Transcript CSCI 1200 / ASSC 1000

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
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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
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hardcopy manuals.
help files.
online help.
context sensitive help.
Upgrade
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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
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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 :
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using a pointing device (e.g. a mouse)
1984, Macintosh™
Win 3.1 & Windows 95™
Windows, Icons, Menus, and Pointing
devices
• GUI
Word Processing
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entering
editing
formatting
proofreading
saving
Terminology
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WYSIWYG
word wrap
cut & paste
clipboard
Fonts & Formatting
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Font Face
Point Size : 72 pts = 1 inch
Serif vs. Sans Serif
Monospaced vs. proportional
Soft fonts vs. Printer fonts
Formatting Paragraphs
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Justification
Widow / Orphan
Tabs & Indents
Paragraph spacing
Formatting Documents
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Headers & Footers
Page Numbering
Style Sheets
Auto format, hyphenate, correct.
Writing Tools
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Outline
Thesaurus
Digital Reference
Spelling Checkers
Grammar and Style Checkers
More Writing Tools
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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.
Spreadsheets
• 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
Column
A
Cell Range
C2:D5
Row 8
Cell - D11
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.
Information Visualization
• 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.