Chapter 6 - Basic Application Software

  Learning Outcomes

·         Identify general-purpose applications

·         Describe word processors, spreadsheets, presentation programs, and database  management systems.

·         Identify specialized applications.

·         Describe graphics programs, web authoring programs, and other specialized   professional applications.

·         Describe mobile apps and app stores.

·         Identify software suites.

·         Describe office suites, cloud suites, specialized suites, and utility suites.
  

Introduction

·        Not long ago, trained specialists were required to perform many of the operations you can now do with a personal computer.

·         Competent end users need to understand the capabilities of basic application  software including:

·         Word processors

·         Spreadsheets

·         Presentation programs

·         Database management systems

 Application Software

·         End user software

·         Accomplish a variety of tasks 3 categories

·         1.General Purpose Applications

·         2.Specialized Applications

·         3.Mobile Apps

   User Interface

Graphical User Interface (GUI) consists of:

·         Icons

·         Pointer

·         Windows

·         Menus

·         Toolbars

·         Buttons

·         Dialog Boxes 

        Common Features in Microsoft

·         Ribbon GUI

·         Ribbons

·         Tabs

·         Groups

·         Contextual tabs

·         Galleries

·         Spell checkers

·         Alignment

·         Font and Font Sizes

·         Tables

·         Reports 

    General Purpose Applications

·         General purpose applications include:

·         Word processor programs

·         Spreadsheet programs

·         Presentation graphics programs

·         Database management systems

                                              Word Processor Programs

·         Create text-based documents

·          Memos, letters, and faxes

·          Newsletters, manuals, and brochures

·         Word processing programs

·         Microsoft Word

·         Most popular

·         Apple Pages

·         Google Docs

·         Corel Word Perfect

·         Open Office Writer

                                           Creating a Flyer

·         Flyer Features

·         Spell Checker

·         Center-alignment

·         Grammar Checker

·         Fonts

·         Font Sizes

·         Word Wrap

·         Character Effects 

  Creating a Report

·         Report Features

·         AutoCorrect

·         Footnote

·         Header or Footer

·         Captions and Cross References

·         Tables

              Spreadsheet Programs

·         Organize, analyze, and graph numeric data

·         Spreadsheet programs

·         Microsoft Excel

·         Most widely used

·         Apple Numbers

·         OpenOffice Calc

·         Corel Quattro Pro

·         Google Sheets

          

                       Creating a Sales Forecast

·         Features

·         Worksheets

·         Text entries

·         Functions

·         Cells

·         Formulas 

         Analyzing Your Data

·         Analysis Features

·         Workbook and worksheets

·         What-if Analysis

         Presentation Graphics Programs

·         Combine a variety of visual objects to create visually interesting presentations

·         Presentation programs

·         Microsoft PowerPoint

·         OpenOffice Impress

·         Apple Keynote

·         Google Slides

·         Corel Presentations

         Creating a Presentation

·         Presentation Features

·         Document Theme

·         Animation

·         Templates 

   Database Management Systems (DBMS)

·         A collection of related data

·         Electronic equivalent of a file cabinet

·         Two most widely used systems

·         Microsoft Access

·         OpenOffice Base

·         Apple FileMaker

·         Google Obvibase

         Creating a Database

·         First steps is to plan

·         Database Features

·         Primary Key

·         Fields

·         Record

·         Table

·         Form 

Creating a Database

—First steps is to plan

—Database Features

—Primary Key

—Fields

—Record

—Table

Specialized Applications

—Programs that more narrowly focused on specific disciplines and occupations Includes:

—Graphics Programs

—Web Authoring Programs

 Graphics Programs

—Widely used in graphic arts

—Types of graphics programs are:

—Desktop Publishing Programs

—Image Editing Programs

—Illustration Programs

—Image Galleries

Desktop Publishing Programs

—Also known as Page Layout Programs

—Mix text and graphics to create brochures, newsletters, newspapers and textbooks

—Popular programs:

—Adobe InDesign

—Microsoft Publisher

—QuarkXPress

Image Editors

—Also known as Photo Editors

—Editing or modifying digital photographs

—Photographs consist of thousands of pixels that form images knows as bitmaps

—Popular image editors

—Adobe Photoshop

—Corel PaintShop Pro

—GIMP (GNU Manipulation Program)

—Windows Live Photo Gallery 

Illustration Programs

—Drawing programs

—Create and edit vector images

—Vector illustrations

—Geometric shapes or objects

—Created by connecting lines and curves

—Defined by mathematical equations

—Popular Illustration Programs

—Adobe Illustrator

—CorelDraw

—Inkscape

Video Editors

—Edit videos to enhance quality and appearance

—Can now use your smartphone to edit videos

—Well-known programs

—Windows Live Movie Maker

—Apple iMovie

—YouTube Video Editor

Video Game Design Software

—Video Game Design Software helps

—Organize thoughts

—Guide user through game design process

—Character development

—Environmental design

—Free / inexpensive video game design software

—YoYo GameMaker

—Stencyl

—Unity 

Web Authoring Programs

—Web authoring is the creation of a site

—Design

—Document file displaying website’s content

—Blog

—Online diary/commentaries

—Web Authoring Programs

—Typically used to create commercial sites

—Web page editors or HTML editors

—WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)

—Most widely used programs

—Adobe Dreamweaver

—Microsoft Expression Web

 Mobile Apps

—Mobile Applications or Mobile Apps

—Add-on programs for a variety of mobile devices

—Smartphones or tablets

—Apps

—Breadth and scope are ever-expanding

—500,000 just for iPhone

—Music, videos, social networking, shopping, games

App Stores

—Provides access to mobile apps for downloads

—Apple’s App Store

—Apple Devices

—www.apple.com/itunes/charts

—Google Play

—Andriod Devices

—Play.google.com/store/apps

—Appszoom

—Andriod and Apple Devices

—www.appszoom.com 

Software Suites

—Collection of separate application programs

—Bundled together – sold as group

—Four types of suites

1.Office suites or office software suite / productivity suites

—Microsoft Office

—Apple iWork, OpenOffice

2.Cloud suites or online office suites

—Google Docs (Making IT Work for You), Zoho, Microsoft Office 365 

Suites continued

—Specialized suites

—Focus on specific applications

—Corel Draw Graphics Suite X6

—Moneyfree Software TOTAL Planning Suite

—Utility suites

—Designed to make computing easier and safer

—Norton Systems Works

—Norton Internet Security suite

Making IT Work for You - Google Docs

—Tool to create and collaborate with others

—Creating /sharing documents

—Free and easy to use

—Free Google account

—Free online storage

Careers In IT

—Software Engineers

—Analyze users’ needs and create application software

—Attributes

—Good communication and analytical skills

—Programming experience

—Detail oriented

—Web application experience

—Analytical skills

—Earning potential of $55,000 to $71,000 annually

 A Look to the Future

—Next-Generation User Interfaces

—Doubtful a single interface will serve everyone

—Must be comfortable to use

—Touch / interactive screen

—Voice recognition

—Gestures

—Augmented Reality