Chapter 3
The Application Software
Overview
• Definition
• Categories
Software
• A.k.a program
• A set of step-by-step instructions that directs the
computer to do the required tasks and produce the
desired result
• 3 types of software
o Operating system
Manages the computer hardware for other computer programs
Interacts directly with the computer
E.g. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OSX
o Utility software
Assist operating system in file management tasks
E.g. anti-virus software, disk-scan and editors
o Application Software
E.g. text processors, spreadsheets, graphic software, database
management software, etc.
Application Software
• Used to solve a particular problem or to
perform a particular task
• Applied by users to do real-world tasks
o E.g. keep track of inventory, design a car
engine, draft minutes for meeting, play games.
• May either be custom-designed or
packaged.
Application Software (cont.)
• Custom-designed application software
o Used by large organizations
They pay computer programmers to design and
write custom software that is specifically tailored to
the organization’s needs.
Extremely complex and time-consuming to
produce.
Application Software (cont.)
• Packaged software
o A.k.a commercial software
o Software that is packaged in a container (box
or folder) and is sold in stores or catalogs
o May contain one or more disks containing the
software
o Some are available for downloading on the
internet (for a fee, of course)
o Documentation is sometimes included
Documentation = user manual/user guide.
Application Software (cont.)
• What is user-friendly software?
o It means that the software is supposed to be
easy for a beginner to use or the software can
be used with a minimum of training.
Application Software (cont.)
• Categories of application software
o Freeware
o Open-source software
o Shareware
Application Software (cont.)
• Freeware?
o Software for which there is no fee
o Normally distributed in a machine-readable format
that is unreadable by humans
You can use it, you can read the codes, but you can’t make
changes to it
o Freeware is copyrighted
The author retains ownership and may place restrictions on its
use
Software that is not copyrighted is called public domain
software. They may be used, or altered without restrictions
E.g. software developed by universities and research institutions
using government grants.
Application Software (cont.)
• Open-source Software
o A variation of freeware
o A software that is freely distributed in a format
that enables computer programmers to make
changes to it
The source code is available and programmers
can understand how it works and modify it
If there’s a bug, it can be fixed faster
Most commonly run under Linux OS.
Application Software (cont.)
• Shareware
o Freely distributed but only for a trial period
After the trial period ends, if you want to continue
to use it, you have to pay a nominal fee to register
it with the author
Incentives are usually added by the authors such
as free documentation, supports and/or updates to
encourage people to register.
Application Software (cont.)
• Software piracy?
o The making of illegal copies of commercial
software
o Punishable under the law.
Application Software (cont.)
• Vertical market software
o Software that is written especially for a
particular type of business
• Groupware
o A.k.a collaborative software
o Any kind of software that lets a group of people
share information or track information together.
Application Software (cont.)
• SOHO
o Abbr. for small office/home office
o A software designed for small businesses.
Task-oriented Software
• Word processing
• Desktop publishing
• Electronic spreadsheets
• Database management
• Graphics
• Communications
• Personal information managers
• Office suites
Task-oriented Software (cont.)
• Word processing software
o Allows user to create, edit, format, store and
print text and graphics in one document
• Desktop publishing software
o Better than word processing software at
meeting high-level publishing needs to
produce professional-looking newsletters,
reports and brochures.
Task-Oriented Software (cont.)
• Electronic spreadsheets
o A software made up of columns and rows of
numbers, automatically recalculates the results
when a number is changed
o Enable users to try various combinations of
“what if?...” numbers and obtain the results
quickly
Task-Oriented Software (cont.)
• Database management software
o Manages a collection of interrelated facts
o Able to store, update, manipulate, retrieve, report the
data in a variety of view
o Also able to print it in as many forms.
• Graphics software
o Enable users to manipulate images
o Presentation graphics software: able to produce
graphs, maps and charts and can help people
compare data, spot trends more easily and make
decision more quickly.
Task-Oriented Software (cont.)
• Communications software
o Enable computers to communicate with each
other via phone lines or other means
• Personal information Manager (PIM)
o A program that typically include and
appointment calendar, address book, task
manager, notepad and calculator.
Task-Oriented Software (cont.)
• Office Suites
o A group of basic software applications
designed to work together
o Typical suite application is mail merge.
o Integrated application combines basic word
processing, spreadsheet, and graphics
capabilities in a single program.
Discussion
In pairs,
– Find an example (with minimum requirements)
for each of the categories of Application
software and Task-Oriented Software.
2. Explain SOFTWARE PIRACY.
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