Warranty

• buyer beware.

• software manufacturers limit their liability for software problems by selling their software “as is”.

• can’t guarantee error free software.

Ownership

• you don’t buy the software – license.

• End User License Agreement

• terms of use - including the warranty disclaimer.

Ownership

• Shareware – try before you buy.

• Freeware – free to use, don’t own.

• Open Source - code available.

• Public Domain - no copyright protection.

• Copyright / Copy protection

Documentation

• hardcopy manuals.

• help files.

• online help.

• context sensitive help.

Upgrade

• updating.

• new features, corrections, etc.

• version numbering.

• cheaper than a new license.

Kinds of Software

• System Software:• Operating systems (Wiindows, UNIX,etc) • “talk” to the hardware

• Application Software :• use operating system and hardware to do

something, MS Word, netscape etc.

Integrated & Bundled Apps

• Integrated packages.

• suites / bundles.

• multipurpose software, like MSOffice • Word processing • Database • Spreadsheet • Graphics • Internet access

Integrated & Bundled Apps

• costs less than buying the applications individually.

• data is transferable between modules.

• commands are usually the same.

Custom Applications

• more specific.

• Vertical Market software : • Medical billings. • Library cataloging. • Banner for universities.

Computer Interfaces

Text Based Interfaces: • typing commands• character based display• MS DOS, Unix, Linux

• Shell – between user and the OS• Multi-user operating systems

Computer Interfaces

Graphical Interfaces :• using a pointing device (e.g. a mouse) • 1984, Macintosh™ • Win 3.1 & Windows 95™ • Windows, Icons, Menus, and Pointing

devices • GUI

Word Processing

• entering

• editing

• formatting

• proofreading

• saving

Terminology

• WYSIWYG

• word wrap

• cut & paste

• clipboard

Fonts & Formatting

• Font Face

• Point Size : 72 pts = 1 inch

• Serif vs. Sans Serif

• Monospaced vs. proportional

• Soft fonts vs. Printer fonts

Formatting Paragraphs

• Justification

• Widow / Orphan

• Tabs & Indents

• Paragraph spacing

Formatting Documents

• Headers & Footers

• Page Numbering

• Style Sheets

• Auto format, hyphenate, correct.

Writing Tools

• Outline

• Thesaurus

• Digital Reference

• Spelling Checkers

• Grammar and Style Checkers

More Writing Tools

• Collaboration

• Handwriting

• Speech

• Other tools?

Desktop Publishing

• high quality printed documents.

• books, magazines, brochures, etc.

• Word processors – limited DTP, specialized tools are more power.

• advantages : cost, speed, control, accessibility.

Paperless Publishing

• web publishing.

• ebooks.

• digital paper.

• modeled after accounting ledgers:• dynamic ledgers.• 1979 : VisiCalc.• software sells hardware.• Apple Computers.• today - still using many of the same principles

as 20 yrs ago

Spreadsheets

• Basic features include :• automatic updating of calculations,

graphing results, built-in functions for common computations.

Spreadsheets

Cell :• intersection of a column and row.• cell address : A3 or GG567• Cell Range - denotes a contiguous group of

cells, identified by the cell address of the top left corner followed by the cell address of the bottom right corner.• worksheet / pages

Spreadsheets

Cell RangeC2:D5

Cell - D11

Column A

Row 8

Spreadsheets

• Data that can be entered in a cell• Text / Labels• Numbers : actual numerical values

(including dates and times)• Formulas.

Spreadsheets

• Formulas :• start with a special character to indicate

calculation. • can reference other cells = B4 + C1• dynamic : change as dependant values

change.• can use built in functions.

Spreadsheets

• depict information using spatial or graphical representations.

• facilitate comparison, pattern recognition, change detection.

• cognitive skills that make use of the visual system.

Information Visualization

Problem : How can we understand large datasets?

Solution : the human perceptual system, convert information into a graphical representation.

Information Visualization