Introduction to Information Technology
Dr. Nouran Radwan
Welcome!!
Lecture 3
Basic Application
Software
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify general-purpose applications.
2. Describe word processors, spreadsheets, presentation
programs, and database management systems.
3. Describe specialized applications, such as graphics, web
authoring, and video game development programs.
4. Describe mobile apps and app stores.
5. Identify software suites.
6. Describe office suites, cloud suites, specialized suites, and
utility suites.
Introduction
• 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 including:
– Word processors
– Spreadsheets
– Presentation programs
– Database management systems
Application Software
Application Software– is end user software that is used
to accomplish a variety of tasks
• Three categories
• General Purpose Applications – word processing,
spreadsheets, presentation graphics and database
management systems.
• Specialized Applications– tend to be more focused
and used in specific areas and disciplines
• Mobile Apps– add-on features or programs designed
for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
User Interface
• Graphical User Interface
(GUI) consists of:
• Icons
• Pointer
• Windows
• Menus
• Menu bar
• Toolbars
• Buttons
• Dialog Boxes
Common Features in Microsoft
• Ribbon GUI
• Ribbons
• Tabs
• Groups
• Contextual tabs
• Galleries
• Spell checkers
• Alignment
• Font and Font Sizes
• Tables
• Reports
General Purpose Applications
• General purpose applications include:
• Word processor programs
• Spreadsheet programs
• Presentation graphics programs
• Database management systems
Word Processor Programs
• Create text-based documents
– Memos, letters, and reports
– Newsletters, manuals, and brochures
• Word processing programs
– Microsoft Word
• Most popular
– Apple Pages
– Google Docs
– OpenOffice Writer
Creating a Flyer
• Flyer Features
• Spell Checker
• Center-alignment
• Grammar Checker
• Fonts
• Font Sizes
• Word Wrap
• Character Effects
Creating a Report
• Report Features
• AutoCorrect
• Footnote
• Header or Footer
• Captions and Cross
References
• Tables
Spreadsheet Programs
• Organize, analyze, and graph numeric data
• Budgets and Financial Reports
• Spreadsheet programs
• Microsoft Excel
• Most widely used
• Apple Numbers
• Google Sheets
• OpenOffice Calc
12
Creating a Sales Forecast
• Features
• Worksheets
• Text entries
• Functions
• Cells
• Formulas
Analyzing Your Data
• Analysis Features
• Workbook and
worksheets
• What-if Analysis
Presentation Graphics Programs
• Combine a variety of visual objects to create visually
interesting presentations
• Presentation programs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• OpenOffice Impress
• Apple Keynote
• Google Slides
• Prezi
Creating a Presentation
• Presentation Features
• Document Theme
• Animation
• Templates
Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• A collection of related data
• Electronic equivalent of a file cabinet
• Two most widely used systems
• Microsoft Access
• OpenOffice Base
• Apple FileMaker
• Google Obvibase
Creating a Database
• First steps is to plan
• Database Features
• Primary Key
• Fields
• Record
• Table
• Form
Specialized Applications
• Programs that more narrowly focused on specific disciplines
and occupations
• Includes:
• Graphics Programs
• Web Authoring Programs
Graphics Programs
• Widely used in graphic arts
• Types of graphics programs are:
• Desktop Publishing Programs
• Image Editing Programs
• Illustration Programs
• Video Editors
Desktop Publishing Programs
• Also known as Page Layout Programs
• Mix text and graphics to create publications
• Popular programs:
– Adobe InDesign
– Microsoft Publisher
– QuarkXPress
Image Editors
• Also know 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
• Create and edit vector images
– Vector illustrations
• 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
• Can now use your smartphone to
edit videos
• Well-known programs
• Microsoft’s Story Remix
• Apple iMovie
• Adobe Premier
Video Game Design Software
• Video Game Design Software
• Organize thoughts
• Guide user through game design
process
• Character development
• Environmental design
• Free / inexpensive video game
design software
• Unreal Game Engine 4
• Unity Development Kit
• CryEngine SDK
Web Authoring Programs
• Web authoring is the creation of a site
• Design
• Document file displaying website’s content
• Blog
• Online diary/commentaries
• Web Authoring Programs
• Typically used to create commercial sites
• Web page editors or HTML editors
• WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)
• Most widely used programs
• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Microsoft Expression Web
Mobile Apps
• Mobile Applications or Mobile Apps
• Add-on programs for a variety of mobile
devices
• Smartphones or tablets
• Apps
• Breadth and scope are ever-expanding
• 500,000 just for iPhone
• Music, videos, social networking, shopping,
games
App Stores
• App Stores
• Provides access to mobile apps for
downloads
• Apple’s App Store
• Apple Devices
• www.apple.com/itunes/charts
• Google Play
• Andriod Devices
• Play.google.com/store/apps
Software Suites
• Collection of separate application programs
• Bundled together – sold as group
• Four types of suites
• Office suites or office software suite / productivity
suites
• Microsoft Office
• Apple iWork, OpenOffice
• Cloud suites or online office suites
• Google Docs (Making IT Work for You), Zoho,
Microsoft Office 365
Suites continued
• Specialized suites
• Focus on specific applications
• Corel Draw Graphics Suite X6
• Moneyfree Software TOTAL Planning Suite
• Utility suites
• Designed to make computing easier and safer
• Norton Systems Works
• Norton Internet Security suite
Making IT Work for You - Google Docs
• Tool to create and collaborate with
others
• Creating /sharing documents
• Free and easy to use
• Free Google account
• Free online storage
Careers In IT
• Software Engineers
• Analyze users’ needs and create application
software
• Attributes
• Bachelor’s or specialized advanced associate’s
degree in computer science or information systems
• Extensive knowledge of computers and
technology
• Good communication and analytical skills
• Web application experience
• Analytical skills
• Earning potential of $67,000 to $100,000 annually
A Look to the Future
• VR and AR Applications in the Workplace
• Reducing our needs to physically visit the
office
• Drastically changing and improve the way
business is conducted
• Could even remove the need for VR and
AR glasses in the near future
Open-Ended Questions
1. Explain the difference between general-purpose
and specialized applications.
2. Discuss general-purpose applications including
word processors, spreadsheets, database
management systems, and presentation graphics.
3. Discuss specialized applications, including
graphics programs, video game design software,
web authoring programs, and other professional
specialized applications.
True or False
1. Application software is designed for end users to accomplish specific tasks. →
True
2. Specialized applications are general programs like Word and Excel. → False
3. A spreadsheet is mainly used to organize, analyze, and graph numeric data.
→ True
4. Database Management Systems (DBMS) are the electronic equivalent of a
file cabinet. → True
5. Mobile apps are only available on desktop computers. → False
6. Utility suites are designed to make computing easier and safer. → True
7. Presentation graphics programs cannot include animation. → False
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
• Q1. Which of the following is a general-purpose • Q3. Which software is used to design websites
application? with a WYSIWYG interface?
a) Adobe Photoshop a) Microsoft PowerPoint
b) Microsoft Excel b) Adobe Dreamweaver
c) Unity Game Engine c) Apple Keynote
d) Adobe Dreamweaver d) CorelDRAW
Answer: b) Microsoft Excel Answer: b) Adobe Dreamweaver
• Q2. Which feature belongs to word processors? • Q4. Which suite is designed to protect and
a) What-if Analysis secure computers?
b) AutoCorrect a) Office Suite
c) Animation Templates b) Cloud Suite
d) Primary Key c) Specialized Suite
Answer: b) AutoCorrect d) Utility Suite
Answer: d) Utility Suite
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
• Q5. Which of the following is an example of a • Q7. Which software is most commonly used for
specialized suite? creating numeric analysis and financial reports?
a) Microsoft Office a) PowerPoint
b) Google Docs b) Excel
c) CorelDRAW Graphics Suite c) Word
d) Norton Internet Security d) Dreamweaver
Answer: c) CorelDRAW Graphics Suite Answer: b) Excel
• Q6. Video editing software is mainly used to: • Q8. A collection of related data stored
a) Create spreadsheets electronically is known as:
b) Enhance quality and appearance of videos a) Spreadsheet
c) Draw vector illustrations b) Database
d) Manage databases c) Presentation
Answer: b) Enhance quality and d) Graphic Design
appearance of videos Answer: b) Database
Project
• Make a presentation with in a group of 4-5 persons about one
of these topics:
• Internet Of Things
• Cloud Computing
• Data Mining
• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence in Health Care
• Artificial Intelligence in Decision Making
