15th Edition
Understanding Computers
Today and Tomorrow
Comprehensive
Chapter 7:
Application Software
Deborah Morley
Charles S. Parker Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning
Overview
• This chapter covers:
– General characteristics of application software
– The most widely used types of application software,
including:
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Database
• Presentation graphics
• Graphics and multimedia software
– Overview of other types of application software
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 4
The Basics of Application Software
• Software Ownership Rights
– Specify the allowable use of the program
– Software license
• Gives you the right to use a software program
• Specifies the conditions under which the buyer can use
the software
– Open source software
• Programs with source code made available to the
general public
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 5
Inside the Industry Box
Open Source Software
– Use is growing
– In addition to Linux and other open source operating
systems, there are many
open source apps
– Open source is typically
cheaper
– Can also be more stable and
– secure
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 6
The Basics of Application Software
• Commercial Software
– Copyrighted software developed and sold for profit
– Typically comes with a single-user license
• Shareware
– Copyrighted software distributed on the honor system
– Consumers should either pay for it or uninstall it after the trial
period
• Freeware
– Copyrighted software programs that are given away by the
author for others to use free of charge
• Public Domain Software
– Software that is not copyrighted and ownership rights have
been donated to the public domain
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The Basics of Application Software
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 8
Desktop vs. Mobile Software
• Personal computers use
desktop software
• Smartphones and other
mobile devices typically
require mobile software
called apps
– Specifically designed for a
specific type of device
– Wide range of software
available via app stores
(Google Play, Apple App
Store, etc.)
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 9
Installed vs. Cloud Software
• Installed Software
– Must be installed on the
computer before it can
be run
– Can be purchased in
physical form
– Can be downloaded
from the Internet
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 11
Installed vs. Cloud Software
• Cloud Software
– Is delivered on-demand via the Web
– Also called Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloudware
– Includes free software and fee-based software
– Advantages of cloud software
• Files can be accessed from any computer with an
Internet connection
• Ease of implementation
• Improved collaboration capabilities
• Always working with the most current version of
software
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Installed vs. Cloud Software
– Potential disadvantages of cloud software
• Online applications tend to run more slowly
• Have file size limits
• Cost may eventually exceed the cost of purchasing a
similar installed version of the software
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 13
Installed vs. Cloud Software
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 15th Edition 14
Software Suites
• Software Suites
– Collection of software programs bundled together and sold
as a single software package
– Office suites are used by most businesses/individuals to
produce documents and typically include:
• Word processing software
• Spreadsheet software
• Database software
• Presentation graphics-software
– Provide a common interface among programs in the suite
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Software Suites
• Latest version of Office is 2016 (traditional installed)/365
(subscription)
– Office on Demand
– Read mode
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Word Processing Concepts
• What Is Word Processing?
– Using a computer and word processing software to create,
edit, save, and print written documents such as letters,
contracts.
– Common Word Processing Software Programs
• Microsoft Word
• Corel WordPerfect
• Apple Pages
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 14
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Spreadsheet Concepts
• What is a Spreadsheet?
– Documents containing a group of numbers and other data
(Formulas , Charts and graphs, Data analysis tools,..) organized
into rows and columns
– Spreadsheet software is used to create electronic spreadsheets
– A worksheet is a single spreadsheet divided into rows and
columns
– A workbook is a collection of worksheets saved in a single
file
– A cell is the intersection of a row and a column
– Most widely used spreadsheet programs:
• Microsoft Excel
• Corel Quattro Pro
• Apple Numbers
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 15
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Database Concepts
• What Is a Database?
– A collection of related data that is stored in a manner enabling
information to be retrieved as needed
– Database Management System (DBMS)
• Software that allows the creation and manipulation of an
electronic database
– Most widely used relational database programs
• Microsoft Access
• Oracle Database
• IBM DB2
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 16
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Database Concepts
― Most PC-based databases are relational databases and
organized into fields (columns), records (rows), and tables
• Field (column)
― A single type of data to be stored in a database
• Record (row)
― A collection of related fields
• Table
― A collection of related records
• Database file
― Collection of related tables
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 17
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Database Concepts
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 18
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Presentation Graphics Concepts
• What Is a Presentation Graphic?
– An image designed to visually enhance a presentation
– Can be used in electronic slide shows, as well as in printed
reports
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 19
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Presentation Graphics Concepts
– Slide
• A one-page presentation graphic that can be displayed in a
group with others to form an electronic slide show
– Electronic Slide Show
• A group of electronic slides that are displayed one after the
other on a computer monitor or other display device
– Presentation Graphics Software
• Used to create presentation graphics
– Most common presentation graphics programs are
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Corel Presentations
• Apple Keynote
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 20
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Graphics and Multimedia Concepts
• Graphics
– Are digital representations of images, such as digital
photographs, clip art, scanned drawings, and original
images created using a software program
• Multimedia
– Technically refers to any application that contains more
than one type of media
– Often used to refer to audio or video content
• Large variety of graphics and multimedia software used to:
– Create or modify graphics
– Edit digital audio or video
– Play multimedia files
– Burn CDs and DVDs
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 21
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Types of Graphics Software
• Painting programs typically create bitmap images - Don't
usually support layers
– Microsoft Paint
• Drawing programs (illustration programs) typically create
graphics using mathematical formulas
– Adobe Illustrator CC, Corel Painter
• Image editing or photo editing programs are designed for
touching up or modifying images
– Adobe Photoshop, Picasa, Apple Photos
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 22
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Audio Capture and Editing Software
• Audio Capture and Editing Software
– Used to create and edit audio files (narrations, podcasts, etc.)
• Sound recorder software captures sound from a microphone
• Ripping software captures sound from a CD
– Edits and applies special effects
– Common consumer products
• Windows Sound Recorder
• Apple GarageBand
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 23
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software
• Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software
– Video Editing Software
• Modifies existing videos
• Prepares video clips for presentations or Web sites
– DVD Authoring Software
• Organizes content to be transferred to DVD
– Importing videos, creating menus, burning onto a
DVD
– DVD Burning Software
• Records data on recordable or rewritable DVDs
– Common consumer video editing programs include Roxio
Creator, Apple iMovie/iDVD, etc.
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 24
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Media Players
• Media Players
– Programs designed to play audio and video files
• Music CDs, downloaded music, online audio
• Downloaded and online video
• RealPlayer, AppleQuick Time, Windows Media Player,etc.
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 25
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Graphics and Multimedia Concepts
• Graphics, Multimedia, and the Web
– Often used by individuals and businesses to create Web
sites or content to be shared via the Web
• Company logos
• Web site banners
• Games
• Tutorials
• Videos
• Other multimedia content
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 26
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Other Types of Application Software
• CAD and Other Types of Design Software
• Accounting and Personal Finance Software
• Project Management, and Remote Access Software
Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow, 14th Edition 27
© 2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. This edition is intended for use outside of the U.S. only, with content that may be different from the U.S. Edition.
May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.