MODULE 1.
4 SOFTWARE 21-01-2022
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
Programs that perform specific task for us as users
You can buy ready-made software that is powerful and easy to use
Ex Microsoft Office 10 or Office 365
1 Multimedia software
Use to create or view multimedia content(e.g. HTMLL)
(combines text, sound, drawings and video to communicate)ex iPad
2 Communications software
Is used to make electronic communications simple, effective and
efficient
e.g. Outlook, Google Chrome, Safari, WhatsApp VoIP, Skype
3 Compatibility issues
A huge variety and different types of software can cause problems
With compatibility
Reasons for compatibility issues:
Every company has a different way to encode data in files
When software opens a file it expects data to be encode in a
Certain way.
Software expects data to be encoded in a certain way
If encoding is not what is expected -error message or a scrambled
document
Solutions to compatibility issues
Export-save document in another format
Import-“Open with” open file in another format
Upgrade – Have the latest versions or consider subscription
Standardise- Everyone in organisation use the same version of software
4 SOFTWARE BUGS
An error or fault in the program
Tools for combatting software bugs
TESTING “Beta” version of software are tested by the public
ERROR REPORTING -use error reporting facilities
KEEPING SOFTWARE UP TO DATE-update contain bug fixes that
makes software work better
5 UPDATING YOUR SOFTWARE
Check the ’Help’ or ‘About’ menu for updates
If connected to the internet, the software will check If an update is
Available
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Service packs versus updates
Service packs Updates
Collections of all the previous Software regularly check for
updates for the last period of updates
time (6 months or 1 year)
Pretty much a thing of the past Updates are automatically
downloaded and installed
6 ONLINE SOFTWARE
‘Cloud computing’ and ‘Web applications’ describe where software
Actually runs on servers and on the internet
Advantages of online software
Software is always up to date
You don’t have to download or install anything
Can access your data from any computer anywhere in the world
Disadvantages of online software
Can only be used if you have internet connection
No internet connection – cannot access software or your data
No control over data security/backup policy
May have to pay monthly fees to use it
7 GOOGLE DOCS
Free software that gives you access to a web-base word processor
8 Web applications - blogs
Online publishing tools
Good practices when blogging
Update your blog frequently-keep it fresh!
Interact with your readers- look at their comments and respond
Link to your sources and other sites of interest
Advantages
Blogs provide a quick way of sharing and communicating ideas
They can be used for personal as well as business reasons
They can be used for social change and promote freedom of
expression
Disadvantages
Need to keep a blog constantly update to maintain interest
Responses posted can be worthless
Postings appear from newest to oldest-oldest postings can get “lost
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SOFTWARE FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED USERS
Modern operating systems contain special settings and utilities that
help make the computer easier for disabled people to use
Magnifying an area of the screen to make it easier to read
Text to speech(narration)
Making the mouse cursor larger to see it easier on the screen
Sticky Keys, Slow Keys and even on-screen display
Speech recognition of voice control of the computer
Many companies design software with features similar to those built
into the operating system
These programs improve upon what the operating system offers
E.g. camera tracking- where software tracks your head movement
WRITTEN MODULE ACTIVITY (p53)
Module 1.4 Software
Written module activity
1. The World Wide Web is often loosely referred to as the multimedia content part of the internet.
What do we mean by the term multimedia?
1. Multimedia content is content that combines text, sound, images, drawings, animations and
movies to communicate ideas and concepts to a user.
2. Give three examples of web browsers.
2. Edge, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, etc.
3. Give an example of VoIP software.
3. Skype, FaceTime, etc.
4. What do we mean when we say that programs are not compatible with each other?
4. It means that the files from the one program cannot be opened or read by the other program.
5. Your teacher received a sample work scheme from the department but she could not open it.
Someone suggested she try to import the document into her word processor.
(a) How does importing differ from just opening the document as normal?
(a) The import function of the program would need to be used to change the format
(encoding) of the document into a format that is compatible with the word processor.
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(b) Another option to get around the compatibility problem would be to ask the department
to save the document in the version of the word processor that the teacher uses and
resend it to her.
What would the department have to do to get this document in the same version as the
one used by the teacher?
(b) They would have to export it by using the Save As function to save the document in the
format that the teacher’s software can use.
6. A friend who takes Information Technology said that just about all software has bugs in it.
Briefly explain what a software bug is.
6. A (software) bug is a term used to describe an error or fault in the program caused by the way it
was written or programmed.
7. Give two reasons why people would want to update their software.
7. To get the latest ‘fixes’ for the bugs in the current version of the software and to obtain new,
additional features.
8. Your operating system lets you know it wants to update to apply a security patch.
What is a ‘patch’ in this context?
8. A patch is software designed to fix an error or bug in existing software (the operating system in
this case) by updating a program or part of it.
9. Google Docs is an example of online software.
(a) What do we mean by online software?
(a) This refers to a scenario where software actually runs on servers on the internet. You see
the interface of the software in your web browser and use the software as if it is running
on your computer.
(b) Give three applications included with Google Docs.
(b) A word processor, spreadsheet and presentations editor.
(c) Give four potential disadvantages of using online software.
(c) If you do not have an internet connection you are unable to access the software or your
data.
You no longer have control over security of your data or the backup policy if the files
created with the software are also saved online.
You may have to ‘rent’ the software.
The software might not have all the features or abilities of locally installed software.
It might run much slower, depending on the speed of your internet connection.
(d) Give four advantages of using online software such as Google Docs.
(d) The software is always up to date.
You don’t have to download or install anything.
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It does not take up space on your local storage.
You can use the software and access your data from any computer anywhere in the world
as long as you have an internet connection.
10. One can find blogs covering a wide variety of topics .
(a) Briefly explain what a blog is.
(a) Blogs (or Weblogs) are online publishing tools.
(b) How can bloggers make money via their blogs?
(b) Blogs can make money mainly through advertising but also through sponsorship and
subscriptions.
(c) Give two examples of blogging software.
(c) Squarespace, Blogger or WordPress.
(d) Give four good practices to use to attract people to read and return to your blog.
(d) Update your site frequently.
Interact with your readers – look at their comments and respond.
Be casual, informative and interesting.
Use catchy titles and graphics.
Have opinions and express them well.
Link to your sources and other sites of interest (and check that the links work).
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