Application Software
Dr. Kamal Gulati
Objectives
• Distinguish between operating systems and
applications software
• List the various methods by which individuals and
businesses acquire software
• List and briefly describe various types of task-
oriented software
• Identify the kinds of software available for both large
and small businesses
• Discuss ethical issues associated with software
• Describe the functions of various computer
professionals
Contents
• Applications Software
• Software Types
• Task-Oriented Productivity Software
• Business Software
• Application Software and Ethics
• Computers and People
Applications Software
Apply to real-world tasks
Solves user problems
vs. OS
controls the hardware
What it Does
Gets the work done
Solves a problem:
How large was The Roman Empire?
PC Software Characteristics
• User-friendly
• Easy
• Intuitive
• Minimum training and documentation
needed to use
Software Types
Custom Software
• Written by programmers
• Takes a lot of time to write and test
• When specifications are unique
Software Types
Packaged or Commercial
• Sold in stores, catalogs, or downloadable
from the WWW
• Purchased from software publishers
• Must be installed
– Standard or custom installation
– The setup process copies some of all of the
software to the hard disk
– May require the CD-ROM to be in the drive to run
Acquiring Software
• Freeware
– Free to all
– Copyrighted
– Distributed in machine-readable format
• Shareware
– Freely distributed for a trial period
– Pay a nominal fee to register with the
author
Acquiring Software
• Public-domain software
– Un-copyrighted
– May be used or altered without restriction
– Generally developed under government
grants
• Open-source
– Free to all
– Source code is distributed
– May be used or altered
– Popular under the LINUX OS
Acquiring Software
• Commercial software
– Used most often
– Copyrighted
– Generally costly
– May not be copied without permission of
the manufacturer
Purchasing Commercial Software
Individuals
• Software warehouse store
• Mail order
• Electronic software distribution
Purchasing Commercial Software
Businesses
• Volume discount
• Site license
• Network versions
• Application Service Provide (ASP)
– Software is setup and maintained by ASP
– Access the software over the Internet
– Pay per use
– Saves the expense of installing and maintaining
the software
Task-Oriented Software
Productivity Software
Makes work faster
Makes our lives easier
Word Processing
• Uses
– Memos
– Reports
– Correspondence
– Minutes of meetings
– Anything to be typed
• Functions
– Create
– Edit
– Format
– Store
– Print text and graphics
Desktop Publishing
• Uses
– Newsletters
– Reports
– Brochures
• Functions
– Handles high-level publishing needs
Electronic Spreadsheets
• Uses
– Comparing mortgage interest rates
– Preparing budgets
– Tracking weight loss
• Functions
– Manipulates numbers in rows and columns
– Recalculates the results when a number is
changed
– What if?
Electronic Spreadsheets
Database Management
• Uses
– Keep track of a large number of related facts
– Query the data for specific information
– Retrieve information in a variety of ways
• Functions
– Store data
– Update data
– Manipulate data
– Retrieve data
– Print data in many forms
– Report on data in a variety of ways
Graphics
• Uses
– Maps
– Graphs
– Charts
• Helps to
– Compare data
– Spot trends
– Make decisions
• Visual information is more compelling
Presentation Graphics
• Uses
– Sales tool
– Demonstrate a product
– Show cost/benefit projections on charts
– Present audio/video testimonials from satisfied
customers
• May contain
– Text
– Graphics
– Audio
– Video
Computer Art
• Use software to
– Produce art
– Express ideas
• Graphic artist
– Artistic ability
– Computer skills
– Produces computer art
Communications
• Communicate from home with computer
at office
• Access data stored in another computer
in another location
• Stock exchange updates
• Weather information
Communications
• Provides method for
communicating
between computers
• Most likely way to
connect is via the
Internet
• Use a browser to
access the Internet
Office Suites
• Group of basic software applications
designed to work together
• Data is portable between basic applications
of the suite
• Various applications in the suite have the
same “look and feel”
• Cost of suite is less than purchasing
individual applications
Integrated Applications
• Combine basic word processing,
spreadsheet, and graphics capabilities
• More limited than a suite
• Easier to learn and use
Software Development Focus
• Ease of use
• Personal use programs
– Personal time organizers
– To-do list makers
– E-mail programs
• Internet access
Business Software
• Custom-written to
meet special
business needs
• Standard packages
• Combination of
custom-written and
off-the-shelf
Vertical Market Software
• Written for a particular type of business
– Dentist’s office
– Drugstore
– Auto shop
• Software may be part of complete package
– Hardware
– Installation
– Training
– Support
Software for Workgroups
• Groupware / collaborative software
• Lets a group of people share information or
track information together
• Data being used is located in central
database
• Data can be accessed and updated by
anyone in the project group
Software for Workgroups
Examples
• Scheduling
• Preparation of
proposals by several
individuals
The Information Center
Help Desk
• Software selection
• Software training
• Software and hardware installations
• Software and hardware updates
• Troubleshooting
Software for Small Business
• Accounting
– Spreadsheet software
– Accounting package – Basic accounting,
financial statements, tax summaries, payroll
• Writing and Advertising
– Word processing
– Desktop publishing
• Customer Service
– Database management
Software for Small Business
• Keeping Up and Making Contacts
– Networking over the Internet
• Making Sales Pitches
– Graphical presentation software
Small Office, Home Office
SOHO
• Moderately priced to solve typical needs
• All-in-one software package
Small Office, Home Office
SOHO
What is needed
• Organizational skills of a
secretary
• Research skills of a
librarian
• Accounting skills of a
bookkeeper
• Experience of someone
who has done it before
What is has
• Searchable library of
resources
• Legal guide
• Tax guide
• Collections of business
documents
• Links to useful business
and government sites on
the Internet
Application Software Ethics
What is legal?
Software Piracy
• Making illegal copies of copyrighted software
• Why the fuss?
– Very easy to duplicate software vs. a text book
– Software company may lose hundreds of dollars
per pirated copy
• Prosecution
– Yes: Small-medium sized business who purchase
a few copies and distribute to many users
– No: Individual users who probably would not have
purchased software on their own anyway
Counterfeiting
• Software is copied onto CD-ROMS / DVD-
ROMS
• Package duplicates the original
• Sold in flea markets or small stores
• Cheaper price
• Occurs more overseas
Copying Software
• Legitimate reasons
– Backup copy
– Copy to hard disk
• Illegitimate reasons
– Obtain software without paying for it
Computers and People
Users
• Any individual who
operates a computer
to accomplish a task
• Home
• Business
Computer Professionals
• Management Information Systems (MIS)
• Computer Information Systems (CIS)
• Computing Services
• Information Services
• Information Technology (IT)
Computer Professionals
• Data entry operators – key data into a machine-
readable format
• Computer operators – monitor the computer
• Librarians – catalog and keep secure the disks
• Computer programmers – write, test, implement, and
maintain programs
• Systems analysts – plan and design computer
systems
• Network manager – oversees the network
• Chief information officer (CIO) – department
manager; makes strategic decisions relating to the
flow of information in the organization

Application Software

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Objectives • Distinguish betweenoperating systems and applications software • List the various methods by which individuals and businesses acquire software • List and briefly describe various types of task- oriented software • Identify the kinds of software available for both large and small businesses • Discuss ethical issues associated with software • Describe the functions of various computer professionals
  • 3.
    Contents • Applications Software •Software Types • Task-Oriented Productivity Software • Business Software • Application Software and Ethics • Computers and People
  • 4.
    Applications Software Apply toreal-world tasks Solves user problems vs. OS controls the hardware
  • 5.
    What it Does Getsthe work done Solves a problem: How large was The Roman Empire?
  • 6.
    PC Software Characteristics •User-friendly • Easy • Intuitive • Minimum training and documentation needed to use
  • 7.
    Software Types Custom Software •Written by programmers • Takes a lot of time to write and test • When specifications are unique
  • 8.
    Software Types Packaged orCommercial • Sold in stores, catalogs, or downloadable from the WWW • Purchased from software publishers • Must be installed – Standard or custom installation – The setup process copies some of all of the software to the hard disk – May require the CD-ROM to be in the drive to run
  • 9.
    Acquiring Software • Freeware –Free to all – Copyrighted – Distributed in machine-readable format • Shareware – Freely distributed for a trial period – Pay a nominal fee to register with the author
  • 10.
    Acquiring Software • Public-domainsoftware – Un-copyrighted – May be used or altered without restriction – Generally developed under government grants • Open-source – Free to all – Source code is distributed – May be used or altered – Popular under the LINUX OS
  • 11.
    Acquiring Software • Commercialsoftware – Used most often – Copyrighted – Generally costly – May not be copied without permission of the manufacturer
  • 12.
    Purchasing Commercial Software Individuals •Software warehouse store • Mail order • Electronic software distribution
  • 13.
    Purchasing Commercial Software Businesses •Volume discount • Site license • Network versions • Application Service Provide (ASP) – Software is setup and maintained by ASP – Access the software over the Internet – Pay per use – Saves the expense of installing and maintaining the software
  • 14.
    Task-Oriented Software Productivity Software Makeswork faster Makes our lives easier
  • 15.
    Word Processing • Uses –Memos – Reports – Correspondence – Minutes of meetings – Anything to be typed • Functions – Create – Edit – Format – Store – Print text and graphics
  • 16.
    Desktop Publishing • Uses –Newsletters – Reports – Brochures • Functions – Handles high-level publishing needs
  • 17.
    Electronic Spreadsheets • Uses –Comparing mortgage interest rates – Preparing budgets – Tracking weight loss • Functions – Manipulates numbers in rows and columns – Recalculates the results when a number is changed – What if?
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Database Management • Uses –Keep track of a large number of related facts – Query the data for specific information – Retrieve information in a variety of ways • Functions – Store data – Update data – Manipulate data – Retrieve data – Print data in many forms – Report on data in a variety of ways
  • 20.
    Graphics • Uses – Maps –Graphs – Charts • Helps to – Compare data – Spot trends – Make decisions • Visual information is more compelling
  • 21.
    Presentation Graphics • Uses –Sales tool – Demonstrate a product – Show cost/benefit projections on charts – Present audio/video testimonials from satisfied customers • May contain – Text – Graphics – Audio – Video
  • 22.
    Computer Art • Usesoftware to – Produce art – Express ideas • Graphic artist – Artistic ability – Computer skills – Produces computer art
  • 23.
    Communications • Communicate fromhome with computer at office • Access data stored in another computer in another location • Stock exchange updates • Weather information
  • 24.
    Communications • Provides methodfor communicating between computers • Most likely way to connect is via the Internet • Use a browser to access the Internet
  • 25.
    Office Suites • Groupof basic software applications designed to work together • Data is portable between basic applications of the suite • Various applications in the suite have the same “look and feel” • Cost of suite is less than purchasing individual applications
  • 26.
    Integrated Applications • Combinebasic word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics capabilities • More limited than a suite • Easier to learn and use
  • 27.
    Software Development Focus •Ease of use • Personal use programs – Personal time organizers – To-do list makers – E-mail programs • Internet access
  • 28.
    Business Software • Custom-writtento meet special business needs • Standard packages • Combination of custom-written and off-the-shelf
  • 29.
    Vertical Market Software •Written for a particular type of business – Dentist’s office – Drugstore – Auto shop • Software may be part of complete package – Hardware – Installation – Training – Support
  • 30.
    Software for Workgroups •Groupware / collaborative software • Lets a group of people share information or track information together • Data being used is located in central database • Data can be accessed and updated by anyone in the project group
  • 31.
    Software for Workgroups Examples •Scheduling • Preparation of proposals by several individuals
  • 32.
    The Information Center HelpDesk • Software selection • Software training • Software and hardware installations • Software and hardware updates • Troubleshooting
  • 33.
    Software for SmallBusiness • Accounting – Spreadsheet software – Accounting package – Basic accounting, financial statements, tax summaries, payroll • Writing and Advertising – Word processing – Desktop publishing • Customer Service – Database management
  • 34.
    Software for SmallBusiness • Keeping Up and Making Contacts – Networking over the Internet • Making Sales Pitches – Graphical presentation software
  • 35.
    Small Office, HomeOffice SOHO • Moderately priced to solve typical needs • All-in-one software package
  • 36.
    Small Office, HomeOffice SOHO What is needed • Organizational skills of a secretary • Research skills of a librarian • Accounting skills of a bookkeeper • Experience of someone who has done it before What is has • Searchable library of resources • Legal guide • Tax guide • Collections of business documents • Links to useful business and government sites on the Internet
  • 37.
  • 38.
    Software Piracy • Makingillegal copies of copyrighted software • Why the fuss? – Very easy to duplicate software vs. a text book – Software company may lose hundreds of dollars per pirated copy • Prosecution – Yes: Small-medium sized business who purchase a few copies and distribute to many users – No: Individual users who probably would not have purchased software on their own anyway
  • 39.
    Counterfeiting • Software iscopied onto CD-ROMS / DVD- ROMS • Package duplicates the original • Sold in flea markets or small stores • Cheaper price • Occurs more overseas
  • 40.
    Copying Software • Legitimatereasons – Backup copy – Copy to hard disk • Illegitimate reasons – Obtain software without paying for it
  • 41.
    Computers and People Users •Any individual who operates a computer to accomplish a task • Home • Business
  • 42.
    Computer Professionals • ManagementInformation Systems (MIS) • Computer Information Systems (CIS) • Computing Services • Information Services • Information Technology (IT)
  • 43.
    Computer Professionals • Dataentry operators – key data into a machine- readable format • Computer operators – monitor the computer • Librarians – catalog and keep secure the disks • Computer programmers – write, test, implement, and maintain programs • Systems analysts – plan and design computer systems • Network manager – oversees the network • Chief information officer (CIO) – department manager; makes strategic decisions relating to the flow of information in the organization