Mastering Application Software: A Comprehensive Guide for End Users

1. Application Software 3

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Application Software • Application software is end user software that is used to accomplish a variety of tasks • Three categories • General Purpose Applications • Specialized Applications • Mobile Apps

5. User Interface • Graphical User Interface (GUI) • Icons • Pointer • Windows • Menus • Toolbars • Buttons • Dialog Boxes

6. Common Features in Microsoft • Ribbon GUI • Ribbons • Tabs • Groups • Contextual tabs • Galleries • Spell checkers • Alignment • Font and Font Sizes • Tables

7. General Purpose Applications • General purpose applications include: • Word processors • Spreadsheets • Presentation graphics • Database management systems

8. Word Processors • Used to create text-based documents • Memos, letters, and faxes • Newsletters, manuals, and brochures • Word processing programs • Microsoft Word • Corel WordPerfect • Apple Pages • OpenOffice Writer • Google Docs Return

9. Creating a Flyer

10. Creating a Report Return

11. Spreadsheets • Programs that organize, analyze, and graph numeric data • Spreadsheet programs • Microsoft Excel • Apple Numbers • OpenOffice Calc

12. Creating a Sales Forecast

13. Analyzing Your Data Return

14. Presentation Graphics • Programs that combine a variety of visual objects to create visually interesting presentations • Presentation programs • Microsoft PowerPoint • OpenOffice Impress • Apple Keynote

15. Creating a Presentation Return

16. Database Management Systems (DBMS) • A collection of related data • Electronic equivalent of a file cabinet • Two most widely used systems • Microsoft Access • OpenOffice Base

17. Creating a Database

18. Specialized Applications • Programs that more narrowly focused on specific disciplines and occupations • Includes: • Graphics Programs • Web Authoring Programs • Artificial Intelligence • Virtual Reality • Knowledge-based Systems • Robotics

19. Graphics • Widely used in graphic arts • Use: • Desktop Publishing Programs • Image Editing Programs • Illustration Programs • Image Galleries

20. 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 Return

21. Image Editors • Also know 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 Paint shop Pro • GIMP (GNU Manipulation Program) • Windows Live Photo Gallery Return

22. Illustration Programs • Drawing programs • Create and edit vector images • Geometric shapes or objects • Created by connecting lines and curves • Defined by mathematical equations • Popular Illustration Programs • Adobe Illustrator • CorelDraw • Inkscape Return

23. Image Galleries • Libraries of electronic images • Used for a variety of applications • Provides visual interest • Two types • Stock photographs • Clip art

24. Web Authoring Programs • Web authoring is the creation of a site • Design • Document file displaying website’s content • Blog • Online diary/commentaries • Graphical site map • Overall site design • Multimedia Elements • Animations • Flash • WYSIWYG • Page/HTML Editors

25. Artificial Intelligence • Attempts to simulate human senses, thought processes, and actions • Designed to help people and organizations become more productive • Three areas of AI • Virtual reality • Knowledge-based (expert) systems • Robotics 25 Page 110

26. Virtual Reality • Artificial or simulated reality • Generated in 3-D by a computer • Commonly known as VR, artificial reality, or virtual environments • Virtual reality modeling language (VRML) • Used to createreal-time animated 3-D scenes • Cosmos Worldsfrom Cosmos Software Return 26 Page 110

27. Knowledge-Based (Expert) Systems • Artificial intelligence that uses a database for assistance • Database is known as a knowledge base • Many use "fuzzy logic" Return 27 Page 111

28. Robotics • The field of study concerned with using robots • Robots are computer-controlled machines • Mimic the motor activities of living things • Three types of robots • Perception system robots • Industrial robots • Mobile robots 28 Page 111

29. Mobile Apps • Mobile applications • Add-on programs for smartphones or tablets • Apps • 500,000 just for iPhone • Music, videos, social networking, QR codes • App Stores • Provides access to mobile apps • Apple’s App Store • Google Play • Windows Phone Marketplace

30. Software Suites • Collection of separate application programs • Bundled together/Sold as group • Office suites or office software suite / productivity suites • Microsoft Office • Apple iWork, OpenOffice • Cloud suites or online officesuites • Google Docs (Making IT Work for You), Zoho, Microsoft Web Apps • Specialized suites • Corel Draw Graphics Suite X6 • Moneyfree Software TOTAL Planning Suite • Utility suites • Norton Systems Works • Norton Internet Security suite

31. Careers In IT • Software Engineers • Analyze users’ needs and create application software • Attributes • Good communication skills • Programming experience • Detail oriented • Web application experience • Analytical skills

32. End of Chapter3