Application Software
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Application Software
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Consists of programs designed to make
users more productive and/or assist them
with personal tasks
Uses
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To make business activities more efficient
To assist with graphics and multimedia
projects
To support home, personal, and educational
taks
To facilitate communications
Application Software
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Forms of Application Software
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Packaged
• Mass-produced, copyrighted retail software
• Meets the needs of a variety of users
• Example, word processing and spreadsheet software

Custom
• Performs functions specific to a business or industry
• Companies use programmers to develop tailor-made
software
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Open-source
• Provided for use, modification, and redistribution
• No restrictions from the copyright holder regarding
modification of the software’s internal instructions
Forms, cont.

Shareware
• Copyrighted software that is distributed at no cost
for a trial period
• After the trial expires, the user sends a payment to
the program developer to continue use of the
software
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Freeware
• Copyrighted software provided at no cost by an
individual or a company

Public-domain
• Donated for public use and has no copyright
restrictions
System Software
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System Software serves as the interface
between the user, the application software,
and the computer’s hardware.
To use application software (ex. Word), your
computer must be running system softwarespecifically an operating system
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Examples
• Windows XP, 2000
• Linux
• Mac OS X
Operating System
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Every time you start a computer, the
operating system is loaded (copied) from
the computer’s hard disk into memory.
Once that OS is loaded, it coordinates all
the activities of the computer.
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Starting application software
Transferring data between input and output
devices and memory
While the computer is running, the OS
remains in memory.
Working with Application
Software
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The desktop is an on-screen work area that has a
graphical user interface
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GUI-Type of interface that allows a user to interact
with software using text, graphics, and visual images,
such as icons
An icon is a small image displayed on the screen
that represents a program, document, or some other
object.
A button is a graphical element that you activate to
make a specific action take place.
A menu contains a list of commands from which you
make selections

A command is an instruction that causes a program to
perform a specific action.
Working with Application
Software
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A window is a rectangular area of the screen that
contains data and information
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A file is a named collection of stored data,
instructions, or information. A file can contain text,
images, audio, and video.
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The top of the window has a title bar, which is a
horizontal space that contains the window’s name
A file name is a unique combination of letters of the
alphabet, numbers, and other characters that identify
a file.
A dialog box is a special window that provides
information, presents available options, or requests
a response.
Business Software
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Business Software is application software
that assists people in becoming more
effective and efficient while performing their
daily business activities.
Programs such as:
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Word Processing (MS Word)
Spreadsheet (MS Excel)
Database (MS Access)
Presentation Graphics (MS PowerPoint)
Software Suite (MS Office 2003)
Graphics and Multimedia
Software
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Software designed for a specific field of
work such as architects, desktop publishers,
and graphic artists
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Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Desktop Publishing Software
Paint/Image Editing Software
Video and Audio Editing Software
Multimedia Authoring Software
Web Page Authoring Software
Home, Personal, and
Educational Software
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Designed specifically for the home
user
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Inexpensive (less than $100)
Software suite (MS Works)
 Personal Finance (Quicken)
 Tax Prep (TaxCut)
 Desktop Publishing (The Print Shop)
 Photo Editing
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Communications Software
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Allow users to communicate and
share information with others
Email
 FTP
 Web Browser
 Video Conferencing
 Chat Rooms
 Instant Messaging
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Utility Programs
Considered system software
 Assist user with controlling or
maintaining the operation of a
computer, its devices, or its software.
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Antivirus
 Spyware Remover
 Internet Filters
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• Pop-up Blocker
• Anti-Spam
Web Applications
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Application software that runs on a
website
iNotes
 MapQuest
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User information is stored on a server
Memory and Storage Sizes
Storage devices hold data,
instructions, and information for future
use.
 Memory holds those items temporarily
 1 kilobyte=1,024 bytes
 1 megabyte=1,048,576 bytes
 1 gigabyte=1,073,741,824 bytes
 1 terabyte=1,099,511,627,776 bytes
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