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
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