Chapter 3Application Software

Liza Cardamone Vanessa Broome Craig Muschko

Application Software

Application software is used for a variety of reasons:

As a business tool To assist with graphics and multimedia

projects To support home, personal, and educational

activities To facilitate communications

Software is available in a variety of forms

Packaged Software Is mass produced, copyrighted retail software that

meets the needs of a variety of users Custom Software

Performs functions specific to business or industry Shareware

Is copyrighted software that is distributed free for a trial period

Freeware Is a copyrighted software provided at no cost to a

user by an individual or a company

Starting and Interacting

Operating Systems Desktop: an on screen work area that has a

graphical user interface Button: graphical element you activate to cause a

specific action to take place Pointer: small symbol displayed on the screen that

moves as you move the mouse Menu: contains a series of commands from which

you make selections Window: once loaded in memory the program is

displayed as such

Business Programs include the following programs: Word processing

software Create Edit Format

Spreadsheet software Database Software

Database

Presentation graphics software

Note taking software Personal Information

Manager Software suite

Project Management Software

Accounting software

Graphics and Multimedia Programs Computer-aided design software assists a

professional user in creating engineering, architectural, and scientific designs

Paint allows users to draw pictures, shapes, and other images with various on-screen tools

Image editing provides the capabilities of paint software

Video editing allows users to modify a segment of a video

Audio editing lets users modify audio clips Multimedia authoring allows to users to combine

text, graphics, audio, video, and animation into interactive application.

Web page authoring helps users of all skill levels create Web pages

Home, Personal, and Educational Programs

Personal Finance Tax Preparation Personal DTP Paint/Image editing Home design/landscaping Educational Reference Entertainment

Types of Applications used in Communications E-mail programs are

used to transmit messages via a network

Web browser programs to access and view Web pages

Newsreader/ Message Board programs

Advantages of Using Application Software on the Web

Requires less disk space on your computer than installed software

Less expensive to upgrade as vendors release new versions

Learning Aids Available for Application Software

Many programs provide Help features:

Online Help is the electronic equivalent of a user manual

A wizard is an automated assistant that helps a user complete a task by asking questions

Any questions?