Application

Software
Chapter III

Application Software

Application Software
Business Software
Graphics and Multimedia Software
Software for Home, Personal, and Educational Use
Web Applications
Application Software for Communicators
Learning Tools for Application Software

Application Software
Charles Garsuta

Application software

consists of programs
designed to make users more productive and/or assist them
with personal tasks. Application software has a variety of uses:

To
To
To
To

make business activities more efficient

assist with graphics and multimedia projects
support home, personal, and educational tasks.
facilitate communications.

Forms of Application Software

Packaged software is mass-produced, copyrighted retail software
that meets the needs of a wide variety of users, not just a single user
or company.
Custom software performs functions specific to a business or
industry.

Web application is a web site that allows users to access and

interact with software from any computer or device that is connected
to the internet.
Open source software is software provided for use, modification,
and redistribution.
Shareware I copyrighted software that is distributed at no cost for
a trial period.

Freeware is a copyrighted software provided at no cost to a user by

an individual or a company that retains all rights to the software.
Public-domain software has been donated for public use and has
no copyright restrictions.

The Role of System Software

System software serves as the interface between the user, the
application software, and the computers hardware. To use application
software, such as a word processing program, your computer must be
running system software specifically, an operating system.

Utility
Programs

A utility program is a type of system software that assists users with

controlling or maintaining the operation of a computer, its devices, or its
software. Utility programs typically offer features that provide and
environment conducive to successful use of application software. For
example, utility programs protect a computer against malicious
software and unauthorized intrusions, manage files and disks, compress
files, play media files, and burn optical discs.

Word Processing
Software
Word processing software, sometimes called a word processor, allows
users to create and manipulate documents containing mostly text and
sometimes graphics.

Spreadsheet
Software
Spreadsheet software allows users to organize data in rows and
columns and perform calculations on the data. These rows and columns
collectively are called a worksheet.

Database
Software
A database is a collection of data organized in a manner that allows
access, retrieval, and use of that data. In a computerized database, the
computer stores the data in an electronic format on a storage medium
such as a hard disk.
Database software is an application software that allows users to
create, access, and manage a database.

Presentation Software
Presentation software is an application software that allows users to
create visual aids for presentations to communicate ideas, messages,
and other information to a group. The presentations can be viewed as
slides, sometimes called a slide show, that are displated on a large
monitor or on a projection screen.

Note Taking Software

Note taking software is an application software that enables users to
enter typed text, handwritten comments, drawings, or sketches
anywhere on a page and then save the page as part of a notebook.
Users also can include audio recording as part of their notes.

Business Software
Charles Garsuta and Ryndel Arboleras

Business Software Suite

A software suite is a collection of individual programs available together
as a unit. Business software suites typically include, at a minimum, the
following programs: word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and email. Popular software suites are Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, Corel
WordPerfect Office, and Google Docs.

Project Management Software

Project management software allows a user to plan, schedule, track,
and analyze the events, resources, and costs of a project. Project
management software helps users manage project variable, allowing
them to complete a project on time and within budget.

Personal Information Manager Software

A personal information manager (PIM) is an application software that
includes an appointment calendar, address book, notepad, and other
features to help users organize personal information.

Business Software for Phones

Business software for phones enables users to create documents and
worksheets, manage databases and lists, create slide shows, take notes,
manage budgets and finances, view and edit photos, read electronic
books, plan travel routes, compose ad read e-mail messages, send
instant messages, send text and picture messages, view maps and
directions, read the latest news articles and browse the web.

Accounting Software
Accounting software helps companies record and report their financial
transactions. With accounting software, business users perform
accounting activities related to the general ledger, accounts receivable,
accounts payable, purchasing, invoicing, and payroll functions.

Document Management Software

Document management software provides a means for sharing,
distributing, and searching through documents by converting them into
a format that can be viewed by any user. A popular file format that
document management software uses to save converted documents is
PDF (Portable Document Format), developed by Adobe Systems.

Enterprise Computing Software

A large organization, commonly referred to as an enterprise, requires
special computing solutions because of its size and large geographical
distribution. A typical enterprise consists of a wide variety of
departments, centers, and divisions collectively known as functional
units.

Graphics and
Multimedia Software
Ryndel Arboleras

Graphics and Multimedia Software

In addition to business software, many people work with software
designed specifically for their field of work. Power users such as
engineers, architects, desktop publishers, and graphic artists often use
sophisticated software that allows them to work with graphics and
multimedia. This software includes computer-aided design, desktop
publishing, paint/image editing, photo editing, video and audio editing,
multimedia authoring, and web page authoring.

Computer-Aided Design
Computer-aided design (CAD) software is a sophisticated type of
application software that assists a professional user in creating
engineering, architectural, and scientific designs. For example,
engineers create design plans for vehicles and security systems.
Architects design building structures and floor plans. Scientists design
drawings and molecular structures.

Desktop Publishing Software (for the

Professional)
Desktop publishing (DTP) software enables professional designers to
create sophisticated documents that contain text, graphics, and many
colors. Professional DTP software is ideal for the production of highquality color documents such as textbooks, corporate newsletters,
marketing literature, product catalogs, and annual reports.

Paint/Image Editing Software (for the

Professional)
Paint software, also called illustration software, allows users to draw
pictures, shapes, and other graphical images with various on screen
tools such as a pen, brush, eyedropper, and paint bucket.
Image editing software provides the capabilities of paint software and
also includes the capability to enhance and modify existing pictures and
images.
Professional photo editing software is a type of image editing software
that allows photographers, videographers, engineers, scientists, and
other high-volume digital photo users to edit and customize digital
photos.

Video and Audio Editing Software (for the

Professional)
Video editing software allows professionals to modify a segment of a
video, called a clip. For example, users can reduce the length of a video
clip, record a series of clips, or add special effects such as words that
move horizontally across the screen.
Audio editing software lets users modify audio clips, produce studioquality soundtracks, and add audio to video clips.

Multimedia Authoring Software

Multimedia authoring software allows users to combine text, graphics,
audio, video, and animation in an interactive application. With this
software, users control the placement of text and images and the
duration of sounds, video, and animation.

Web Page Authoring Software

Web page authoring software helps users of all skill levels create web
pages that include graphical images, video, audio, animation, and
special effects with interactive content. In addition, many web page
authoring programs allow users to organize, manage, and maintain web
sites.

Software for Home,

Personal, and
Education Use
Francis Toradio

Personal Finance Software

Personal finance software is a simplified accounting program that helps
home users and small office/home office users balance their
checkbooks, pay bills, track personal income and expenses, track
investments, and evaluate financial plans. Most personal finance
software includes financial planning features, such as analyzing home
and personal loans, preparing income taxes and managing retirement
savings.

Legal Software
Legal software assists in the preparation of legal documents and
provides legal information to individuals, families and small businesses.
Legal software provides standard contracts and documents associated
with buying, selling and renting property; estate planning; marriage and
divorce; and preparing a will or living trust.

Tax Preparation Software

Tax preparation software, which is available both as packaged software
and web applications, can guide individuals, families, or small
businesses through the process of filing federal taxes. These programs
forecast tax liability and offer money-saving tax tips, designed to lower
your tax bill.

Desktop Publishing Software (for Personal

Use)
Personal DTP software helps home and small business users create
newsletters, brochures, flyers, advertisements, postcards, greeting
cards, letterhead, business cards, banners, calendars, logos, and web
pages.

Paint/Image Editing Software (for Personal

Use)
Personal paint/image editing software provides an easy-to-use interface;
includes various simplified tools that allow you to draw pictures, shapes,
and other images; and provides the capability of modifying existing
graphics and photos.
Personal photo editing software, a popular type of image editing
software, allows users to edit digital photos by removing red-eye
erasing blemishes, restoring aged photos, adding special effects,
enhancing image quality, or creating electronic photo albums.

Clip Art/Image Gallery

Application software often includes a clip art/image gallery, which is a
collection of clip art and photos. Some programs have links to additional
clips available on the Web or are available as web applications. You can
also purchase clip art/image gallery software that contains thousands of
images. Many clip art/image galleries provide fonts, animations, sounds,
video clips, and audio clips.

Video and Audio Editing Software (for Personal

Use)
Many home users work with easy-to-use video and audio editing
software, which is much simpler to use than its professional
counterpart, for small-scale movie making projects. With these
programs, home users can edit home movies, add music or other sounds
to the video, and share their movies on the web.

Home Design/Landscaping Software

Homeowners or potential homeowners can use home
design/landscaping software to assist them with the design, remodeling,
or improvement of a home, deck, or landscape. This software includes
hundreds of pre-drawn plans that you can customize to meet your
needs.

Travel and Mapping Software

Travel and mapping software enables users to view maps, determine
route directions, and locate points of interest. Using travel and mapping
software, you can display maps by searching for an address, postal
code, telephone number, or point of interest( such as airports, lodging,
and historical sites).

Reference and Educational Software

Reference software provides valuable and thorough information for all
individuals. Popular reference software includes encyclopedias,
dictionaries, and health/medical guides.
Educational software teaches a particular skill. Educational software
exists for just about any subject, from learning how to type to learning
how to cook to preparing for college entrance exams.
Computer-based training (CBT) is a type of education in which students
learn by using and completing exercises with instructional software.

Entertainment Software
Entertainment software for personal computers includes interactive
games, videos, and other programs designed to support a hobby or
provide amusement and enjoyment. For example, you might use
entertainment software to play games individually or with others online,
make a family tree, or fly an aircraft.

Web Applications
Gian San Diego

Web Application
Web application or web app is a web site that allows users to access and
interact with software from any computer or device that is connected to
the Internet. Users often interact with web applications directly at the
web site, referred to as the host, through their web browser. Web
application hosts often store users data and information on their
servers. Some web applications provide users with an option of storing
data locally on their own personal computer or mobile device.

Application Software
for Communications
Gian San Diego

Application Software for Communications

Web Browser

-Allows users to access and view Web pages on the Internet

E-mail
-Messages and files sent via a network such as the Internet
Instant Messaging
-Real-time exchange of messages, files, audio, and/or video with another online user
Chat Room
-Real-time, online typed conversation
Text, Picture, Video Messaging
-Short text, picture, or video messages sent and received, mainly on mobile devices
RSS Aggregator
-Keeps track of changes made to web sites by checking RSS feeds

Application Software for Communications

Blogging
-Time-stamped articles, or posts, in a diary or journal format, usually listed in reverse
chronological order
Newsgroup/Message Board
-Online are where users have written discussions
FTP
-Method of uploading and downloading files with other computers on the internet
VoIP (Internet Telephony)
-Allows users to speak to other users over the internet
Video Conferencing
-Meeting between geographically separated people who use a network such as the
internet to transmit video/audio

Learning Tools for

Application Software
Gian San Diego

Learning Tools for Application Software

Learning how to use application software effectively involves time and
practice. To assist in the learning process, many programs provide
online help and web-based help.
Online Help is the electronic equivalent of a user manual. You can use
online help to ask a question or access the help topics in subject or
alphabetical order.

Web-Based Training
Web-based training (WBT) is a type of CBT (computer-based training)
that uses internet technology and consists of application software on
the web. WBT typically consists of self-directed, self-paced instruction
about a topic. WBT is popular in business, industry, and schools for
teaching new skills or enhancing existing skills of employees, teachers
or students.
Distance learning is the delivery of education at one location while the
learning takes place at other locations.
E-learning, short for electronic learning, is the delivery of education via
some electronic method such as the internet, networks, or optical disks.