Technology in Action

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 Technology in Action

Chapter 4
Application Software:
Programs That Let You Work and Play

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 Chapter Topics
 Application vs. system software
 Productivity software
 Graphics and multimedia software
 Entertainment software
 Educational and reference software
 Business software
 Getting help with software
 Acquiring software
 Installing and uninstalling software
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 Software
 A set of instructions that tells the
computer what to do
 Two main types of software
• System software
• Application software

System Software
Application Software 4
 System Software vs.
Application Software

System Software Application Software

 Coordinates  Programs used to
instructions between complete tasks
software and  Includes
hardware • Productivity software
like Microsoft Office
 Includes
• Specialty software
• Operating system
• Entertainment software
• Utility programs, like • Educational and reference
floppy drive formatter Software
• Device drivers • Personal software

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 Application Software
 Productivity software
 Specialty software
 Entertainment
software
 Educational and
reference software
 Personal software

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 Productivity Software
• Programs that enable you to
perform tasks required in home,
school, and business
• Word processing
programs
• Spreadsheet programs
• Presentation programs
• Database programs
• Personal information
manager programs
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 Word Processing Software
 Used to create and
edit written
documents
 Features include
• Quick and easy
editing
• Variety of formatting Sammy
Word Processor
options the Features
Wonder
• Graphics Dog
• Templates Create
Insert
Use Click Excel
to view
Tables
 Examples Spreadsheets
Insert
Templates Graphics
• Corel WordPerfect
• Microsoft Word
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 Spreadsheet Software
 Used to perform
calculations and
numerical analyses
 Features include Charts
• Worksheets with cells Rows
Spreadsheet
• Values, formulas, and Worksheet
Features
Cell
functions
Labels Values
• Automatic recalculation Formulas Functions
Click to view
 Examples Columns
Range
• Lotus 1-2-3 of cells
• Microsoft Excel
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 Presentation Software
 Used to create
slide shows Task
Pane
 Features Slide Title

include Presentation Software

Graphics
• Templates Bulleted Features
and layouts Text
Work Area
• Different Slide/
views Outline
View Click to view
 Examples
Background
• Corel Slide
Speaker
Show
Presentations View
Notes
• Microsoft
PowerPoint
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 Database Software
 Used as a complex electronic filing system
 Features include
• Ability to group, sort, and retrieve data and generate reports
• Organized into fields, records, and tables
 Examples
• Corel
Paradox
• Microsoft
Access

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 Personal Information Manager
Software
 Used to replace the management tools
found on
a traditional desk
• Calendar, address book, notepad, and to-do list
 Features include
• Calendar, address book, notepad, to-do list
• Some contain e-mail
management features
 Examples
• Lotus Organizer
• Microsoft Outlook

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 Productivity Software Tools
 Wizards
• Step-by-step guides to help you
complete a task

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 Productivity Software Tools
 Templates
• redesigned forms included with software

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 Productivity Software Tools
 Macros
• Small programs that group a series of
commands to run as a single command

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 Integrated Software Applications
vs. Software Suites
Integrated Software Suites
Applications  Collection of stand-
 Single program that alone software
incorporates many programs packaged
software programs
together
 Complex features are
not included
 Example: Microsoft
Works

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 Financial and
Business-Related Software

 Personal financial software

 General business software
 Specialized business software

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 Personal Financial Software
 Used to for tax
preparation,
financial planning,
and personal
accounting
 Examples
• TurboTax and H&R
Block’s TaxCut
• Intuit’s Quicken and
Microsoft Money
• Intuit’s QuickBooks
and
Peachtree
Accounting 18
Graphics and Multimedia Software
 Used to create and design
documents, images, illustrations,
Web pages, and more
• Desktop Publishing Software
• Image Editing Software
• Drawing (illustration) Software
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Software
• Video Editing Software
• Web Page Authoring Software

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 Image-Editing Software
 Used to edit photographs
and other images
 Also called photo-editing
software
 Features include
• Tools for basic modifications
to digital images
• Painting tools that allow you
to create images
 Example: Adobe
Photoshop
 Photo Collection software
• Google “Picasa”
• Microsoft “Photo Story”

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 Digital Audio Software
 MP3: Audio
compression
format
 Software allows
you to record, rip,
and burn files
 Also allows you to
perform format
conversion

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 Video-Editing Software
 Used to edit digital
videos
 Features include
• Special effects
• Transitions
• Narration/
voiceover
• Overlays
 Examples
• Adobe Premiere
• Microsoft Movie
Maker
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Media Management Software
 Software to organize media files
• sort, filter, and search by artist, album,
or category
 Windows Media Player, Nullsoft
Winamp, or Apple iTunes are
examples
 Manage individual tracks, generate
playlists
 Burn songs to CD and print liner
notes for inside the CD case.
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 Entertainment Software
 Designed to
provide users with
entertainment
 Categories include
• Action and Adventure
• Driving
• Puzzles and strategy
• Role-playing
• Card-playing
• Simulation
• Virtual reality

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 Educational and Reference
Software
Educational Reference Software
Software  Sources of reference
 Provides instruction  Types include
or training • Atlases, dictionaries,
thesauri,
 Types include
encyclopedias
• K-12 education
• Medical and legal
• Skills references
• Test preparation
• Course management

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 Course Management Software
 Used for Web-
based classes
 Features include
• Calendars
• Grade books
• Discussion boards
 Examples
• WebCT
• Blackboard
• Moodle

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 Drawing Software
 Used to create and edit
• Two-dimensional drawings
• Technical diagrams
• Animations
• Geometric shapes
 Also referred to as illustration
software
 Examples
• Adobe Illustrator
• Microsoft Visio
 Bit-mapped programs
• MS-Paint

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 Desktop Publishing Software
 Used to arrange text and graphics for
publications
 Features include
• Text formatting
• File importing
• Graphics tools
• Web publishing
 Example:
• QuarkXPress
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 Web Page Authoring Software
 Used to design Web
pages: knowing HTML
is not necessary
 Features include
• Wizards and templates
• Reference materials
 Example
• Macromedia
Dreamweaver
 Office Applications
• HTML authoring
capabilities
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 General Business Software
 Used across a variety of industries
 Includes
• Business and marketing plan software
• Project management software
• Mapping programs
• Customer relationship management (CRM)
software
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems

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 Specialized Business Software
 Tailored to the needs of a
particular company or
industry
 Called vertical market
software
 Proprietary software
• Programs custom
developed to address the
specific needs of a
particular company
• The software is then owned
by that company
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 Computer-Aided Design Software
 Used to create 3-D
automated designs,
technical drawings,
and model
visualizations
 Industrial use
includes
• Architecture
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Medical engineering
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 Getting Help with Software
 Types of help
• Frequently asked
questions (FAQs)
• Online help and
support
• ScreenTips
• MS Office
Integrated Help

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 Buying Software
 Software may be purchased through
• Retail stores
• Online
• Computer shows
• Catalogs
 Preinstalled software
 Student discounted software
 Web-based application software
• hosted on a Web site
• requires no installation on your computer
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 Freeware and Shareware
 Freeware: Copyrighted
software you can get for
free
 Beta versions:
Programs that are still
under development
 Shareware: Software
that allows users to
run it for a limited
time free of charge
 Open source: free to
use
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 Software Versions

 Software versions
• Numbers used to represent major and
minor upgrades
 Major upgrade – Version 2.0
 Minor upgrade – Version 2.1

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 System Requirements
• Minimum standards for the operating
system, RAM, and hard drive capacity

Sample Minimum System Requirements

•Microsoft Windows® 98SE/ME/2000 SP4/XP SP1.

•Pentium® II 233 MHz processor or faster.
•32 MB RAM (128 MB for XP).
•265 MB free hard disk space.
•8X CD-ROM.
•800 X 600 16-bit color video card.
•DirectX® 8.0.
•Windows compatible mouse, speakers.

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Installing/Uninstalling and Opening
Software
 Installing software
• Installation wizard
 Automatic  Opening software
 Control Panel:
• Start menu
Add/Remove Software
• Quick Launch toolbar
• Full/custom installation
• Desktop shortcut
 Uninstalling software
• My Computer/Windows
• Software uninstall Explorer
program
• Control Panel:
Add/Remove Software
• Do not delete

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