Software

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Software

• Software is a computer program or set of
  instructions.
• Operating system software operates the computer
  hardware itself.
• Application software performs specific
  activities, such as word processing, games, web
  pages, or spreadsheets.

Software
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Take Note

• The minimum PC spec required to run software
• is usually written on the box check first
  before
• you buy (and bear in mind that it's often the
• absolute minimum).

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Operating system software

• All computers use an operating system. This is a
• complex program which controls the entire
  operation of
• the computer.
• Examples of well known operating systems are
• UNIX
• Microsoft Windows
• Windows NT

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Examples of Software Applications

• Word Processor
• The word processor is used to produce letters,
  reports, projects and so on. It has replaced the
  typewriter as the main way words are put on
  paper. Documents can be revised and corrected
  before they are ever printed. An existing
  document can be used as a template, or pattern,
  for a new one, so the user doesn't have to
  recreate standard documents from scratch each
  time.

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Word Processing Software

• Examples of Word Processing Software
• Microsoft Word
• AppleWorks
• Corel WordPerfect
• Lotus WordPro

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Examples of Software Applications

• accounts software
• computer-aided design (CAD)
• databases
• desktop publishing (DTP)
• audio CD output
• education software
• games

• graphics software
• multimedia software
• optical character recognition (OCR)
• spreadsheets
• video editing
• voice recognition
• word processing

We will look in more detail at some of these.
Software
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Examples of Software Applications

• Spreadsheet
• A spreadsheet is an application that organises
  numbers, as for example, in budgets, financial
  statements and sales records.
• Purpose
• organising numbers
• Major advantages
• can calculate for you using formulas
• auto-update of related numbers when data changes
• can display data in graphs and charts.

Software
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Some Spreadsheet Software

• Examples of Spreadsheet Software
• Microsoft Excel
• Lotus 1-2-3
• Claris Spreadsheet

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Some Software Applications

• Databases
• A database would be your choice to manage lists
  that are not entirely numeric, such as addresses
  and phone numbers, inventories or membership
  rosters. These could be sorted by name or city or
  postcode or by any individual item of information
  recorded. The data can be displayed in chart
  form, too.
• Purpose
• managing data
• Major advantage
• can change way data is sorted and displayed.

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Some Database Software

• Examples of Database Software
• FileMaker Pro
• Microsoft Access

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Some Software Applications

• Graphics
• Graphics programs deal with pictures, either
  static or moving, flat or 3D. There are an
  amazing number of different formats for images in
  the world and no one program can handle them all.
  
• Purpose
• to create and edit images.

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Some Software Applications

• Graphics
• Paint programs work with pictures on a
  pixel-by-pixel basis, where a pixel is the
  smallest dot on the screen. Such programs handle
  photographs and most clipart.
• Advantages
• control over each dot in the picture.
• Disadvantages
• angled lines are jagged, especially if enlarged.
• Example
• Microsoft Paint (Supplied with Windows)

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Some Software Applications

• Graphics
• Drawing programs, on the other hand, define
  images in terms of vectors, that is, equations
  that describe geometric shapes.
• Advantages
• does not get as fuzzy or jagged when the size is
  changed the file size is smaller.
• Disadvantages
• can't change the colour of a dot in the middle of
  a shape.
• Example
• Paint Shop Pro

Software
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Some Software Applications

• Presentation Graphics
• This kind of program links together a sequence
  of slides containing text and graphics, for
  example for a sales presentation or training. It
  includes a number of tools for creating graphics
  that are quite useful.
• Purpose
• turning information into visual form.
• Major Advantage
• pictures convey info faster than tables of
  numbers.

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Some Software Applications

• Presentation Graphics
• Examples of Presentation Graphics Software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• ClarisWorks Slide Show

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Some Software Applications

• Desktop Publishing
• Used to design books, leaflets,
• advertisements, posters.
• Examples
• Microsoft Publisher
• Adobe Pagemaker
• Quark Express.

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Some Software Applications

• Browser
• An Internet browser is a program that lets you
  navigate the World Wide Web. It displays web
  pages, keeps track of where you've been, and will
  remember places you want to return to.
• Purpose
• navigating the Internet.
• Major advantage
• can display graphics, which older internet
  applications don't
• keeps a list of places you want to return to.

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Some Software Applications

• Examples of browsers
• Internet Explorer
• Netscape Navigator.

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Some Software Applications

• Web creation software
• There are several software products available
  that you can use to make pages to put in your web
  space. Web page creation software varies widely
  in terms of its ease of use and depth of
  features some require you to understand HTML
  coding, others completely mask it.

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Some Software Applications

• Examples include
• Microsoft FrontPage
• Corel Web Designer
• Navigator Gold.

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Some Software Applications

• Anti-Virus Software
• Computer viruses are small programs that hijack
  a computer and use it to spread themselves.
• They are spread across networks and by exchanging
  floppy disks.
• Anti-virus software cleans the virus off the
  computer
• It is important to update the program regularly
  to deal with new viruses.
•  

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Some Software Applications

• Examples include
• Norton Anti-Virus
• Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus.

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Integrated Software and Suites

• Examples
• Microsoft Office
• AppleWorks.

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Integrated Software and Suites

• Advantages
• low cost
• consistent interface from one module to another
• the ability to share information between modules.
• Disadvantages
• each module is limited to basic functions
• may not be compatible with other popular
  software.

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Integrated Software and Suites

• A lot of lower-end software is often supplied as
  part of a bundled package (the PC itself and
  applications to run on it) but more specific
  applications will undoubtedly cost extra. Compare
  prices to find the best deal.

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In this section

• you will consider your software needs
• you will then go on to choose the software that
  best matches the tasks you have. 

Software