Chapter 3, Application Software

Discovering Computers 2004

Topics

	Application software All software other than systems software Uses Productivity / business tools: Microsoft Office, Corel PerfectOffice, TeX Business management and data processing Retail operations Science and engineering: SAS, Mathematica, I-DEAS, SYSNOISE Manufacturing: AUTOCAD, PSPICE Graphics and multimedia projects Personal business, education, household activities Communications Package: collection of more than one application program.
	Copyright Issues Copyright law come under Title 17 of the United States Code.  It is based upon explicit reference in the United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 8.  Copyright law is a specialty area in law.  It is not for amateurs.  You can view the law at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/index.html  Use, copying, modification, reverse engineering, and distribution of software is governed by its copyright. All software is copyrighted under US law from the moment it is written, except software written by the government. Get competent legal advice for determining when software enters the public domain. The terms "freeware" and "shareware" do not appear in copyright law.  These are terms for concepts, but not legal terms. "Shareware" does not imply a free trial period.  It is the license that determines if software can be used for free.  I obtained shareware that I had to pay for before using it the first time.  I quote: "This program is being offered as shareware. If you use it, you are obligated to pay for it. The registration fee is $30.00, payable to Software Sharing Ministries." For free software, visit http://www.gnu.org/
	System Software: Operating system, utility, translator Role of the operating system: Executive manager of computer hardware resources. Utility: System software that performs a task, usually related to managing the computer, its devices, or its programs.  Antivirus, disk maintenance, diagnostics. Role of the user interface: Command interface for the operating system.  Command Line Interface: Recall memory used. Fast when you remember commands and have batch command files (script files) set up. Graphical User Interface (GUI): Recognition memory used. Reduces training time. Windows terminology, Windows Lab desktop, icon, button, menu, command, submenu window, title bar, dialog box, short-cut / context-sensitive menu, scroll bar Starting a software application using Windows: Desktop icon, Start|Programs|..., Windows Explorer icon, Start|Run
	Productivity software: see list on page 3.6 Typical features in Windows or Microsoft Office:  create, edit, format clipboard find and replace font: family, style (bold, italic, underline), size (point = 1/72 inch) Scrolling autosave file, file name (255 characters, with some restrictions), file name extension Printing spelling and grammar checker Macros, in Visual Basic for Applications Voice or speech recognition object linking and embedding read and store in several formats Word processing:  document templates and wizards word wrap, automatic page breaks, page numbering page and paragraph formatting header, footer footnotes voice recognition: dictation software MS Word, Word Perfect, Ami Pro, Word Star Spreadsheet table format: rows, columns, cells data types: text, value, label manipulate, sort formulas, functions (page 3.13), macros, recalculation goal-seeking plots (line, bar, pie), analysis (including add-ins, like PHStat) Database  table format; row = record, column = field record structure: number of fields, field name, data type (page 3.16), field length input validation sort, query, query criteria Presentation graphics slide show simple drawing tools (not artist quality) templates graphics: clip gallery, import (convert to standard, or use as embedded object) overlays, animation, links, embed audio and video Personal Information Managers: calendar, address book, other lists, notepad, calculator PDA Software MS Pocket Word MS Bocket Excel MS Pocket Outlook Ultasoft Money QuickNotes Software Suite: collection of bundled software, productivity software Similar user interface, file compatibility and object sharing Project Management software: cost, events, people, material, organization plan, schedule, track, analyze Gantt Charts, Critical Path Method Accounting software record keeping general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, billing, job cost estimation transactions: payroll, taxes, purchasing, finance online direct deposit and online payroll services audit archives analysis for planning multiple company reporting foreign currency exchange and reporting

	Graphics and multimedia software Standardization NOT: fonts, colors (color library). We are still in a stage of mixed entrepreneurship and standardization, plagued by buzzwords that change frequently. Computer Aided Design (CAD, AutoCAD) Desktop publishing software (Professional) Page layout: WYSIWYG versus Logical design The text denigrates typesetting, but typesetting is the general discipline that includes bookmaking, book design, and many other tasks, of which page layout is one. Page layout, as described in our text, is a what you see is what you get process. Professional book designers use a rule-based approach to ensure consistent quality and style throughout a publication. TeX, SGML, XML, MathML: typesetting languages TeX is used in computer science, mathematical sciences, natural sciences, and engineering publishing by professional publishers http://www.tug.org/  SGML is used by professional publishers for work that does not intensively require mathematical or other special symbols.   HTML is based on SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) and is used for layout of electronic documents on the World Wide Web.  XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a markup language written using the experience of SGML and HTML. These are documented at http://www.w3c.org  XHTML is an rewrite of HTML 4.0 based on XML. MathML is an application of XML for rendering mathematics in a browser on the World Wide Web.  It is for support of computer algebra systems, print typesetters, and voice synthesizers. LaTeX, CSS: Logical layout, following style files or style sheets that specify rules for consistent design. http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/doc/html/ltx3info/node2.html LaTeX is used as the typeset output of SGML for The Publisher from ArborText, Grif, and the Euromath consortium mathematician's workbench.  Microsoft Publisher: WYSIWYG What You See Is What You almost Get Image Editing Software (Professional) Paint Paint Shop Pro Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Video and audio editing software, used by TV stations. Expensive. Multimedia authoring software. Macromedia Authorware, Macromedia Director Shockwave Studio. Web page authoring software. Adobe GoLive
	Software for home, personal, and educational use Integrated software: Simplified, bundled software. MS Works, AppleWorks. Perhaps a better generic name for these kinds of products is "Personal Productivity Package" (PPP or P3) or "Personal Productivity Software". Incompatible with MS Office or Corel PerfectOffice. There is a cheap, incompatible version for most full-feature applications packages.  Incompatibility is imposed to preserve market for full-feature applications.  These packages are part of a "bait and switch" sales tactic. Personal finance Legal: wills, power of attorney, medical advisory, rental agreements Tax preparation: includes state taxes as well as federal taxes Desktop Publishing Paint / Image Editing Software, Clip Art / Image Gallery Educational / Reference / Entertainment Home Design / Landscaping
	Application Software for Communications Groupware (GroupWise is an example) Urgent message Notify. [Instant messaging] File and hardware sharing (printers, CD writer, scanner). Calendar and appointments. Digital voice mail. Remote access to own computer. Electronic mail mail server email address: userName@domainName Web browsers Transmit, receive, format messages using HTTP (Key to browsing). Search for key words in a displayed web page. Save copies on demand of selected web pages. Catalog web sites for future reference. Save brief log of recently visited web sites. Store temporary copies of recently visited web sites. Provide encryption and decryption for secure transactions. Interface to email server. Miscellaneous Forums: Static or interactive.  Chat Rooms: text, voice, video.  Newsgroups.  Videoconference. Video telephone call.
	Application Software on the Web: Software application on the Web that is used remotely rather than downloaded, installed, and used locally. Yahoo! Maps and Driving Directions: http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py  TurboTax: http://www.turbotax.com Fee for value-added service, or rental based on access registration, fixed period of time, or usage time. Web-Based Training (See Chapter 11.) Application Service Providers: Third-party organization that manages and distributes software and services on the Web. If you have an IT or MIS department that has too much power in your organization and is expensive to maintain, you can consider an ASP to reduce costs.  Caution: the IT department can easily torpedo this kind of effort. Easiest to select when deciding on a new application. Requires reliable Internet connection and vendor server.
	Computer Science, Science, and Engineering Computing in Science and Engineering http://www.computer.org/ciseportal/  Signal Processing tutorials http://www.computer.org/ciseportal/sig/tutorials.htm  Electrical Engineering: IEEE Spectrum http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/index.html  JAN 2001 issue is on Networking
	Learning aids and support tools Online Help Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Wizard Tutorial (On some distributions)