COMPUTER SOFTWARE Section 1 “Application SW: End-User Applications” CHAPTER 4 1.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Section 1 “Application SW: End-User Applications”

CHAPTER 4

1

What is a Software?

• It is the general term for many kinds of programs used to operate and manipulate computers and their peripheral devices.

Types of Application & System Software

Application Software

Function-Specific Application

GeneralPurpose

Application Software

CustomCommercialOff-the-Shelf

(COTS)Open-Source

Application Software2- Based on how developed

1- Based on the function performed

Application Software Based on the function performed

Programs that perform common information processing jobs for end users , Also called productivity packages

E.g., word processing, spreadsheet

Database Management

Graphics programs

1- General Purpose Application programs

Web browsers, email

Examples:

groupware

Thousands of these packages support specific end-user applications in business and other fields.

Application to automate business processes

Web-enabled electronic commerce

Accounting ,financial, manufacturing applications

2 -Function-Specific Application Software

Enterprise Resource Planning

Examples:

Data mining , Knowledge management systems

Application Software Based on the function performed

Application Software Based on the way they developed

• Custom• Software applications developed within an organization for use by

that organization• The organization the writes the program code is also the

organization that uses the final software application.• Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS)

• Many copies sold• Minimal changes beyond scheduled upgrades• Purchasers have no control over specifications, schedule, or

evolution, and no access to source code or internal documentation• Product vendor retains the intellectual property rights of the

software• Open-source Software

• Developers collaborate on the development of an application using programming standards which allow anyone to contribute to the software

• As each developer completes a project, the application code becomes available and free to anyone who wants it

Software Suites and Integrated Packages

software suites:• Popular general-purpose application software• The most widely used productivity packages are

bundled together as software suites, such as Microsoft Office.

Advantages

1 .Cost less than buying individual packages

2 .All have similar GUI3 .Programs designed to

work well together

Disadvantages

1 .Many features not used2. Takes a lot of disk space

(bloatware)3. Can be very costly

Components of Top Software Suites

Integrated Packages

• The drawbacks of SW suites are one reason for the use of integrated packages.

• Integrated packages combine the functions of several programs into one package.• E.g., Microsoft Works, AppleWork

Advantages

1 .Many functions for lower price

2 .Uses less disk space3 .Frequently pre-installed

on PCs

Disadvantages

1. Limited functionality

Web Browsers

Software that supports navigation through point-and-click hyper-linked Web resources of

the internet, intranet and extranet.

Becoming the universal software platformfrom which end users launch:

Information searches

E-mail

Multimedia file transfer

Discussion groups

Other Internet-based applications

Sometimes called the “universal client”.

Search Engines

Google, Ask Jeeves, Look Smart, Lycos, Overture, Yahoo!

Browsers are used to gain accessto Internet search engines

Using search engines to find information has become an indispensable part of

Internet, intranet, and extranet applications

E-mail, Instant Messaging, Weblogs

• E-mail• Sending and receiving messages and attachments

via the Internet, intranet, or extranet.

• E.g.: Microsoft hotmail, Yahoo, Microsoft Outlook Express.

• Instant messaging (IM)• Receive electronic messages instantly.

• E.g.: ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger.

• Weblog or blog• It is a Web site of personal or noncommercial origin that uses a dated log format updated daily or frequently with new information about a particular subject or range of subjects.

Word Processing and Desktop Publishing

• Word Processing• Word processing packages computerized the process of

editing, creation, revision, and printing of documents by electronically processing text data.• E.g., Microsoft Word, Lotus WordPro, OpenOffice Writer.

• It allows the user to convert documents to HTML format for publication as a web pages.

• Desktop Publishing (DTP)• Produce printed materials that look professionally

published.• E.g., Adobe InDesign , Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXPress

Electronic Spreadsheets

Used by every business foranalysis, planning, modeling

Ex. Microsoft Excel , Lotus 1-2-3, OpenOffice Calc

Worksheet of rows and columns

Can be stored on local computers or a network server

Developing a spreadsheet requires designing theformat and developing the relationships (formulas)

Most help you develop charts and graphdisplays of spreadsheet results

Supports what-if questions

Presentation Graphics

• Presentation Graphics software packages help you:• Convert numeric data into graphics such as

line chart, bar chart or pie chart.• Produce a multimedia presentation of graphics,

photos, animation and video clips as well as publishing it to the World Wide Web.

• Ex. Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, OpenOffice Impress.

Personal Information Managers (PIM)

Manages schedules, appointments, tasks

Most have ability to access the Web and e-mail

Stores, organize and retrieve information about customers.

Some support team collaboration by sharing information with other PIM users (such as contact lists, schedules)

e.g., Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook

Is a SW for end user productivity and collaboration, and a popular application for PDA handheld devices.

Groupware

• Software that helps workgroups collaborate to accomplish group assignments.

• It support collaboration through e-mail, discussion groups & databases, scheduling, task management, data, audio and videoconferencing etc.

• E.g., Lotus Notes, , Microsoft Groove , Novell GroupWise.

• Groupware products rely on the Internet, intranet and extranet to provide the collaboration on a global scale by virtual team located anywhere.

• Collaborative capabilities are also being add to other SW to give it groupware-like features.• Microsoft Word keeps track of who made changes to the

document.

Software Alternatives

• Many businesses are finding alternatives to acquiring, installing and maintaining application SW purchased from SW vendors or developing their own SW in-house with their own SW developer employees.

• Application Service Providers.• Cloud Computing.• Software Licensing.• Open Source Software.

Application Service Providers (ASP)• Application service providers (ASPs)

• Companies that own, operate, and maintain application software and computer system resources (servers, system software, networks, and IT personnel) required to offer the use of the application software for a fee as a service over the Internet.

• Advantages of using ASP:• The low cost.• Shorter time to get Web-based application set up and

running.• The pay-as-you-go fee structure.• Reduce the need for much of the IT infrastructure that

usually needed to support application software.

Cloud Computing

• Is a style of computing in which software and virtualized hardware resources are provided as a service over the Internet.

• Users need not have knowledge of , expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure.

• Provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the SW and data are stored on the servers.

• Ex. Google Apps.• Cloud computing help the organization to lower

the costs of HW, SW and services by simply paying a provider only for what they use.

Software Licensing

SW purchased as COTS or accessed via an ASP must be licensed for use.

When company buys a software application, they have not purchased rights of ownership. Rather, they purchase a license to use the software under the terms of the software licensing agreement

Software usually licensed to protects the rights of the vendor: Intellectual property rights, Copyright and trademark.

Open Source Software

• Generically, open source refers to a program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open.

• Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community.

• When programmers can read, redistribute, and modify source code, the software evolves.

• Produces better software than the traditional commercial (closed) model, in which only a very few programmers can see the source.

• The proprietary approach to software development has hidden costs that often outweigh its benefits.

Open Source Software

• Open source software is not…• Shareware , Public domain software or a Freeware.

• OSS Is copyrighted & distributed with license terms• Sometimes carries a fee for packaging, distribution, or

support.

• Example of an open source software:

• OpenOffice.org• Developed by Sun Microsystems.

• Can be used for any purpose: personal, commercial, educational.

Questions ..

Read from Chapter 4 (Section 1)

Resources..