Understanding Application Software

                                          

Some types of application software:

Word processing
Spreadsheet
Database
Presentation graphics
Graphics and Other types of application software

Software Basics

Software ownership rights: Specify the allowable use of the program
Software license: Specifies the conditions under which buyer of the program can use it

Software Ownership Rights

Commercial software: Copyrighted software developed, usually by a commercial company, for sale to others
Shareware: Copyrighted software distributed on the honor system; consumers should either pay for it or uninstall it after the trial period
Freeware: Copyrighted software that may be used free of charge
Public domain software: Software that is not copyrighted and may be used without restriction
Open source software: Programs with source code available to the general public

Installed vs. Web-Based Software

Installed software: Must be installed on the PC before it can be run
o Can be purchased in physical form
o Can be downloaded from the Internet
Web-based software: Run directly from the Internet. Also called Software as a Service (SaaS)
Includes games and other free programs
Includes fee based software available through an application service provider (ASP)

Software Suites

Software suite: Collection of software programs bundled together and sold as a single software package Office suites (e.g. Microsoft Office) are used by most businesses and many individuals to produce documents; typically include:
  · Word processing software
  · Spreadsheet software
  · Database software
  · Presentation graphics software
  · Additional productivity tools like calendars, messaging programs, or collaboration tools
  · Facilitate object linking and embedding
Integrated software programs: Similar to suites, but with fewer features (e.g. Microsoft Works)

Word Processing Concepts

• Word processing software: Used to create written documents (memos, letters, reports, etc.)
• Actual commands and features vary somewhat from program to program
• Important to be familiar with the basic features of word processing and the general concept of what word
processing enables you to do
• Common programs
 – Microsoft Word
 – Corel WordPerfect
 – Apple Pages

Word Processing on the Web

• Most word processing programs today include Web related features allowing you to:
  – Send a document as an e-mail message
  – Include Web page hyperlinks in documents
  – Create or modify Web pages
• Default Word 2007 file format is .docx
• There are optional file formats for documents created in many word processing programs

Spreadsheet Concepts

• Spreadsheet software: Used to create electronic spreadsheets
• Spreadsheets: Documents which typically contain a great deal of numbers and mathematical computations
and are organized into rows and columns
• Worksheet : A single spreadsheet
• Workbook: Multiple worksheets saved in a single file
• Most widely used spreadsheet programs
  – Microsoft Excel
  – Corel Quattro Pro
  – Apple Number

Database Concepts

• Database: A collection of related data that is stored in a manner enabling information to be retrieved as
needed
• Database management system (DBMS): Software that allows the creation and manipulation of an electronic database
• Most widely used database programs
  – Microsoft Access
  – Corel Paradox
  – Lotus Approach

Presentation Graphic Concepts

• Electronic slide show: Group of slides containing images, text, video clips, or sound clips displayed for
educational or business presentations
• Presentation graphics software: Used to create presentation graphics
• Most common presentation graphics programs are
  – Microsoft PowerPoint
  – Corel Presentations
  – Apple Keynote

Graphics Software

• Graphics software: Used to create or modify images
   -Painting programs:  Typically used to create bitmapped (Microsoft Paint, Corel Painter X)

   - Drawing programs: Typically create images using mathematical formulas (Adobe® Illustrator® CS3,
CorelDRAW X3)
   - Image editing or photo editing programs: Designed for touching up or modifying images
     • Crop, eliminate red-eye, etc.
     • Optimize file size for the Web
     • Adobe Photoshop, Apple iPhoto,

Other Types of Application Software

• Desktop and personal publishing software
• Educational software
• Entertainment software
• Reference software
• Accounting and personal finance software
• CAD and other types of design software

• Project management and collaboration software
• Remote access software
• Note taking and personal productivity software

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Computer System

Hardware - the physical components of the computer, including the computer itself and matched peripherals.
  Internal hardware
     Located inside the main box of the computer
           Processing - transforming data into information
                              - Microprocessor is simply a small processor fabricated on a chip of silicon
Storage devices - Used to store data on or access data from storage media
     Ex: Hard drives, DVD disks and drives, USB flash drives, etc.
Communications devices - Allow users to communicate with others and to electronically access information
     Ex :Modems, network adapters, etc.

  External hardware
       Located outside the system unit and plug into ports located on the exterior of the system unit.

       Input devices     - getting data into the computer
                                  - enable users to get data into the computer for processing

       Output Devices - displaying the information
                                  - enable users to see and/or produce processed informations

Software - the programs that runs on the computer. Refers to any program that tells the computer system what to do.

Categories of Software:
1. System Software - Background programs that control a system.
                                 - A term referring to any a computer software
                                  which manages and controls the hardware so that application software can perform a
                                   task.
                                  Examples: Operating Systems, Compiler, Loader, Linker, Interpreter.

Operating System (OS) - Monitors and controls all input / output and processing activities within a                                                      computer system.
                                         - It is a program that controls the PC hardware and the operation of all other                                                programs

                                      Some Well Known Operating Systems:

                                      DOS - Disk Operating System - one of the first operating systems for the                                                 personal computer. like c:\ >. This is called a command-line interface.

                                      Windows - The Windows operating system, a product of Microsoft, is a                                                        GUI(graphical user interface) operating system. This type of "user friendly"                                                     operating system is said to have WIMP features:
                                         Windows Icons Menus Pointing device

                                       MacOS - Macintosh, a product of Apple, has its own operating system with a                                               GUI and WIMP features.

                                       Unix - Linux (the PC version of Unix) - Unix and Linux were originally created                                         with a command-line interface, but recently have added GUI enhancements.

 Platform is defined by a processor and an operating system.
Software created to run a specific platform won’t run on other platforms. Modern Wintel platforms, such as Windows ME and Windows 2000, are backward compatible, allowing programs written for earlier Microsoft platforms to be run on modern systems.

        Before choosing a platform, consider the following:
            1. Availability of appropriate commercial applications software for the platforms.
            2. Compatibility of platform with existing hardware, software, and expertise

2. Application Software – Programs that allow a user to perform specific tasks on a computer.
         Example: Payroll systems, Inventory Control, Manage student database, Word Processor,                                           Spreadsheet and Database Management System etc.

      Word Processing
         A text editing program, which allows the user to type, compose and correct manuscripts without the need to re-type, when errors changed.

       Types of Word Processors: WordStar, Word perfect, Microsoft Word

        Electronic Spreadsheet
            A program replacing the traditional financial modeling tools that offer modern improvements in ease           of creating, editing, and using of financial models and graphical representations.

        Kinds of Electronic Spreadsheet: Lotus 1-2-3, MS EXCEL, QUATTRO, FRAMEWORK

3. Open Source Software – is a computer software whose source code is available under a license that permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form.
Well-known OSS products : Linux, Netscape, Apache, etc.,

4. Proprietary Software – (also called non-free software)
a software with restrictions on using, copying and modifying as enforced by the proprietor
Proponents of proprietary software are Microsoft.
Example: CAD, Norton Antivirus etc.,

People ware - People who use a computer to obtain information or Computer users
(end users)
          Ex: Computer professionals include:
             Programmers, Systems analysts, Computer operations personnel

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