Application Software

Graphics and Multimedia

Software
 Power users
such as
engineers,
architects,
desktop
publishers and
graphic artists
often used
sophisticated
software that
allow them to
work with
graphics and
multimedia.
Graphics and Multimedia
Software
The programs often cost several
hundred dollars or more.
Many graphics and multimedia
programs incorporate user-
friendly interfaces and/or have
scaled-down versions, making it
possible for the home users to
create documents.
Computer-Aided Design
Computer-aided design (CAD)
software is a sophisticated type
of application software that assists
a professional user in creating
engineering, architectural, and
scientific designs.
CAD software eliminates the
laborious manual drafting that
design processes can require.
Desktop Publishing
Software
Desktop publishing (DTP)
software enables professional
designers to create sophisticated
documents that contain text,
graphics, and many colors.
Used for making high-quality color
documents like textbooks,
corporate newsletters, marketing
literature, product catalogs, and
annual reports.
Desktop Publishing
Software
Professional designers use DTP
software because it supports page
layout, which is the process of
arranging text and graphics in a
document on a page-by-page basis.
DTP software includes a color
library, which is a standard set of
colors used by designers and
printers to ensure that the colors
will print exactly as specified.
Paint/Image Editing
Software
Paint software, also called
illustration software, allows users to
draw pictures, shapes, and other
graphical images with various on-
screen tools such as a pen, brush,
eyedropper, and paint bucket.
Image editing software provides
the capabilities of paint software and
also includes the capability to
enhance and modify existing images
and pictures.
Photo Editing Software
Professional photo editing
software is a type of image editing
software that allows
photographers, videographers,
engineers, scientists, and other
high-volume digital photo users to
edit and customize digital photos.
Can be used for retouching,
cropping, removing red-eye, color
corrections, and filters.
Video and Audio Editing
Software
Video editing software allows
professionals to modify a
segment of a video, called a clip.
Users can reduce the length of a
video clip, reorder a series of
clips, or add special effects.
Video and Audio Editing
Software
Audio editing software lets
users modify audio clips, produce
studio-quality soundtracks, and
add audio to video clips.
Often includes filters, which are
designed to enhance audio
quality.
Multimedia Authoring
Software
Multimedia authoring
software allows users to
combine text, graphics, audio,
video, and animation in an
interactive application.
They often take the form of
interactive presentations, once
completed.
Web Page Authoring
Software
Web page authoring software
helps users of all skill levels
create Web pages that include
graphical images, video, audio,
animation, and other special
effects with interactive content.
They allow you to organize,
manage, and maintain Web sites.
Software for Home, Personal,
and Educational Use
A large amount of software is
designed specifically for home,
personal, or educational use.
This software is usually
inexpensive, less than $100, and
sometimes free.
Personal Finance Software
Personal finance software is a
simplified accounting program that
helps home users and small
office/home office users balance their
checkbooks, pay bills, track personal
income and expenses, set up budgets,
etc.
Reports can summarize transactions
by category, payee, or by time.
Offers financial planning features as
well.
Personal Finance Software
Most offer a variety of online
services.
◦ Users can track investments online,
compare insurance rates, and bank
online.
Online banking offers access to
account balances, provides bill
payment services, and allows you
to download monthly transactions
and statements.
Legal Software
Legal software assists in the
preparation of legal documents and
provides legal information to
individuals, families, and small
businesses.
It provides standard contracts and
documents associated with buying,
selling, and renting property; estate
planning; marriage and divorce;
and preparing a will or living trust.
Tax Preparation Software
Tax preparation software, which
is available both as packaged
software and as Web applications,
can guide individuals, families, or
small businesses through the
process of filing federal taxes.
After you complete a series of
questions and forms, the software
will search for errors and deduction
opportunities.
Desktop Publishing
Software
Many home and small business
users work with simpler DTP
software.
Personal DTP software helps
home and small business users
create newsletters, brochures,
flyers, advertisements, postcards,
greeting cards, etc.
Paint/Image Editing
Software
Personal paint/image editing
software provides an easy-to-
use interface, usually with more
simplified capabilities than its
professional counterpart,
including functions tailored to
meet the needs of the home and
small business user.
Photo Editing and Photo
Management Software
Personal photo editing software
allows users to edit digital photos by
removing red-eye, erasing blemishes,
restoring aged photos, adding special
effects, enhancing image quality, or
creating electronic photo albums.
With photo management software,
you can view organize, sort, catalog,
print, and share digital photos.
Clip Art/Image Gallery
Application software often
includes a clipart/image
gallery, which is a collection of
clip art and photos.
Some also include fonts,
animations, sounds, video clips,
and audio clips.
Video and Audio Editing
Software
Many home users work with
easy-to-use video and audio
editing software, which is much
simpler to use than its
professional counterpart.
Some operating systems include
video editing and audio editing
software.
Home Design/Landscaping
Software
Homeowners or potential
homeowners can use home
design/landscaping software
to assist them with the design,
remodeling, or improvement of a
home, deck, or landscape.
It includes hundreds of predrawn
plans that you can customize to
meet your needs.
Travel and Mapping
Software
Travel and mapping software
enables users to view maps,
determine rout directions, and locate
points of interest.
It is available both as packaged
software and as Web applications.
You can display maps by searching for
an address, postal code, telephone
number, or point of interest.
This software often provides driving
instructions, construction reports, and
calculates mileage, time, and
expenses.
Reference and Educational
Software
Reference software provides
valuable and thorough information
for all individuals.
◦ Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and
health/medical guides.
Educational software is software
that teaches a particular skill.
Used in grade schools and often
include games and other content to
make the learning experience more
fun.
Reference and Educational
Software
Computer-based training (CBT),
also called computer-aided
instruction (CAI), is a type of
education in which students learn
by using and completing exercises
with instructional software.
The military and airlines use CBT
simulations to train pilots to fly in
various conditions and
environments.
Entertainment Software
Entertainment software for
personal computers, game
consoles, and mobile devices
includes interactive games,
videos, and other programs
designed to support a hobby or
provide amusement and
enjoyment.
◦ Games, family trees, flight
simulators.
Web Applications
A Web application, or Web app, is
a Web site that allows users to
access and interact with software
from any computer or device that
is connected to the Internet.
Users interact with Web apps
directly at the Web site, referred
to as the host, through their Web
browser.
Web Applications
Web apps often
store users’ data
and information
on their servers,
which is
sometimes called
cloud storage.
Thousands of
games are
available as Web
apps.
Application Software for
Communications
One of the main reasons people
use computers is to communicate
and share information with others.
Web browser; e-mail; instant
messaging; chat room; text,
picture, video messaging; RSS
aggregator, blogging,
newsgroup/message board, ftp,
and video conferencing.
Learning tools for Application
Software
Online Help is the electronic
equivalent of a user manual.
When working with a program, you
can use online Help to ask a
question or access the Help topics.
Web-based Help provides updates
and more comprehensive
resources to respond to technical
issues about software.
Web-Based Training
Web-based training (WBT) is a
type of computer-based training that
uses Internet technology and
consists of application software on
the Web.
WBT is popular in business, industry,
and schools for teaching new skills
or enhancing existing skills.
Many Web sites offer WBT to the
general public.
Web-Based Training
Distance learning (DL) is the
delivery of education at one
location while the learning takes
place at other locations.
E-learning, short for electronic
learning, is the delivery of
education via some electronic
method such as the Internet,
networks, or optical discs.