function – everything from laptops and desktops (typically running Apple’s OS or Microsoft Windows) to mobile devices (mostly running Apple iOS and Google Android). The OS of a device allows it to manage hardware resources, offer User Interface (UI) components, and provide a platform to enable developers to write software to extend the usefulness of the machine.

Without OSs, the software you commonly use today would be worthless and amount to little more than lines of complicated code.

5. Software applications – the programs that make your device useful

Applications extend the OS of a computer to allow users to accomplish specific goals – for example, writing a document in Microsoft Word or listening to music on Spotify, etc. In short, apps are the side of computing that brings tangible benefits to the user. An OS on its own would be of little use – however, OSs remain the fundamental building blocks of all the programs you use.

6. Software utilities and programming tools – a subsection of applications

Utilities and developer programs are an essential subsection of apps that should not be overlooked. Utility apps allow users to modify their device – for example, by offering antivirus protection or performing backups.

Programmers use software development platforms to write new software and compile and debug code, allowing the developer to write programs that can then be run on a computer. Software dev programs also will enable the coder to test and convert their code into a format that the computer’s OS will understand.

Big Data

How To Use Histogram Charts for Business Data Visualization

One such tool for data visualization that stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness is the histogram. Keep reading to learn more about histogram charts.

Published

2 months ago

October 15, 2023

TwinzTech

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Data visualization is an indispensable tool for businesses operating in the contemporary digital era. It enhances the understanding and interpretation of complex data sets, paving the way for informed decision-making. One such tool for data visualization that stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness is the histogram. Keep reading to learn more about histogram charts.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding the Basics of Business Data Visualization

Alt text: A person looking at different data visualizations on a computer before looking at a histogram chart.

Business data visualization is a multidisciplinary field merging statistical analysis and computer science fundamentals to represent complex data sets visually. It transforms raw data into visual information, making it more understandable, actionable, and useful.

Visualization tools such as histogram charts, pie charts, bar graphs, and scatter plots offer businesses a way to understand data trends, patterns, and outliers—essentially bringing data to life.

Whether you’re analyzing sales performance, forecasting market trends, or tracking key business metrics, data visualization can be a powerful tool for presenting data that might otherwise be overlooked.

2. Deciphering the Role of Histogram Charts in Data Analysis

Histogram charts are a superb tool for understanding the distribution and frequency of data. They are bar graphs where each bar represents a range of data values known as a bin or bucket. The height of each bar illustrates the number of data points that fall within each bucket.

Unlike bar graphs that compare different categories, histogram charts visually represent data distribution over a continuous interval or a particular time frame. This makes them invaluable for many business applications, including market research, financial analysis, and quality control.

By portraying large amounts of data and the frequency of data values, histogram charts provide an overview of data distribution that can aid in predicting future data trends. It helps businesses to spot patterns and anomalies that might go unnoticed in tabular data.

3. Key Steps To Create Effective Histogram Charts

Creating effective histogram charts involves steps, starting with data collection. You need to gather relevant and accurate data for the phenomenon you’re studying.

6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Data Analysis Skills

Next, you determine the bins and their intervals. Bins are data ranges, and their number depends on the level of detail you want from your histogram. It’s essential to keep bins equal in size to facilitate comparison.

Once you’ve structured your data and decided on the number of bins, the next step is to count how many data points fall into each bin. This is the basis of your histogram.

Finally, you draw the histogram with the bins on the x-axis and the frequency on the y-axis. Each bin is represented by a bar, the height of which represents the number of data points that fall into that bin.

4. Advantages of Using Histogram Charts for Business Data Visualization

Alt text: A person on a computer looking at multiple screens with histogram charts.

Histograms offer a host of advantages in the realm of business data visualization. They provide a clear, visual summary of large data sets, making it easier to digest and comprehend the data.

Histograms are also useful in identifying outliers or anomalies in data, which can be significant in industries such as finance and quality control, where an anomaly could signify a significant issue that needs to be addressed.

5. Real-world examples of Business Data Visualization Using Histogram Charts

Many businesses use histograms to visualize data. For instance, a retail company may use histograms to analyze customer purchase patterns, enabling them to identify peak shopping times, seasonality, and trends in customer preferences.

A manufacturing company might use histogram charts to monitor product quality. By analyzing the frequency of defects, they can identify the cause of the problem and take corrective actions faster.

Histograms are also widely used in the financial industry. Financial analysts use histogram charts to visualize the distribution of investment returns, helping them to understand the risk associated with an investment.

Histogram charts are crucial in business data visualization, offering clear and concise representations of large data sets.