CSC134 PART 1 CHAPTER 6

• Application Software


  Software that enables users to perform specific tasks
• Not long ago, trained specialists were required to perform many of the operations you can now do with a personal computer
• Competent end users need to understand the capabilities of basic application software

  • Word processors
  • Spreadsheets
  • Presentation programs
  • Database management systems
• Software Types

  • Graphical User Interface (GUI)
  • Ribbon GUI
• GUI

  • Displays graphical elements called icons to represent familiar objects
• Common Features in Microsoft

  • Ribbons
  • Tabs
  • Groups
  • Contextual tabs
  • Galleries
  • Spell checkers
  • Alignment
  • Font and Font Sizes
  • Tables
  • Reports
• General Purpose Applications

  • Word processor programs
  • Spreadsheet programs
  • Presentation graphics programs
  • Database management systems (DBMS)
  • Browser
  • Communication software
• Word Processor Programs

  Create text-based documents
• Flyer Features

  • Spell Checker
  • Center-alignment
  • Grammar Checker
  • Fonts
  • Font Sizes
  • Word Wrap
  • Character Effects
• Report Features

  • AutoCorrect
  • Footnote
  • Header or Footer
  • Captions and Cross References
  • Tables
• Spreadsheet Programs

  Organize, analyze, and graph numeric data
• Sales Forecast Features

  • Worksheets
  • Text entries
  • Functions
  • Cells
  • Formulas
• Analysis Features


  • Workbook and worksheets
  • What-if Analysis
• Presentation Graphics Programs

  Combine a variety of visual objects to create visually interesting presentations
• Presentation Features

  • Document Theme
  • Animation
  • Templates
• Database Management Systems (DBMS)


  A collection of related data, the electronic equivalent of a file cabinet
• Two most widely used systems

  • Microsoft Access
  • OpenOffice Base
  • Apple FileMaker
  • Google Obvibase
• Database Features

  • Primary Key
  • Fields
  • Record
  • Table
  • Form
• Browser

  A special internet software connecting you to remote computers, opens and transfers files, displays text and images, provides an uncomplicated interface to the Internet and web documents
• Examples of browsers

  • Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
• Communication Software

  Use computers to communicate and share information with others
• Specialized Applications

  • Graphics Programs
  • Video Game Design Software
  • Web Authoring Programs
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Virtual Reality
  • Other Specialized Applications
• Graphics Programs


  Widely used in graphic arts
• Types of graphics programs

  • Desktop Publishing Programs
  • Image Editing Programs
  • Illustration Programs
  • Image Galleries
• Desktop Publishing Programs


  Also known as Page Layout Programs, mix text and graphics to create brochures, newsletters, newspapers and textbooks
• Popular programs

  • Adobe InDesign
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • QuarkXPress
• Image Editors


  Also known as Photo Editors, editing or modifying digital photographs
• Photographs


  Consist of thousands of pixels that form images known as bitmaps
• Popular image editors

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Corel PaintShop Pro
  • GIMP (GNU Manipulation Program)
  • Windows Live Photo Gallery
• Illustration Programs


  Drawing programs that create and edit vector images, geometric shapes or objects created by connecting lines and curves defined by mathematical equations
• Popular Illustration Programs

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • CorelDraw
  • Inkscape
• Video Editors

  Edit videos to enhance quality and appearance
• Well-known programs

  • Windows Live Movie Maker
  • Apple iMovie
  • YouTube Video Editor
• Video Game Design Software


  Helps organize thoughts, guide user through game design process, character development, environmental design
• Free / inexpensive video game design software

  • YoYo GameMaker
  • Stencyl
  • Unity
• Web Authoring Programs

  Used to create commercial websites, web page editors or HTML editors, WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)
• Most widely used programs

  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Microsoft Expression Web
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)


  A field of computer science that attempts to develop computer systems that can mimic or simulate human thought processes and actions
• In the future, robots with sophisticated artificial intelligence will handle everyday chores and you will program these robots using conversational English instruction
• Virtual Reality (VR)


  An artificial, or simulated, reality created in 3D by computers, striving to create a virtual or immersive experience by using specialized hardware that includes headgear and gloves