Chapter 3 - Application Software

CHAPTER 3 PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

b  Define application software

b  Understand how system software interacts with application software

b  Explain how to start a software application

b  Explain the key features of widely used software applications

b  Identify various products available as Web applications

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

b  Programs designed to perform a specific task

b  Four major categories of application software

•    Productivity/Business

•    Graphic Design/Multimedia

•    Home/Personal/Educational

•    Communications

b  The Role of the Operating System

•    System software - programs that control the operations of the computer and its devices

•    Operating system

–  Type of system software that tells the computer how to perform functions

–  Started when you start the computer

–  Allows you to communicate with the computer and other software

–  Remains in memory until the computer is turned off

b  Utility Programs

•    System software related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs

–  Antivirus Program

–  Computer Virus

b  The Role of the User Interface

•    Controls how you enter data and how information is presented to you

•    Graphical user interface (GUI)

–  Combines text, graphics, and other visual cues to make software easier to use

–  Macintosh operating system

–  Microsoft Windows

b  Starting a Software Application

•    Desktop

–  Icons

–  Buttons

–  Pointer

•    Menu

–  Commands

–  Submenus

•    Example - Paint program

–  Window

–  Title bar

–  Dialog box

–  Shortcut menus (context-sensitive menus)

PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE

b  Types of productivity software

•    Word processing

•    Spreadsheet

•    Database

•    Presentation graphics

•    Personal information manager

•    Software suite

•    Project management

•    Accounting

b  Word Processing Software

•    Used to create, edit, and format textual documents

•    Developing a Document

–  Creating

–  Developing the document by entering text and graphics

–  Editing

–  Making changes

–  Clipboard

–  Temporary storage location (Copy, Cut, Paste)

–  Formatting

–  Changing the appearance of a document

–  Font, font size, or font style

–  Saving

–  AutoSave

–  File name

–  Printing

–  Voice Recognition

•    Basic Word Processing Features

–  Color

–  Columns

–  Graphics

–  Images

–  Borders

–  Clip art

–  Import

–  Margins

–  Word wrap

–  Scrolling

–  Find (search)

–  Replace

–  Grammatical corrections

–  Spelling checker

–  Headers

–  Footers

•    Example: Microsoft Word

b  Spreadsheet Software

•    Allows you to organize data in rows and columns, collectively called a worksheet

•    Spreadsheet organization

–  Contains up to255 worksheets

–  Worksheet has up to 256 columns and 65,536 rows

–  Cell - intersection of a row and a column

–  Labels

–  Values

–  Formulas

•    Calculations

–  Formula - performs calculations on the data in the worksheet and displays the results in a cell

–  Function - predefined formula that performs common calculations

•    Macros

–  A sequence of keystrokes and instructions that are recorded and saved

–  Saves time by allowing you to enter a single character to perform frequently used tasks

•    Recalculation

–  When you change data, any value affected by the change is updated

•    Charting

–  Visual representation of data in a graphical form

–  Line charts

–  Column charts (bar charts)

–  Pie charts

•    Example: Microsoft Excel

b  Database Software

•    Database - a collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of that data

•    Database management system (DBMS)

•    Tables

•    Rows (records)

•    Fields

•    Database Organization

–  Determine fields

–  Determine field lengths

–  Determine data types

–  Text

–  Numeric

–  Currency

–  Date

–  Memo

–  Hyperlink

–  Object

•    Entering Data

–  Populating the table

–  Validation

–  Importing data

•    Manipulating Data

–  Sort

–  Query

–  Criteria (restrictions)

•    Example: Microsoft Access

b  Presentation Graphics Software

•    Allows you to create documents called presentations, which are used to communicate ideas, messages, and other information to a group

•    Slide show

•    Predefined formats - define colors and other elements for backgrounds, text, and other items on the slides

•    Clip art

•    Slide sorter

•    Printing

–  Outline

–  Audience notes

–  Notes page

•    Example: Microsoft PowerPoint

b  Personal Information Managers

•    Software application that includes an appointment calendar, address book, and notepad to help organize appointments and task lists

•    Synchronize

•    Example: Microsoft Outlook, Palm Desktop

b  Software Suite

•    Collection of individual application software packages sold as a single package

•    Lower cost

•    Ease of use

–  Common interface

•    Example: Microsoft Office

b  Project Management Software

•    Allows you to plan, schedule, track, and analyze the events, resources, and costs of a project

•    Example: Microsoft Project

b  Accounting Software

•    Helps companies record and report financial transactions

•    Basic low cost packages and sophisticated high cost packages

•    Example: Intuit QuickBooks

GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE

b  Software used by power users for specific tasks

•    Computer-aided design

•    Desktop publishing

•    Paint/image editing

•    Video and audio editing

•    Multimedia authoring

•    Web page authoring

b  Computer-Aided Design

•    Used to create engineering, architectural, and scientific designs

•    Example: Autodesk AutoCAD

b  Desktop Publishing Software (Professional)

•    Allows you to produce sophisticated documents that contain text, graphics, and brilliant colors

•    Page layout - arranging text and graphics in a document

•    Example: Adobe PageMaker

b  Paint/Image Editing Software (Professional)

•    Allows you to draw pictures, shapes, and other graphical images using various tools on the screen

•    Example: Adobe Photoshop

b  Video and Audio Editing Software

•    Video editing - modifying segments of video called clips

–  Add words

–  Reorder segments

•    Audio editing - modify audio clips

–  Filters enhance audio quality

•    Example: Adobe Premier

b  Multimedia Authoring Software

•    Used to create electronic interactive presentations that include text, video, audio, and animation

•    Often used in education

•    Delivered via CD-ROM or DVD-ROM

•    Example: Macromedia Authorware

b  Web Page Authoring Software

•    Allows you to create Web pages and organize, manage, and maintain Web sites

•    Example: Macromedia Dreamweaver UltraDev

SOFTWARE FOR HOME, PERSONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL USE

b  Software designed specifically for home, personal, or educational use

b  Inexpensive

•    Often less than $100

b  Integrated Software

•    Combines applications into a single easy to use package

–  Word processing

–  Spreadsheet

–  Database

•    Example: Microsoft Works

b  Personal Finance Software

•    Simplified accounting program

•    Track personal income and expenses

•    Track investments

•    Online banking and investing

•    Example: Intuit Quicken

b  Legal Software

•    Assists in preparation of legal documents and provides legal advice

•    Example: Nolo WillMaker

b  Tax Preparation Software

•    Guides individuals, families, or small businesses through the process of filing federal and state taxes

•    Offer money saving tax tips

•    Prints tax forms

•    Example: Intuit TurboTax

b  Desktop Publishing (Personal)

•    Allows you to create newsletters, brochures, and advertisements; postcards and greeting cards; letterhead and business cards; banners, calendars, and logos

•    Print or place final publication on the Web

•    Microsoft Publisher

b  Paint/Image Editing Software (Personal)

•    Simplified to meet the needs of home and small business users

•    Photo-editing software

•    Example: Jasc Paint Shop Pro

b  Clip Art/Image Gallery

•    Collection of clip art and photographs

•    Use graphics in word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, and presentation graphics

•    Example: Corel GALLERY

b  Home Design/Landscaping Software

•    Assists in the design or remodeling of a home, deck, or landscape

•    Broderbund 3D Home Design Suite

b  Educational/Reference/Personal Computer Entertainment Software

•    Software designed to teach a particular skill

•    Reference software

•    Personal computer entertainment software

•    Microsoft Encarta, Microsoft Streets & Trips

SOFTWARE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

b  Electronic Mail Software

•    Create, send, receive, forward, store, print, and delete email messages

•    Example: Microsoft Outlook

b  Web Browsers

•    Allows you to access and view Web pages

•    Example: Netscape Navigator

•    Example: Microsoft Internet Explorer

b  Chat Rooms

•    Permits users to chat with each other via the computer

•    Live conversation

•    Voice/Video Chat

•    Chat Client

b  Newsgroups

•    Online area on the Web where users conduct written discussions about a particular subject

•    Newsreader

b  Instant Messaging

•    Real-time communications service

•    Notifies you when one or more people are online

•    Allows exchange of messages and files

•    Instant messenger

•    Examples:  MSN messenger, ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger

b  GroupWare

•    Helps groups of people on a network collaborate on projects and share information

•    Provides PIM functions

•    Group scheduling

•    Examples: Group Systems, Collaboratus

b  Videoconferencing

•    Meeting between two or more people who use a network or the Internet to transmit audio and video data

•    Microphone, speakers, video camera

•    Examples: Microsoft NetMeeting, Sorenson EnVision

APPLICATIONS ON THE WEB

b  Web Application - Software application on a Web Site

•    Some are free (Maps.com)

•    Some charge a fee (TurboTax for the Web)

•    Some only charge service and support (Microsoft’s .NET)

b  Web-based training (WBT)

•    Self-directed, self-paced instructions on a topic using Internet technology

•    Some are free

•    Some charge a fee

•    Distance Learning, Distance Education, Online Learning

b  Application service providers (ASP)

•    Third-party organization that manages and distributes software and services on the Web

•    Five ASP Categories

–  Enterprise

–  Local/Regional

–  Specialist

–  Vertical market

–  Volume business

LEARNING AIDS AND SUPPORT TOOLS

b  Online Help

b  FAQs

b  Tutorials

b  Wizards

b  Printed manuals and books

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION SOFTWARE

b  Application software

b  Productivity software

b  Graphics and multimedia software

b  Software for home, personal, and educational use

b  Software for communications

b  Applications on the Web

b  Learning aids and support tools

Chapter 3 Complete