Software and Business Applications
CHAPTER 7
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Chapter Objectives
•Describe what software is.
•Explain the difference between system software and application software.
•Describe the various types of software applications
•Explain what Security software is.
•Describe planning involved in purchasing software.
•Explain software copyrights and licenses.
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What is Software?
The word software can be defined many different ways. If we
agree that the definition of a computer program is really a
set of instructions telling the computer what to do …
Software then, is made up of many of these programs that
work together to complete an overall task.
Tasks may include document creation, file management, and
Web browsing just to name a few.
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Software Categories
Software Categories

Software can be classified into two major categories:

System software that provides the basic control functions of
the computer.

Application software which is used by users to accomplish
specific tasks.
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System Software
System software is responsible for controlling and managing the individual
components of a computer system.

In general, system software consists of an operating system and some
fundamental programs such as disk formatters, file managers, display
managers, text editors, user management tools, and networking and device
control software.

System software is programs that help control the computer as a whole.
Examples of system software are operating systems like Windows 7, UNIX
and Mac OS. System software does not have to be an operating system.
System software could be device driver program that controls how a physical
computer device works or even a computer programming language.
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Application Software

Application software is used to accomplish specific user tasks
rather than controlling the computer system. Application
software may consist of a single program, or a collection of
programs that work closely together to accomplish a user task.
Examples include text processing, spreadsheets, photo editors,
databases, games and so on.

If you have heard the term ‘App’…it refers to application
software. The term application is a synonym for the word use.
A computer can have many uses and each use is really an
appropriate place for application software to be developed.
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System vs Application Software
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Types of Applications

Most computers provide basic applications for
performing certain user tasks. Although these
software applications are good, users may want
enhanced features that are not available in the
basic application included with the computer.
We will look next at the different types of
application software that is available.
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Types of Applications
Document Production Software

Document production software can be defined as
software that assists the user with designing,
creating, editing, printing and publishing all kinds
of documents. Document production software can
be further broken down into three main categories;
Word processing, Desktop publishing and Web
authoring.
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Types of Applications
Document Production Software

Word processing software is mainly used for producing letters,
reports, memos, and research papers. Word processing software
has become so complex that some software can also handle some
desktop publishing and web authoring as well. Microsoft Word is an
example.

Desktop publishing software is a kind of advanced word processor
that brings in the ability to create elaborate graphics and layouts in
addition to being able to handle text creation. QuarkXPress is an
example.

Web authoring software is used to create and maintain web pages to
publish on the Internet. Dreamweaver is an example.
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Types of Applications
Document Production Software
Microsoft Word
QuarkXPress
Dreamweaver
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Types of Applications
Spreadsheet Software

A spreadsheet uses rows and columns of numbers or data to create
a model or representation of a real situation.

The word "spreadsheet" came from "spread" in its sense of a
newspaper that covers two facing pages, extending across the center
fold and treating the two pages as one large one. The compound
word "spreadsheet" came to mean the format used to present bookkeeping ledgers—with columns for categories of expenditures across
the top, invoices listed down the left margin, and the amount of each
payment in the cell where its row and column intersect.
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Types of Applications

Spreadsheet Software
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Types of Applications

Spreadsheet Software
Some tasks that spreadsheets are used for are:
 Budgets
 Tracking
investments
 Grade books
 Loan payments
 Estimating project costs

Popular spreadsheet software titles include Microsoft Excel,
OpenOffice Calc and iWork Numbers.
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Types of Applications
Mathematical and Statistical Software

Software that performs mathematical or statistical calculations and modeling are especially
helpful to teachers, students, scientists and engineers. The ability to solve complex
calculations quickly and then display the computer modeling of the data is typical of this kind of
software

Some examples of mathematical and statistical software titles include STATISTICA, PASW
Statistics and SPSS Inc.
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Types of Applications
Financial and Tax Software

Financial software offers tools for tracking investments and financial transactions. The
software also keeps track of income and expenses, budgeting, investing and bill paying.

Some examples of financial software titles include Microsoft Money and Quicken.
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Types of Applications
Tax Preparation Software

Tax software is a specialized type of finance software that has one goal…to
do your taxes. Functionality includes finding deductions, expense tracking
and calculating tax payments.

Some examples of tax software titles include Turbo Tax and TaxAct.
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Types of Applications
Database Software

A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be
accessed, managed, and updated. A database contains information stored on a
computer. Databases are in use all around us. It is hard to go through a modern
day and not interact with some sort of database. Some examples of information that
is easily managed in a database:










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Library Card Catalog
Address Book
Customer Lists
Mailing Lists
Recipes
Insurance Claims
Product UPC codes
Customer Billing Data
Wireless Data Usage
EBay Auctions
Store Inventory
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Types of Applications
Database Software
Databases are made up of tables that store data in records.
Tables are made up of records (Row).
Records are made up of fields (Column).
Fields hold the data.
A record is a single row of related information for a single entity.
A field holds one piece of data that is relevant to the current record.
Some examples of database software titles include Microsoft Access, IBM DB2 and Oracle Database 11g to name a few.
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Types of Applications
Database Software
Databases are made up of tables that store data in records.
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Types of Applications
Graphics Software

Graphics software is designed to help the user create, edit and print
graphics. The term graphics refers to a picture, sketch, image,
clipart, photograph, drawing or icon that can be displayed on your
computer screen.

The amount and type of graphic software available has exploded in
the last ten years as the need for graphics for desktop publishing and
web pages keeps growing. As a result, graphics software can be
further broken down into the following categories.
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Types of Applications
Graphics Software

Photo editing software is used to fix or change photos. Modifying colors and contrast, cropping, removing red eye are
all features. Adobe Photoshop is an example of photo editing software.

Paint software is comprised of a set of computer based brushes, pens and paints for painting images on the
computer screen. Many web page designers and graphic designers use professional paint software as their primary
artistic tool. Corel Painter is an example of professional paint software.

Drawing software is made up of computer tools that create lines, shapes and colors. Drawings can be made into
logos, diagrams, flow charts, and schematics. Adobe Illustrator is an example of drawing software.

3-D graphics software is comprised of a set of computer tools for creating wireframes that represent threedimensional objects. 3-D graphics software can take the wireframe object and cover it with color and texture.
Lightwave is an example of 3-D graphic software.

CAD software stands for Computer-Aided Design is a unique type of 3-D graphic software that is designed for
engineers and architects who use computer software to create diagrams and blueprints. We can further define CAD
as the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. CAD describes the process
of drafting with a computer. AutoCAD is an example of CAD software.
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Types of Applications
Graphics Software Examples
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Types of Applications
Audio Software

Audio software is any software, that as you might guess, interacts with audio
files. Audio files can be music from your favorite CD, a voice recording, a
podcast or even just a sound that plays on your computer when a particular
task is executed.

Audio Editing software is software that includes the ability to record a
digital voice recording and then edit or manipulate that recording.
Sound recorder is an example of Audio editing software.

Music software is defined as software that used to play back a
variety of audio music files. This software has features such as
playback of multiple music formats, the ability to ‘rip’ or copy music
from CD’s to the computer hard drive, download new songs from the
Internet. ITunes is an example of music software
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Types of Applications
Video Manipulation Software

Typical video manipulation software has gained in popularity over the last
decade. Consumers love to record videos on their web cameras, personal
camcorders and phones and then edit and publish them on their computer.
The growth of websites like YouTube, sites that allow consumers to upload
videos to share, has further fueled this kind of software. Once videos have
been created, they can be uploaded to the Internet or copied to other media
such as a DVD.
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Types of Applications
Entertainment Software

When you think of entertainment software on the computer, most people
think of computer gaming. Computer game software is a huge industry
(Over $1 billion every month in North America alone), and is the most
popular type of entertainment software.

Computer gaming software is software that is produced for entertainment of
the user. The software can be simple or complex and falls into the following
sub categories.
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Types of Applications
Entertainment Software
Action
 Role-playing
 Puzzle
 Sports
 Simulation
 Adventure
 Strategy

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Types of Applications
Business Software

Business software is a general term that refers to vertical and horizontal market software, which
helps businesses and organizations accomplish routine or specialized tasks. Business software may
not be for the general consumer but is very important to all kinds of businesses.

Vertical market software is designed to automate specialized tasks in a specific market or business.
Vertical market software is aimed at addressing the needs of any given business within a specific
industry or market. Vertical market software is readily identifiable by the application specific graphical
user interface which defines it. One example of Vertical market software is point-of-sale software
which is software that is customized for a particular business and its clients
.

Horizontal market software is application software that is useful in a wide range of industries. This is
the opposite of vertical market software, which has a scope of usefulness limited to few industries.
Horizontal market software is also known as "productivity software”. Since horizontal market software
is developed to be used by a broad audience, is generally lacks any market-specific customizations.
Horizontal market software includes Bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting applications. Examples
include Peachtree Accounting and Microsoft Project.
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Types of Applications
Security Software

Security software is designed to protect computers from various forms of
destructive software and unauthorized intrusions also known as Malware.

Malware is defined as malicious software or a program that is designed to
enter a computer, gain access to data and disrupt normal processing.
Security software is constantly updated to keep up with the latest malware.

Malware refers to viruses, worms, Trojans, bots and spyware.

Security software is designed to combat all forms of malware and can be
classified as antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and firewall protection.
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Types of Applications
Security Software
Different forms of malware:

Virus: A virus is a set of program instructions that attaches itself to a file and then
spreads to other files within one computer.

Worm: A software program that replicates itself among computers. The program
executes unauthorized activity on the user’s computer.

Trojan: Computer program that’s seems to perform one function while actually doing
something else.

Bot: Software that can automate or start a task anonymously.

Spy ware: Software that secretly gathers personal information from the computer
without the user knowing.
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Purchasing Software
After looking at all the different software applications available,
which ones are most important to the computer user?
That can be a tricky question but at the minimum a user should have
the following software installed on their computer:




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Email Client
Internet Browser
Word Processing software
Security Suite
DVD burning software
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Purchasing Software
As a general rule, software suites offer the best
value.
Purchasing individual software titles can get
expensive. Software suites like Microsoft
Office include many excellent applications
bundled together.
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Purchasing Software
Always check the system requirements on a software title
before buying it. The system requirements are located on the
back or side of the software retail box. There is nothing worse
than buying the latest software only to find out it won’t run on
your system.
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Software Copyrights and Licenses
Software Copyrights and Licenses

All retail software has copyrights and licenses associated with it.

A copyright is a form of legal protection that grants the author of the
original work an exclusive right to copy, distribute, sell, and modify
that work. Purchasers do not have this right.

A software license is a legal contract that defines the way the user
may use the software. Most software is distributed under a singleuser license that limits use to one person at a time. Large
companies may opt for a site license. A site license is software that
is priced at a flat rate and allows the software to be installed on all
computers at a specific location.
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END OF CHAPTER SEVEN
End of chapter
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