Information Systems/Applications

Application Software are the most common programs that run in the foreground of the computer. They tend to perform useful tasks which are not associated with computer maintenance, system boot-up, or hardware communication. Application Software are the most familiar forms of software and come in a variety of types. Most often they can be accessed through the graphical user interface of the operating system being used by double-clicking on an icon. Some of the most popular examples include word processors, spreadsheets, photo-editing programs, database programs, and accounting programs to name a few.

Applications

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the applications portion of CLEP Information Systems include:

• Standard office suite tools (word processors, spreadsheets, presentation packages, end-user database packages)
• Office systems (e-mail, conferencing, cooperative work, document imaging, system resources, voicemail)

Readings

1. Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems/Application Software
2. Wikipedia: Productivity software
3. Wikipedia: Collaboration software
4. Wikipedia: Utility software
5. Wikipedia: Filename extension
6. Mobile app

Multimedia

1. YouTube: Computer Software: Application Software
2. YouTube: Google Docs - Tutorial - Learn the Basics
3. YouTube: Advantages and Disadvantages of Application Software
4. YouTube: How to use google drive / Beginners Tutorial
5. YouTube: LibreOffice 6.0: New Features

Activities

1. Use the built-in text editor to create and edit text files:
   • Windows: Review Microsoft: Open Notepad. Use Notepad to create a text file and save it under Documents.
   • macOS: Review Apple: Mac Basics: TextEdit. Use TextEdit to create a text file and save it under Documents.
   • Linux: Review Wikipedia: gedit. Use gedit to create a text file and save it under Documents.
2. Review Wikipedia: OpenOffice and How To Geek: OpenOffice vs. LibreOffice. Download and install an open-source office software suite. Then review LibreOffice.org: Documentation. Use the open source software suite to create a short document, spreadsheet, and presentation. Save the files under Documents.
3. Complete one or more of the following office suite tutorials for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software:
   • GCFLearnFree: Google Documents
   • GoFree: LibreOffice
   • GCFLearnFree: Microsoft Office
   • OpenOffice: Tutorials
4. Use screen sharing software to collaborate with other users:
   • Windows: Search the Internet for information on Chrome Remote Desktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or similar applications. Use one of these applications to share your desktop with another user.
   • macOS: Search the Internet for information on Chrome Remote Desktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or similar applications. Use one of these applications to share your desktop with another user.
   • Linux: Search the Internet for information on Chrome Remote Desktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, or similar applications. Use one of these applications to share your desktop with another user.
   • All: Use collaboration features in one or more of the cloud-based office software suites to share and edit documents amongst users in real time.
5. Use file compression software to compress and uncompress folders and files:
   • Windows: Review Microsoft: Compress and Uncompress Files. Create a Zip file and compress the text and document files created above. Compare file sizes between the compressed and uncompressed versions.
   • macOS: Review macOS Daily: How to Zip Files in macOS. Compress the text and document files created above. Compare file sizes between the compressed and uncompressed versions.
   • Linux: Review Ubuntu.org: File Roller. Use the Archive Manager to create a new .gz or .zip file and compress the text and document files created above. Compare file sizes between the compressed and uncompressed versions.
6. Use video conferencing software to collaborate with other users:
   • Windows: Search the Internet for information on Google+ Hangout, Skype, or similar applications. Use one of these applications to set up and join a video conference to collaborate with other users.
   • macOS: Search the Internet for information on FaceTime, Google+ Hangout, Skype, or similar applications. Use one of these applications to set up and join a video conference to collaborate with other users.
   • Linux: Search the Internet for information on Google+ Hangout, Skype, or similar applications. Use one of these applications to set up and join a video conference to collaborate with other users.
7. Back up and restore files.
   • Create a local system backup to a USB or NAS drive.
     • Windows: Review Microsoft: Back Up Your Programs, System Settings, and Files. Create a system image backup.
     • macOS: Review Apple: Time Machine Backs Up Your Mac. Configure Time Machine to back up your system.
     • Linux: Check to see if your distribution has a built-in GUI backup tool, or review How-To-Geek: How to Use rsync to Backup Your Data on Linux. Back up your system.
   • Restore a file or files to verify the backup.
   • Set up automatic file backups:
     • Windows: Review Backup and restore your files. Restore a file from backup.
     • macOS: Review How to Schedule an Automatic File Backup in a Mac. Restore a file from backup.
   • Schedule a system backup to run daily or weekly.
   • Research cloud backup alternatives.
8. Chrome OS explore and create Applications
   • Chrome OS applications [4] Explore and Create, Get Stuff Done, and Play Games

Research and Discussion

1. Compare proprietary and open-source office productivity suites (Google Apps, iWork, Libre Office, Microsoft Office, Open Office). Describe advantages and disadvantages of each. Which office productivity suite does your school or company use, and why?
2. Research leading collaboration software (email platforms, shared calendaring or time management, groupware, virtual meeting software, chat, social media, etc.). Identify which platforms or applications are in use in your work and personal environments. Consider whether these applications enhance productivity or detract from it.

Lesson Summary

• An application program (app or application for short) is a computer program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for the benefit of the user.
• Productivity software, or office productivity software, are application software dedicated to producing information, such as documents, presentations, worksheets, databases, charts, graphs, digital paintings, electronic music and digital video.
• Existing office suites contain a wide range of components. Most typically, the base components include a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program.
• Popular office suites include Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice, Microsoft Office and Google Docs.
• Collaborative software, or groupware, is application software designed to help people involved in a common task to achieve goals. It can be divided into three categories depending on the level of collaboration: communication, conferencing and co-ordination.
• Communication can be thought of as unstructured interchange of information. Examples of communication tools include synchronous conferencing, asynchronous conferencing, e-mail, faxing, voice mail, wikis, web publishing, and revision control.
• Conferencing refers to interactive work toward a shared goal. Examples of conferencing include Internet forums, online chat, instant messaging, telephones, video conferencing, data conferencing, and application sharing.
• Co-ordination refers to complex interdependent work toward a shared goal. Examples of co-ordination include electronic calendars, project management systems, online proofing, workflow systems, knowledge management systems, enterprise bookmarking, prediction markets, extranet, social software, online spreadsheets, and client portals.
• Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer.
• Utility software is a type of system software used to support the computer infrastructure, distinguishing it from application software which is aimed at directly performing tasks that benefit ordinary users.
• A filename extension is a suffix, separated from the base filename by a dot or space, used to indicate the file's content format or usage.
• Mobile apps are becoming more prevalent with the use of smartphones. More people use apps than search the internet: 51.1% vs. 49.8% respectively.

Key Terms

accounting software

Application software that records and processes accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and trial balance.

autocorrection

An automatic data validation and replacement function commonly found in word processors and text editing interfaces.

automatic recalculation

A feature which eliminates the need to manually request that a spreadsheet program recalculate values.

autosave

A function in many computer applications or programs which saves an opened document automatically, helping to reduce the risk or impact of data loss in case of a crash or freeze.

bar chart

A chart that presents grouped data with rectangular bars with lengths proportional to the values that they represent.

cell

A unit in a spreadsheet formed by the intersection of a row and a column.

cell address

Alphanumeric code used to identify a spreadsheet cell.

column

A vertical element in a spreadsheet.

concurrent

A software license that is based on the number of simultaneous users accessing the program. It typically deals with software running in the server where users connect via the network. For example, in a five-user concurrent use license, after five users are logged on to the program, the sixth user is prohibited.

conferencing

Used as an umbrella term for various types of online collaborative services including web seminars, webcasts, and peer-level web meetings.

database

An organized collection of facts and information such as text and numbers, and often can hold still images, sounds and videos or film clips.

desktop publishing (DTP)

The creation of documents using page layout skills on a personal computer.

electronic paper

Display technologies that mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper.

e-reader

A mobile electronic device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital e-books and periodicals.

equation solver

Software used to find values (numbers, functions, sets, etc.) that fulfill a condition.

formula

An expression that automatically calculates and displays a value based on the contents of other spreadsheet cells.

freeware

Copyrighted software that may be used free of charge.

function

A sequence of program instructions that perform a specific task, packaged as a unit.

groupware

Application software designed to help people involved in a common task to achieve goals.

information retrieval

Is the activity of obtaining information resources relevant to an information need from a collection of information resources.

instant messaging

A type of online chat which offers real-time text transmission over the Internet.

justification

A common type of text alignment where the spaces between words are stretched or compressed to align both the left and right ends of each line of text.

line chart

A type of chart which displays information as a series of data points connected by straight line segments.

macro key

A sequence of application or operating system instructions that is recorded or written once and then may be repeated using a keyboard shortcut or application interface button.

mail merge

A software operation describing the production of multiple documents from a single template form and a structured data source.

mathematical software

Software used to model, analyze or calculate numeric, symbolic or geometric data.

modeling

Representing a system using symbols and equations or calculations.

multiuser

A software license that allows more than one person to use the software. See concurrent use license, per seat license and EULA.

open source software

Software programs made up of source code which is made available to the public. i.e. Wikibook.

outliner

A computer program that allows text to be organized into discrete sections that are related in a tree structure or hierarchy and may be collapsed into a node, or expanded and edited.

page-layout software

The primary purpose of page layout software is to make it easy to combine text and graphics  when creating layouts for brochures, ads, newsletters, greeting cards, etc.

personal information manager (PIM)

A type of application software that functions as a personal organizer.

pie chart

A circular statistical graphic, which is divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportion.

presentation software

Productivity software used to display information in the form of a slide show.

programming tools

software in the form of programs or applications that software developers (also known as programmers, coders, hackers or software engineers) use to create, debug, maintain, or otherwise support software.

public domain software

A software program which is not copyright so it is accessible to all users and able to be duplicated.

row

A horizontal element in a spreadsheet.

scatter chart

A type of mathematical diagram using Cartesian coordinates to display values for typically two variables for a set of data.

shareware

A type of proprietary software which is provided (initially) free of charge to users, who are allowed and encouraged to make and share copies of the program, which helps to distribute it.

single-user

The authorization that grants one user the right to use a software package. It may grant the user the right to install the software on only one machine, or it may authorize installation on any number of machines as long as that same licensee is the only user.

software

Any set of machine-readable instructions that directs a computer's processor to perform specific operations.

software suite

A group of related programs that interact together and are purchased together.

speech recognition software

Software used for the translation of spoken words into text.

spell checker

Software that flags words in a document that may not be spelled correctly.

spreadsheet software

Productivity software used to perform the organization, analysis and storage of data in tabular form.

stack chart

A bar chart with the bars grouped (stacked) to show cumulative effect.

style

Predefined text formatting available in software applications.

template

A standardized non-executable file type used by computer software as a pre-formatted example on which to base other files, especially documents.

utility program

System software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer.

web based software

Software that is delivered on demand via the Web; also referred to as Software as Service (SaaS) or cloudware.

wizard

A user interface type that presents a user with a sequence of dialog boxes that lead the user through a series of well-defined steps.

word processing

Productivity software used to perform the composition, editing, formatting, and sometimes printing of any sort of written material.

word wrap

The process of breaking a section of text into lines such that it will fit in the available width of a page, window or other display area.

worksheet

A single array of data in spreadsheet software.

Review Questions

1. Productivity software, or office productivity software, is application software dedicated to _____.

   Productivity software, or office productivity software, is application software dedicated to producing information, such as documents, presentations, worksheets, databases, charts, graphs, digital paintings, electronic music and digital video.
2. Existing office suites contain a wide range of components. Most typically, the base components include _____.

   Existing office suites contain a wide range of components. Most typically, the base components include a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation program.
3. The names of some popular office suites are _____.

   Popular office suites include Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice, Microsoft Office and Google Docs.
4. Collaborative software, or groupware, is application software designed to _____.

   Collaborative software, or groupware, is application software designed to help people involved in a common task to achieve goals, such as email, calendaring, text chat, wiki, bookmarking, shared document storage, screen sharing, and video conferencing.
5. Communication can be thought of as _____. Examples of communication tools include _____.

   Communication can be thought of as unstructured interchange of information. Examples of communication tools are synchronous conferencing, asynchronous conferencing, e-mail, faxing, voice mail, wikis, web publishing, and revision control.
6. Conferencing refers to _____. Examples of conferencing include _____.

   Conferencing refers to interactive work toward a shared goal. Examples of conferencing are Internet forums, online chat, instant messaging, telephones, video conferencing, data conferencing, and application sharing.
7. Co-ordination refers to _____. Examples of co-ordination include _____.

   Co-ordination refers to complex interdependent work toward a shared goal. Examples of co-ordination include electronic calendars, project management systems, online proofing, workflow systems, knowledge management systems, enterprise bookmarking, prediction markets, extranet, social software, online spreadsheets, and client portals.
8. Utility software is system software designed to _____.

   Utility software is system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a computer.
9. Utility software is a type of system software used to support the computer infrastructure, distinguishing it from application software which is _____.

   Utility software is a type of system software used to support the computer infrastructure, distinguishing it from application software which is aimed at directly performing tasks that benefit ordinary users.
10. A filename extension is _____.

    A filename extension is a suffix, separated from the base filename by a dot or space, used to indicate the file's content format or usage.

Assessments

• Flashcards: Quizlet: Information Systems - Applications
• Quiz: Quizlet: Information Systems - Applications
• Flashcards: Quizlet: Microsoft Office 2016
• Flashcards: Quizlet: Welcome to Chromebooks
• Educationalera: System Software Quiz
• TestPreview: CLEP Quiz with Answers

See Also

• IT Fundamentals/Applications
• Wikibooks: Introduction to Computer Information Systems
• Lumen Learning: Computer Applications for Managers
• Educba: What is Application Software
• Bleeping Computer: What is a File Extension?

References

Type classification: this is a lesson resource.

Completion status: this resource is considered to be complete.

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