1. Computers Are Your Future Tenth Edition Application Software: Tools for Productivity Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1

2. Application Software: Tools for Productivity Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall2

3. Application Programs Summary APPLICATIONS PROGRAMS Applications programs are what a computer user needs to run to do productive work. When personal computers first went mass-market in the 1980s, the most widely used applications programs were "office software" packages comprising word processors, spreadsheets and databases. Whilst word processors are still the most widely used of these applications, early spreadsheets (such as VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3) initially had the greatest impact as they quite literally allowed computational tasks that used to take days or weeks to be completed in minutes. Next on the scene came desktop publishing (DTP) packages that revolutionized publishing by allowing the electronic rather than manual layout of words and images. It is worth remembering that the computer terminology "cut" and "paste" derive from the ways in which the layout of published documents used to involve the physical cutting out and pasting together with glue of text and images that were only combined for press via photographic processes. With the rise of the Internet, two of the most critical applications programs have become e-mail packages (such as Outlook Express) and web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Opera or Firefox). Indeed, as cloud computing takes hold -- as detailed in the section after next -- the only software many computers may ever run could be an operating system and a web browser.InternetChromeOperaFirefoxcloud computing Graphics packages are today also a major category of applications programs, and come in a very wide range of guises. For a start there are presentation packages (such as PowerPoint) used to create slides and give lectures. Then there are photo editing packages that manipulate the tiny rectangles or "pixels" that make up the "bitmapped" images created by digital cameras or scanners. The dominant professional photo editing software is Adobe PhotoShop (so much so that the verb "to photoshop" has entered the language). However, even if they are using the new verb, most people manipulate images in less sophisticated -- and far less costly! -- photo editing packages such as PaintShop Pro or PhotoShop Elements. Another category of graphics packages are used to create and manipulate vector-based images. Whereas a bitmapped image created by a digital camera and edited in a package like PhotoShop can only be enlarged so far before a loss of detail (because the individual pixels that make up the image become too big), vector-based images (sometimes called structured graphics) are defined mathematically and can be re-scalled to any size with no loss of detail. Vector-based graphics software includes Adobe Illustrator (used for illustrations in publishing) and computer-aided design (CAD) software such as AutoCAD (used for creating engineering designs and other forms of technical plans). Finally on the graphics side there are 3D modelling and animation applications. Here, packages including 3D Studio Max, Maya, SoftImage and LightWave are used build 3D computer models that are then textured with bitmap images (often created or manipulated in PhotoShop) and which are then rendered as bitmapped "photographic" output. Next in common usage there are applications packages that work with multimedia content. These comprise software for playing and editing audio and video. As with still graphics packages (and the two types of software are already converging!), the variety of software available is extremely diverse, ranging from free software like Windows Media Player, Realplayer and Adobe's Quicktime Player, to high-end video editing and manipulation software costing hundreds or thousands of pounds, and including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid. Those people needing to create web pages will probably also be using a web authoring package such as FrontPage or Dreamweaver (although many web programmers write raw code directly into a text editor). A final set of applications packages are those dedicated to business activities such as accounting (eg Sage Accounts) and project management (such a Microsoft Project). Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 3

4. General-Purpose Applications Application software is any program that gives the user the ability to complete work on the computer. General-purpose applications are the programs that enable users to complete common tasks. 4Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall

5. General-Purpose Applications General-purpose applications include: Personal productivity programs Multimedia and graphics software Internet programs Home and education programs Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall5

6. General-Purpose Applications Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall6

7. General-Purpose Applications Personal productivity program Makes it easier to do work Examples Word processing software Spreadsheet or database software Presentation software Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall7

8. General-Purpose Applications Multimedia and graphics software is any software that includes the use of two or more media, such as graphics plus video or audio. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall8

9. General-Purpose Applications Multimedia and graphics software include: Professional desktop publishing programs Multimedia authoring programs Paint, drawing, and animation programs Image editing programs 3-D rendering programs Audio and video editing software Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall9

10. General-Purpose Applications Codecs, compression/decompression algorithms, are included in most multimedia software to reduce space required by multimedia documents. Compressing files enables better use of disk space and faster Internet transfer speeds. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall10

11. General-Purpose Applications Compressing files enables better use of disk space and faster Internet transfer speeds. Lossless compression does not delete any information needed to reproduce the image without flaw. Lossy compression removes some information, but the loss is typically not noticeable. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall11

12. General-Purpose Applications Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall12 Paint programs give the user the ability to create pictures as a bit-mapped image. Bit-mapped images (raster graphics) are made up of tiny dots known as pixels.

13. General-Purpose Applications Standard formats in which paint programs save files include: Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) Lossless compression of simple images Often used for Web pages Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) Lossy compression of complex images Also used for Web pages Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall13

14. General-Purpose Applications Standard formats in which paint programs save files include: Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Patent-free alternative to a GIF Lossless compression Suitable for Web use only Windows Bitmap (BMP) Compression optional Files tend to be large Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall14

15. General-Purpose Applications Drawing programs create on-screen objects stored as intricate descriptions known as vector graphics. Vector graphics allow individualized editing and resizing without distortion. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall15

16. General-Purpose Applications Three-dimensional rendering programs Provide graphic objects with 3-D effects Image editors Are advanced types of paint programs Can change complicated bit-mapped objects, including photographs Can edit, but not create, bit-mapped images Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall16

17. General-Purpose Applications Animation programs give the user the ability to create animation from images, as well as run the animation. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall17

18. General-Purpose Applications Audio software is used to capture and process sound used in multimedia presentations. Sound files can be saved in a number of standard formats and contain digitized data. Standard sound file formats include: MP3 Windows Media Audio (WMA) WAV Ogg Vorbis Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 18

19. General-Purpose Applications Video editors enable the user to: Modify digitized videos Save those videos in at least one of the following video file formats: Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) QuickTime Video for Windows Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall19

20. General-Purpose Applications Multimedia authoring systems Used to create multimedia presentations Require a large amount of disk space and memory to run properly Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 20

21. General-Purpose Applications Internet programs Help users communicate, learn, and interact through the Internet Examples include: E-mail Instant messaging software Web browsers Video conferencing programs Google apps http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall21

22. General-Purpose Applications Home and educational programs Computerized reference software Personal finance software Computer-aid tutorials Computer games Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall22

23. Tailor-Made Applications Software designed for specific businesses or users is known as a tailor-made application. Tailor-made applications normally cost more than general-purpose applications because of their development costs. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall23

24. Tailor-Made Applications When an application is not available, custom software, software developed for a user’s specific needs, may be necessary. Packaged software is developed for the mass market. Gradequick Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall24

25. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs, & Software Suites A fully self-contained program is called a standalone program. Advantages: Users can purchase and install standalone programs separately. Standalone programs function by themselves. Disadvantages: Standalones take up a lot of storage space. Standalones do not share resources. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall25

26. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs, & Software Suites Integrated programs provide all the leading productivity programs in one package. Advantages: Integrated programs are easy to learn. Integrated programs share the same interface. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall26

27. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs, & Software Suites Disadvantages: The individual modules of integrated programs usually have fewer features than are found in standalone programs or software suites. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall27

28. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs, & Software Suites A software suite is an interconnected bundle of programs. Advantages: The programs within a suite share resources. The programs within a suite are designed to work together. These applications share common program code, interfaces, and drivers. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall28

29. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs, & Software Suites Software suites, also called office suites, usually include: Word processing programs Spreadsheet programs Presentation graphics programs Database programs Personal information managers (PIMs) Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall29

30. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs & Software Suites Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall30

31. Standalone Programs, Integrated Programs, & Software Suites Web-hosted technology is a new variety of office suite that enables users to upload files online for viewing, editing, and collaboration purposes. Advantages: Web-hosted technology is usually free. It makes sharing files and collaboration easier. Web-hosted technology helps avoid file-sharing problems. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall31

32. System Requirements & Software Versions System requirements outline the minimal level of resources that a program requires. Releases of programs are cited by a year or version number. In a version number, a decimal number indicates a maintenance release. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall32

33. System Requirements & Software Versions Time-limited trial versions are occasionally offered for commercial programs by software companies. Beta versions of software are sometimes available to users. Software is in the final testing stages and may contain bugs. Access is free. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall33

34. System Requirements & Software Versions Software is kept current through software upgrading. Small fixes to software are called patches. Large or major fixes to software are called service packs or service releases. Software can be distributed through the Internet, not just purchased in stores. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall34

35. System Requirements & Software Versions Documentation can be in print or downloaded from the Internet. Brief tutorials Read Me files Help files Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall35

36. Software Licenses & Registration The contract included with purchased software, which permits the user to install the program on one computer, is known as a software license. The contract that gives organizations the right to install copies of programs on a precise number of computers is known as a site license. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall36

37. Software Licenses & Registration Commercial Software Users must purchase before using Examples: Microsoft Office Adobe Acrobat Apple iLife Shareware You may try software before purchasing If you like it, pay for it and continue use Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall37

38. Software Licenses & Registration Freeware Free to users as long as users do not sell it to others Public domain software Copyright-free software Can modify or sell Copy-protected software Internal process prohibits making unauthorized copies Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall38

39. Installing & Managing Application Software Installing software on a computer includes moving the software to the hard disk and properly configuring the software. Uninstalling software takes the program off the hard disk. Launching software moves the software to memory from the hard disk. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall39

40. Installing & Managing Application Software Users can choose Options to identify how they want a program to run. Defaults are software settings that are used by the program unless overridden by the user. Quitting or closing down an application is known as exiting. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall40

41. What You’ve Learned System software supports application software, the programs that give the user the ability to complete work on the computer. General-purpose software includes personal productivity programs, multimedia and graphics software, Internet programs, and home and education software. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall41

42. What You’ve Learned Types of programs available to users include standalone programs, integrated programs, and suites of personal productivity software. Office suites, which incorporate Web- hosted technology, are gaining popularity with today’s users. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall42

43. What You’ve Learned New or updated versions of software are usually cited with a version number. Small changes to software are defined as patches, and larger changes or fixes are known as service packs or service releases. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall43

44. What You’ve Learned Software can be categorized as commercial, shareware, freeware, and public domain software. Users should learn to install applications, start applications, select options, and exit the applications to use their computers effectively. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall44

45. THE FUTURE….. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall45 http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_webri p/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RMWO9JxZjA &feature=fvwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RMWO9JxZjA &feature=fvw Cloud computing

46. Cloud Computing CLOUD COMPUTING: AN INTRODUCTION Cloud computing is where software applications, processing power, data and potentially even artificial intelligence are accessed over the Internet. Many private individuals now regularly use an online e-mail application such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or Hotmail. Exchanging messages and sharing photos and video on social networking sites like Facebook is now also very common. However, these types of cloud computing activities are just the beginning. Indeed, it is likely that within a decade the vast majority of personal and business computing will be Internet based.InternetGmailYahoo! MailHotmailFacebookInternet Already over two million businesses have adopted the Google Apps online e-mail and office suite. Twenty per cent of companies now also report at least some use of the Google Docs online word processor. In February 2010, IBM signed a contract with the US Airforce to design a cloud computing infrastructure capable of supporting around 100 bases and 700,000 active personnel. In the same month, Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform also became commercially available. Mobile computers like Apple's iPad, as well as netbooks and tablets running Google's new Chrome OS operating system, are additionally very much intended as cloud access devices for a new computing age.Google AppsGoogle DocsIBM signed a contract with the US AirforceAzureiPadChrome OS Like it or loathe it, cloud computing is now more than hype. Technology analysts Gartner even recently signalled cloud computing as one of 2010's most strategic technologies. In fact, I would suggest that cloud computing has now become such an unstoppable force that the only real choice for any of us is whether we want to be part of the cloud computing steamroller or the traditional computing road.2010's most strategic technologies This section of ExplainingComputers.com provides an overview of cloud computing. In particular it focuses on the phenomenon's characteristics, how it works in practice, and the key factors that are driving its uptake. You can learn even more by watching my cloud computing videos or by reading my book A Brief Guide to Cloud Computing. By accessing the Cloud Computing Directory you can also gain access to a great many cloud computing applications and other resources, many of which are free to use straight away. So come on in, dare to be radical, and become a part of the Cloud Computing Revolution!ExplainingComputers.comcloud computing videosA Brief Guide to Cloud Computing Cloud Computing Directory Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 46