Chapter 3 Discovering Computers Fundamentals

Chapter 3 – Application Software  Application software  To be honest, this is the type of software we are most familiar with.  Remember, software/programs is a set of instructions to the computer in order to complete a task.  The main instructions of a program must be in memory while its running. If a program is running, its instructions are in memory!

Application vs. System Software  System Software are the programs in which the task (purpose) is to control the computer.  Application Software are the programs in which the task (purpose) is to do something for YOU, the USER.

System Software  We will discuss system software in further detail later (later chapter), but for now there is one major type of system software: The operating system One specific operating system is Windows XP Also Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows 2000, etc…

Operating System  The operating system contains instructions that coordinate activity between all the components of the computer (printer, keyboard, monitor).  The OS also provides you with a user interface, which is a program that allows you to interface with the computer.  Since the OS is ALWAYS running, it must always be loaded in memory. It is basically copied into memory each time you turn your computer on. Without the OS, your computer would not function.

User Interface  The user interface controls how YOU communicate with the computer. How do we do that? We use a mouse, and we click, and in Windows XP there is a start button, and a task bar, etc… The taskbar,desktop, start button, etc… is the user interface. Since we use pictures (graphics) we call it a GUI, graphical user interface.  The OS is really not one program, it is many programs and the user interface is just one program included in the OS.

GUI vs. command line interface  There are two types of user interfaces:  GUI and Command Line  Computers use to use a command line interface, that is, we didn’t have a mouse or icons to click on, etc… we had to use commands to do things.

MS DOS prompt  To get a feel of what a command line user interface was: Click on the Start Button Then click on Run Then enter either one of the following commands (only one will work depending on which os you use) – command – cmd A black window will pop up.

Type the word: dir Type the following word and then press the Enter key: dir

What does dir do?  When you typed dir you should have received a long listing of files. This used to be the only way to get a listing of our files/folders.  Since we now use a GUI, we don’t have to remember those commands. We can just click on My Computer.  Type the following word to close the MS-DOS prompt window: exit

Back to user interface  Most people use a GUI instead of a command line interface. It’s much easier to use, and to remember.  So … how do we use the GUI that comes with Windows? Well, most of us know how to do that already, but we should all get familiar with some of the basic terms.

Common GUI terms for Windows XP – YOU MUST KNOW THE FOLLOWING!  Desktop, Menus, submenus, start button, TASK BAR, Task Pane, etc…  Icons vs buttons  Single Click vs. Double Click vs. Point vs. Drag  Copy, Move, Delete in Task Pane  Window (title bar, status bar, menu bar, toolbar)  Dialog box

Application Software  As mentioned earlier, software is divided into application software and system software. We will focus on application software for the remainder of this chapter.  Application software can be further subdivided.

More on Categories of Application Software  Again, application software is divided into various categories. Think of books. We have fiction and non-fiction. Then we further divide non-fiction into travel, cooking, autobiographies, etc… These categories make it easier for us to group them.  Same thing with application software. The categories aren’t written in stone, but they do make it easier for us to group items (find them in stores, talk to companies in regard to buying them, etc…).

What to focus on  You don’t need to know all the details of how to use the software discussed in the chapter, though it is interesting and helpful in understanding their meaning.  You do, however, need to know the following categories and specific programs in the categories

Application Software category 1 : Productivity Software  Productivity software is the first category of application software … and most important! I think of it as programs used in an office environment: Word processing software Spread sheet software Database software Presentation graphics software PIM software Software Suite Project Management and Accounting

Productivity Software: Word processing software  Software used to create, edit and format text based documents (documents primarily consisting of words).  Examples of SPECIFIC word processing software: Microsoft WORD Corel WORDPERFECT Those are the companies that produce the product

Productivity Software: Spreadsheet software  Software that allows you to organize data in rows and columns. You can then easily total up the columns, average them, etc…  Examples of SPECIFIC spread sheet software: Microsoft EXCEL Lotus 123 Corel QUATTRO PRO

Productivity Software: Database software  Software that organizes data so that it can be accessed and retrieved quickly and easily. If you have never seen a database software it might look like a spreadsheet software (in the book), but it is NOT.  You must use a special program, DBMS, to create and use your database!!  Examples of SPECIFIC DMBS software: Microsoft ACCESS Oracle (by the company Oracle)

Productivity Software: More on Database software  Database software can get quite complicated.  Again, you must use a specific DBMS software to create your database. Whichever DBMS you pick, you must use it to view your database, change it, etc…. You can’t really go back and forth between DBMS software.  When you use a word processor (Microsoft Word) you must use that same word processor to make changes to your document. However, you could use Microsoft Works to make changes, or even Wordperfect, if you had to. You cannot do this with DBMS software. You cannot switch between products!

Productivity Software: More on Database software  You first have to create a database (tell it the type of information you will be storing in it).  You then enter the data. You are currently in the HCC student database. HCC has your name, address, etc… Someone had to enter that info.  You can also use the DMBS to view your data … make QUERIES (see next slide).

Productivity Software: More on Database software  Say we had 1 million students in the HCC database. We wouldn’t want to print out all million of them just to find out Jeanne Wilequet’s address.  A query allows us to be specific in our requests: Only show me Jeanne Wilequet’s address or Only show me students in ITSC1301 from Spring 2004, etc…  It’s much easier then sifting through 1 million lines of student names!!  We can’t make the query in English (like I did above), however. There are special languages you can use to make queries.

Productivity Software: Presentation Graphics Software  Software that allows you to create presentations  Examples of SPECIFIC presentation graphics software: Microsoft POWERPOINT (used to make these slides) Corel PRESENTATIONS

Productivity Software: Personal Information Manager (PIM)  Software to help you organize your days (calendars, appointment books, etc…). An electronic day planner USES PIM software.  Examples of SPECIFIC PIM software: Microsoft OUTLOOK Lotus ORGANIZER  Something to think about: what’s the difference between a PDA and PIM???

Productivity Software: Software Suite  A software suite is a collection of individual software that is sold together in a group. You cannot buy them individually.  The most well known is Microsoft OFFICE. Microsoft OFFICE contains Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, etc… The only way to get any of those products is to BUY Microsoft OFFICE.

Application Software category 2: Graphics and Multimedia  Powerful software that allows you to work with graphics (pictures) and multimedia (movies, sound, etc…)  CAD – used by architects to help draw houses  DTP – desktop publishing used by graphic artists to create ads, pamphlets…  Web page authoring – used to make web pages

Application Software category 3: Home/Personal/Educational  The fun stuff! Games, family tree software, tax software, etc…

Application Software category 4: Communication Software  Very important! Software that allows you to communicate from one computer to another!!  The main types discussed in this book: Groupware, , Web browsers, chat rooms, newsgroups, instant messaging, video conferencing Know what these are for, and also know TWO specific web browsers!!

Reminder: Browsers  A web browser is a program (software) that allows you to access and VIEW web page documents.

More on Browsers  There are many browsers out there, but the two most common are: Microsoft INTERNET EXPLORER Netscape NAVIGATOR AOL also has their own  They all do about the same thing

Some More Quick Terms and Practice  Wizard (hint: not Merlin)  What’s the difference between a PDA and PIM  Is Microsoft Access a spreadsheet software or DBMS software?  What is the type of software that is used to create a database?  Applications on the web.  Do you make queries with spreadsheet software or DBMS software?  Word processors, spreadsheets and database software all fall under what category of Application Software?  What’s a FAQ

One Last Reminder: vs. URL  Is this an address or a URL:  Is this an address or URL:  The first one is a URL, you type it in a web browser. The second is an address.

The End