SEHH1034

Week 4

Software and Apps

Reference:

Module 5 and Module 8: Campbell, J. T., Ciampa, M., Clemens, B., Freund, S. M.,
Frydenberg, M., Hooper, R., Ruffolo, L. (2020). Technology for Success: Computer
Concepts, Cengage Learning.
Lesson Objectives
• Explain how apps are used in daily computing life
• Use common features of productivity apps
How Apps are Used in Daily Computing Life
• Describe the purpose of each key type of app
• Explain the differences between native and web apps
• Current trends in app development
The Purpose of Each Key Type of App (1 of 4)
• Application software: programs that help
you perform specific tasks when using
your computer or device
o Productivity apps: allow one to create
documents for business and personal use
Graphics and media apps: allow one to
interact with digital media
o Personal interest apps: give one tools to
pursue interests
o Communications apps: provide tools for
sharing or receiving information
o Device management apps: provide tools
for maintaining a computer or device
The Purpose of Each Key Type of App (2 of 4)
Types of Apps
• Local applications: installed on the
computer’s hard drive
• Portable apps: run from removable
storage, such as an external hard drive or
from the cloud
• Web apps: programs accessed over the
Internet, in a browser, or on a mobile
device
• Mobile apps: apps that you access on a
smartphone or tablet
The Purpose of Each Key Type of App (3 of 4)
App Features
• Represented on the desktop by an icon
or tile
• Can be run by double-clicking or tapping
• Open in a window
• Have menus that give options to access
different features of the program
• Have buttons to click or tap to give
commands or perform actions
• Some are available as both a web and a
mobile app and can synchronize data
The Purpose of Each Key Type of App (4 of 4)
Mobile Apps
• Touch the screen to interact with mobile apps
• Use an on-screen keyboard to enter
information
• Many mobile devices come preinstalled with
apps
• You can organize apps into groups by
category
• Apps are represented by icons on your
screen
• An app store is used to find and download
apps
The Differences Between Native and Web Apps (1 of 3)

Native Apps
• An app written for a specific operating system and installed on a computer or
mobile device
• Can take advantage of specific features of the devices on which they are
installed
• Many require an Internet connection to provide full functionality. Some can
run offline and will store information on your device until they can
synchronize with the cloud.
The Differences Between Native and Web Apps (2 of 3)

Web Apps
• Accessed by visiting a website in a
browser
• A mobile app is a web app that runs on
a mobile device
• Mobile web apps often have a
responsive design
• Many developers prefer web apps since
they run on all devices
• Some apps are available both as native
and web apps
The Differences Between Native and Web Apps (3 of 3)

Pros and Cons of Mobile Apps

Table 5-2: Pros and cons of mobile apps

Pros Cons
Mobile web apps can be created quickly Mobile web apps are not as fast and
compared to native apps. have fewer features than native web
apps or desktop apps.
You can access your information on the Poorly designed apps can turn people
go. away.
Voice input and smart on-screen Typing using a small on-screen
keyboard simplify interactions. keyboard can be cumbersome.
Current Trends in App Development
• Mobile first design
o Developers build apps to work on mobile
devices first because they have more
restrictions
o Requires designers to streamline how
people interact with their apps by placing
content first and providing a simplified user
experience
• Developers use cross-platform
development tools
• Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, apps
let you use your mobile device to make
online purchases of goods and services
Use Common Features of Productivity Apps
• Understand the features of common productivity suites
• Use word processing software for basic word processing functions
• Use spreadsheet software to manage basic workbooks
• Use presentation software to create and share basic presentations
• Use database software to manage basic databases
• Use graphics software
The Features of Common Productivity Suites (1 of 2)
Productivity Suite
• Versions to install on a computer, mobile device, or run in the cloud in a
browser
o Web and mobile versions are often simpler and contain the most basic and
popular features
• Some are free, and some require you to purchase a license or subscription
• Storing documents in the cloud allows for collaboration
The Features of Common Productivity Suites (2 of 2)
Popular Productivity Suites
Table 5-3: Popular productivity suites
Microsoft Office Apple iWork G Suite OpenOffice
Operating system Windows, macOS macOS, iOS, or web ChromeOS or web Windows,
supported or web apps apps apps Linux, macOS
Word processor Microsoft Word Pages Google Docs Writer
Spreadsheet Microsoft Excel Numbers Google Sheets Calc
Presentation Microsoft Keynote Google Slides Impress
PowerPoint
Database Microsoft Access Base
Email Microsoft Outlook Apple Mail Gmail
Online version Office Online iWork for iCloud G Suite
Cloud storage Microsoft OneDrive iCloud Google Drive
Word Processing Software (1 of 5)
Key Features
• Create documents, a collection of
one or more pages
• When you open the program, a blank
document appears
o The screen displays an insertion
point and scroll bars
o Offers a variety of options to create
and format the document
• Document management tools
protect and organize files
Word Processing Software (2 of 5)
Personal and Professional Uses
Table 5-4: Uses of word processing
Who uses word To create
processing
Business executives, office Agendas, memos, contracts, proposals,
workers, medical reports, letters, email, newsletters,
professionals, politicians personalized bulk mailings and labels
Personal users Letters, greeting cards, notes, event
flyers, check lists
Students Essays, reports, stories, resumes, notes
Conference promoters and Business cards, post cards, invitations,
event planners conference tent cards, name tags, gift
tags, stickers
Web designers Documents for publishing to the web
after converting them to HTML
Word Processing Software (3 of 5)
Formatting
• Format text by changing font type, size, style, color, and special effects
• Specify a document’s margins and the page orientation
• Specify styles for a document’s title, headings, paragraphs, quotes, and
more
• Many productivity suites offer built-in templates for creating different kinds
of documents
Word Processing Software (4 of 5)
Table 5-6: Additional document formatting options
Use this features When you want to
Alignment Align paragraphs at the left margin, right margin, or center of the page
Graphics Add photos, pictures, logos, charts, or screenshots to your document to add visual appeal
Headers and Footers Display information such as a document title, author’s name, or page number at the top or bottom of
each page
Hyperlinks Direct readers to related documents, email addresses, or websites online
Line spacing Specify how much “white space” appears before, between, or after each line of text (measured in
points)
Lists Display a list of items preceded by numbers or a system called a bullet
Mail Merge Create and send customized letters or email messages that are personalized with the recipient’s name
and other information
Margins Specify the region of the page where text will appear, measured from the left, right, top, and bottom
edges of the page
Reference Create a bibliography containing citations to reference articles in a research paper
Tables Organize text in rows and columns
Word Processing Software (5 of 5)
Manage Documents
• Offers tools to edit, share, protect, and save documents
• Copy text and graphics from one document (or spreadsheet or database) to
another
• By storing documents in the cloud, you can share documents with several
people who can read, edit, and comment on the same document at the same
time
o You can restrict access to a document by providing a view-only link or read-
only access
Spreadsheet Software (1 of 4)
Spreadsheets
• Let you interact with numbers, charts,
graphics, text, and data
• Can perform calculations on data stored in
a grid of cells and recalculate values
automatically when the data changes
• Worksheets are laid out in a grid of rows
and columns; they use letters to identify
each column and consecutive numbers to
identify each row
• A cell is the location formed by the
intersection of a column and a row
Spreadsheet Software (2 of 4)
Key Features
• Formatting tools to change a worksheet’s
appearance
• Page layout and view features
• Printing features
• Web capabilities to share workbooks online,
add hyperlinks, and save worksheets as
webpages
• Developer tools to add customized functions
• Tools to analyze data
Spreadsheet Software (3 of 4)
Formulas and Functions
• Formulas, or computation rules, calculate values using cell references,
numbers, and arithmetic operators
• A function: a predefined calculation
o Built-in and custom functions
• Argument: information necessary for a formula or function to calculate an
answer
o Absolute reference
o Relative reference
Spreadsheet Software (4 of 4)
Analyze Data
• Conditional formatting
• Sort and filter data
• Use what-if analysis
• Use trendlines and pivot tables
• Automate worksheets with macros
• Create charts
Presentation Software (1 of 6)
Key Features
• Can help organize content and create professional-looking digital slide
shows
o Each slide has a specific layout based on its content, and each layout has
predefined placeholders for these items
• Display presentations in different views
• Add main points as a bulleted list, graphics, or images
• Provide design ideas
• Spelling check, formatting, researching, sharing, and publishing online
 Presentation Software (2 of 6)
Table 5-10: Adding content to slides
Slide content How to enter Provides
Text in paragraph or bulleted Click a placeholder and type, or copy and paste Content; most programs offer a
list text from another file, or insert text from a variety of bullet styles, including
document file. number and picture bullets
Graphics such as line art, Click a content placeholder, draw directly on the Illustrations to convey meaning
photographs, clip art, drawn slide, or copy and paste a graphic from another and information for the slide
objects, diagrams, data tables, file. content
and screenshots
Media clips, such as video and Click a content placeholder and choose a file, or Media content to enhance a slide
audio, including recorded insert the file directly onto a slide by recording it. show
narrations
Links Click content placeholder, copy and paste links Links to another slide, another
from a website or type the link directly. document, or a webpage
Embedded objects Click menu commands or a content placeholder External files in a slide
Charts Link or embed a worksheet or chart from Excel Graphic display of data to support
or create a chart directly within PowerPoint your presentation
Presentation Software (3 of 6)
Formatting Features:
• Select a presentation design
• Format text
• Set a slide’s dimensions, aspect ratio, and
orientation
• Change text direction and align text
• Resize graphics
• Add SmartArt graphics that display text in
predesigned configurations to convey lists,
processes, and other relationships
• Format charts and worksheets to present numerical
data
• Move, align, and group objects
Presentation Software (4 of 6)
• Use transitions and animations
• Use presentation templates and slide
masters
• Add headers and footers
• Display slides on a large monitor or project
them to a screen as a slide show
• Store presentations in the cloud
• Share by copying the HTML embed code
provided by the presentation app’s share
option and pasting it into a blogpost or
webpage
Presentation Software (5 of 6)
Design Effective Presentations
• Organize with a beginning, middle,
and end
• Focus on one topic at a time
• Choose appropriate backgrounds,
colors, and fonts
• Use graphics wisely
• Use animations and transitions
carefully
• Use spelling and grammar checks
Presentation Software (6 of 6)
Deliver Effective Presentations
• Check equipment in advance
• Speak loudly and clearly
• Don’t read the slides
• Try not to stand behind a podium or in one
place
• Use technology to enhance your
presentation
• Involve the audience
• Do a dry-run (testing) beforehand
Database Software (1 of 5)
• A collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval, and
reporting of that data
o Add, update, and delete data
o Filter, sort and retrieve data from the database
o Create forms and reports
• Database applications
o Track contacts, schedules, possessions, or collections
o Process orders, track inventory, maintain customer lists, or manage employee
records
o Store customer relationship management data
• Represents a query in SQL (Structured Query Language)
Database Software (2 of 5)
• Because many users may need to
access a database at the same time
and they can be quite large, enterprise
databases generally run on a server
• Data can be exported into other
programs, such as a spreadsheet
program, where you can create charts
to visualize data that results from a
query
• Data can be exported to other formats,
including HTML, to publish to the web
Database Software (3 of 5)
Relational database management system (RDBMS), or
relational database: a database that consists of a collection of
tables where items are organized in columns and rows
• Microsoft Access
• Data is organized into tables of records and stored
electronically
• The software displays commands and work areas
appropriate to the view for your task
Big Data: data collections so large that it is difficult to process
using relational database applications
Database Software (4 of 5)
• Each piece of data is entered and stored in a field
o Each field is assigned a field name
• Tables are a collection of records for a single subject
• A query extracts data based on specified criteria, or conditions, for
one or more fields
• A report is a user-designed layout of database content
• A form is a screen used to enter data into a database
Database Software (5 of 5)
Manage Databases
• Control access to the database by regulating who can use it and what
parts they can see
• Ensure data integrity and minimize data entry errors by controlling how
data is entered, formatted, and stored
• Prevent users from inadvertently changing or deleting important data
• Control version issues
• Manage database backup plans regularly
• Establish security to protect data from hacker attacks
Graphics Software (1 of 4)
• Create, view, manipulate, and print many types of
digital images
• Digital images are stored either in bitmap,
sometimes called raster, or vector format
o Bitmap images are based on pixels
o Vector graphics use mathematical formulas to define
their appearance
o Most clip art images are stored as vector graphics
Graphics Software (2 of 4)
Key Features
• Use a mouse or stylus to draw on the screen using a crayon,
pencil, paintbrush, or calligraphy pen
• Use shape tools to create lines, circles, rectangles, arrows, and
callouts
• Use color palettes to specify colors for shapes, lines, and
borders
• Add filters and effects to provide visual interest, and adjust
brightness and contrast
• Add text to graphics
• Crop or resize an image
Graphics Software (3 of 4)
Table 5-11: Popular graphics formats
Name Extension Description
Bitmap .bmp Uncompressed file format that codes a value for each pixel. Files can be
large.
TIFF (Tagged Image File .tiff Large image format commonly used for print publishing because it
Format) maintains quality. Avoid using on webpages because of the large file
sizes.
JPEG (Joint Photographic .jpg A compressed image file format usually used to save photos taken with
Experts Group) digital cameras. Useful for images on webpages and in documents,
because they have high quality and small file sizes.
GIF (Graphics Interchange .gif A proprietary compressed graphics format that supports images with
Format) animation and transparent backgrounds.
PNG (Portable Networks .png An open compressed format that has replaced GIF in many cases.
Graphics) Supports images with transparent backgrounds. Low resolution images
that you can edit without losing quality. Great for use on webpages.
Raw data .raw Uncompressed and unprocessed data from a digital camera, Usually used
by professional photographers.
Graphics Software (4 of 4)
Types of Apps
• Paint apps draw pictures, shapes, and other graphics with various
on-screen tools
• Photo and image editing apps provide the capabilities of paint
apps and let you enhance and modify existing photos and images
• Video editing apps allow you to modify a clip and typically include
audio editing capabilities
• Drawing apps let you create simple, two-dimensional images,
typically vector graphics
Digital Rights Management
• Issues with copyright law lead to the development of digital rights
management (DRM)
o A strategy designed to prevent illegal distribution of movies, music, and other
digital content, including programs and apps
o Access controls
o License agreement
 Acquiring Legitimate Software
Table 8-1: Program and App Types
Type Description
Retail Meets the needs of a wide variety of users, such as an
operating system or productivity suite
Custom Created with a company or set of users’ unique needs in
mind to perform functions specific to a business or industry
Shareware Copyrighted and distributed for free for a trial period, after
which you must send payment to continue using the
program
Freeware Copyrighted and provided at no cost, but the developer
retains all rights to the product
Open source Programs and apps (including operating Provided for use, modification, and redistribution, without
systems) that have no restrictions from the copyright restrictions from the copyright holder
holder regarding modification and redistribution; users
can add functionality and sell or give away their
versions to others
Public domain Donated for public use and has no copyright restrictions
Software as a Service (SaaS) Software that is Copyrighted software that is distributed online for a monthly
distributed online for a monthly subscription or an subscription or an annual fee
annual fee.
Native app An app written for a specific operating Created and optimized to run on a specific device or
system and installed on a computer or mobile device. platform/operating system
Install Software
• Registration: typically optional, allows for
syncing of accounts across multiple devices
• Activation: usually required upfront or after a
trial period
• To uninstall an app, use the uninstaller tool
that comes with the operating system
o Uninstalling unused apps frees up storage
space
Update Software
• Can provide additional functionality or
address security or other issues
• Mobile apps typically update
automatically
o Some SaaS programs allow for automatic
updates as well
• Types of updates
o Patches
o Service packs
o Upgrades
Use Native Software
• Most computers and devices come
with preinstalled programs and apps
o System software
o Games and productivity software
• Read the license agreement before
accepting terms
• Embedded software
Use Non-Native Software from the Public Domain
• Do not have restrictions on use, distribution, or modification
• Lack of a patent, copyright, or trademark does not mean a program is public
domain
• Types of free programs
o Freeware
o Shareware
o Public domain
Troubleshooting Software Challenges
• When a crash occurs, try the following
troubleshooting steps:
o Note any error messages that are
displayed
o Save data while working to avoid losing it
o Restart the program
o Reboot and try running the program again
o Check for software updates
o Search reliable Internet sources for known
solutions
o Scan for viruses or malware
o Uninstall and reinstall the app
Key Terms Associated with Software Development
Table 8-2: Types of License Agreements

Type Description Example: license agreement

Single user or End Grants permission for one