Discovering Computers Fundamentals

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Chapter 3

• Discovering Computers Fundamentals

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 didnt have a mouse or icons to click
  on, etc we had to use commands to do things.

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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.

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Type the word dir
Type the following word and then press the Enter
key dir
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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 dont have to remember
  those commands. We can just click on My Computer.
• Type the following word to close the MS-DOS
  prompt window
• exit

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Back to user interface

• Most people use a GUI instead of a command line
  interface. Its 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.

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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

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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.

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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 arent 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).

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What to focus on

• You dont 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

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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

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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
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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

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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)

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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 cant 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!

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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).

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Productivity Software More on Database software

• Say we had 1 million students in the HCC
  database. We wouldnt want to print out all
  million of them just to find out Jeanne
  Wilequets address.
• A query allows us to be specific in our requests
  Only show me Jeanne Wilequets address or Only
  show me students in ITSC1301 from Spring 2004,
  etc
• Its much easier then sifting through 1 million
  lines of student names!!
• We cant make the query in English (like I did
  above), however. There are special languages you
  can use to make queries.

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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

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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 whats the difference
  between a PDA and PIM???

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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.

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Application Software category 2Graphics 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

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Application Software category 3Home/Personal/Edu
cational

• The fun stuff! Games, family tree software, tax
  software, etc

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Application Software category 4Communication
Software

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

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Reminder Browsers

• A web browser is a program (software) that allows
  you to access and VIEW web page documents.

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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

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Some More Quick Terms and Practice

• Wizard (hint not Merlin)
• Whats 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?
• Whats a FAQ

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One Last Reminder Email vs. URL

• Is this an email address or a URL
• http//www.junk.com
• Is this an email address or URL
• junk_at_noname.com
• The first one is a URL, you type it in a web
  browser. The second is an email address.

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The End