Chapter 4: Application Software: Programs That Let You Work and Play

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

ASCII, pronounced "AS-key"), to represent each letter or character as an 8-bit (or 1-byte) binary code.

How do I uninstall a software program?

Always choose Uninstall for the software application you would like to delete from Program and Features in Control Panel or by right-clicking the program name on the Start menu in Windows 10.​

SaaS

Software as a Service (SaaS), the vendor hosts the software online and you access and use the software over the Internet without having to install it on your computer's hard drive. Because the program resides on a company's server and you run the program through your browser, you can run the program only when you're connected to the Internet. However, because the manufacturer updates the program on its server, you don't have to worry about manually upgrading the software yourself. Google Docs and Microsoft Office Online are examples of programs that are distributed in this way. SaaS programs are often free of charge but not as full featured as locally installed versions.

If I have an older version of software and someone sends me files from a newer version, can I still open them?

Software vendors recognize that people work on different versions of the same software. Vendors, therefore, make new versions backward compatible, meaning that the new versions can recognize (open) files created with older versions. However, some software programs are not forward compatible, so these older versions are not able to recognize files created on newer versions of the same software. Files created on newer versions of software can be recognized by older versions if the correct file extension is chosen under Save As Type

vertical market software.

An application exists for almost every aspect of business. There are specialized programs for project management software, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), e-commerce, marketing and sales, finance, point of sale, security, networking, data management, and human resources, to name just a few. Figure 4.19 lists many of the common types of business-related software. Some applications are tailored to the specific needs of a particular company or industry. Software designed for a specific industry, such as property management software for real estate professionals, is called vertical market software.

What kind of software should I use to create illustrations?

Drawing (or illustration) software lets you create and edit 2D, line-based drawings. You can use it to create technical diagrams or original nonphotographic drawings and illustrations using software versions of traditional artistic tools such as pens, pencils, and paintbrushes. You also can drag geometric objects from a toolbar onto the canvas area to create images and can use paint bucket, eyedropper, and spray can tools to add color and special effects to the drawings.

What kind of software can be used for home or landscape planning?

Many software packages enable users to plan the layout of homes and landscapes. A simple, web-based, fairly full-featured, and free 3D modeling application is Trimble's SketchUp Make. SketchUp Make (sketchup.com) lets you create a 3D image of your dream home (see Figure

Remove manufacturer-specific software for updates or new information.

Some computer manufacturers install their own software. Some of these programs can be useful, but others are help features and update reminders that are also found in your operating system. You can remove any or all of these support applications and instead just check the manufacturer's website periodically for updates or new information.

software

Technically speaking, the term software refers to a set of instructions that tells the computer what to do

How is software created?

There are two main ways software is created. Proprietary (or commercial) software is created by companies for profit and then sold to you. You're probably familiar with buying products like Adobe Photoshop

copyleft

This concept of redistributing modified open source software under the same terms as the original software is known as copyleft. Thus, all enhancements, additions, and other changes to copyleft software must also be distributed as free software.

Anyone using open source software has access to the program's code.

Therefore, open source software programs can be tweaked by another user and redistributed. A free software license, the GNU General Public License, is required and grants the recipients the right to modify and redistribute the software. Without such a license, the recipient would be in violation of copyright laws

Spreadsheet software

Why would I use spreadsheet software? Spreadsheet software lets you make calculations and perform numerical analyses. For example, you can use it to create a simple budget, as shown in Figure 4.8a. Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice Calc are two examples of spreadsheet software

If not, you can use the Recovery utility included in Windows to create a recovery drive

You access these tools in Windows 10 by typing Recovery in the Cortana search box, and then selecting Create a recovery drive. When the Recovery Drive dialog box opens, click Next. Then insert a blank flash drive into a USB port and follow the steps in the wizard. Once the recovery drive has been made, label the flash drive and put it away in a safe place.

I've heard some friends talking about software that they got for free. Can you tell me more about free software?

You can use freeware, software that is available for free, and beta versions, free software that is still under development.

Is there some place where a student can get software at discounted prices?

You may be able to buy software that is no different from regularly priced software at prices that sometimes are substantially less than general consumer prices. You should try your college bookstore or campus computer store, which generally require a valid ID

Merchant apps

allow you to pay for products and manage loyalty rewards.

Accounting software

helps small business owners manage their finances more efficiently by providing tools for tracking accounts receivable and accounts payable. In addition, these applications offer inventory management, payroll, and billing tools. Intuit QuickBooks is an example of an accounting application. It includes templates for invoices, statements, and financial reports so that small business owners can create common forms and reports.

Open source software

is software that is available free of charge and with few licensing and copyright restrictions. One advantage of open source software is that a community of passionate users continues to make changes to the software based on user feedback. However, unlike proprietary applications, open source applications offer little or no formal support

wizard

walks you through the steps necessary to complete a task. At each step, the wizard asks you questions. Based on your responses, the wizard helps you complete that portion of the task. When you install software, you're often guided by a wizard.

beta version

Some software developers offer beta versions of their software free of charge. is an application that is still under development. By distributing free beta versions, developers hope users will report errors, or bugs, they find in their programs.

How can software help me manage my e-mail, time, contact lists, and tasks?

people need some form of personal information manager (PIM) software to help manage e-mail, contacts, calendars, and tasks in one place. Microsoft Outlook (see Figure 4.16) is a widely used PIM program. If you share a network at home or at work and are using the same PIM software as others on a common network, a PIM program simplifies sharing calendars and scheduling meetings.

Every software program has a set of system requirements

that specify the minimum recommended standards for the operating system, processor, primary memory (random access memory, or RAM), and storage. These requirements are printed on the software packaging or are available at the manufacturer's website. Before installing software on your computer, ensure that your system setup meets the minimum requirements as specified by the developer

Swift

Apple also has a powerful development environment for iOS, macOS, and watchOS, called Swift. Swift uses more concise code than some other programming environments. It has a feature that allows you to visually see the results of each line of code as you write it. Many professional developers like using Swift because the code works side-by-side with Objective-C, which is a major programming language used in many businesses.

What about installing software that I download from the Internet?

Downloaded software comes in one compressed file having everything needed for installing and running the program. Mostly, these downloaded files unzip themselves and automatically start the setup program.

Application software

is the software you use to do tasks at home, school, and work

What kinds of software are helpful for small business owners?

If you have a small business or a hobby that produces income, you know the importance of keeping good records and tracking your expenses and income

Uninstall preinstalled antivirus software

If you have antivirus software on your old computer, you may be able to transfer the unexpired portion of your software license to your new computer. If this is the case, you can uninstall the preinstalled trial version on your new computer.

custom installation

you can decide which features you want installed on your hard drive. Installing only the features you want saves space on your hard drive.

Subscription

you pay a fee to use the software for a certain period of time. It is then available for you to download and install on your computer. As soon as updates are available, the manufacturer pushes these new features to you. You can use the software without being on the Internet but can only receive updates when you're connected to the Internet. The Adobe Creative Cloud applications and the Microsoft Office 365 subscription service are examples of software distributed in this way.

Unless you're willing to deal with potential problems, it may be best to wait until the last beta version is released

—often referred to as the gold version. By that time, most of the serious bugs have been worked out

Need to Work as a Team? Try These Collaboration Tools

•UberConference (uberconference.com) is an app that facilitates group conference calls. You can easily share your screen with others in the conference, add another person during the conference, record the conference, and mute noisy callers. You can see everyone who is on the call and even view their social networking profiles. The free version accommodates up to 10 callers. •Slack (slack.com) is a messaging app that lets you organize your conversations into different channels. You can also transfer files, and links to cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox. The files you link into the conversation are searchable along with your conversations. It runs on mobile apps as well as in a web browser so you can stay in touch anywhere you work. •Trello (trello.com) is a visually oriented app used for managing projects. Unlike traditional project management apps, it features a board filled with lists, and each list is filled with cards representing tasks to be completed. It is easy to add checklists and due dates to cards as well as upload files to them. You can easily transfer cards between lists to show progress on various aspects of a project. You can invite as many people to your board as you want. You can then assign people immediately to cards to divide up work tasks. You can easily see an overview of your entire project just by glancing at your Trello board. The free version of the app offers a very powerful feature set (see Figure 4.21). •Scribblar (scribblar.com) is a multiuser whiteboard with live audio chat, which is great for holding virtual brainstorm sessions.

How to Open Unknown File Types

1.Use the search and navigation tools in File Explorer to locate the file you want to change. (For example, you can search for all Word files by searching for *.doc or *.docx.) Right-click on the file, and then point to Open with. 2.A list of programs installed on your computer appears. Click the program you want to use to open this file type. If you're sure the selected program is the one that should always be used for this file type, select Choose another app, which opens the How do you want to open this file? dialog box. Check the Always use this app to open [extension] files, and click the default program from the list.

If my computer crashes, can I get the preinstalled software back?

A recovery drive contains all the information needed to reinstall your operating system if it should become corrupted. Often the manufacturer will have placed a utility on your system to create this

restore point

A restore point doesn't affect your personal data files but saves all the apps, updates, drivers, and information needed to restore your computer system to the exact way it's configured at that time. That way, if something does go awry, you can return your system to the way it was before you started. You can create a restore point by using Windows 10 System protection tools. To create a restore point, open the Control Panel by right-clicking the Start icon on the taskbar. Next click System and Security, and then click System. In the left pane, click System protection to display the System Properties dialog box. On the System Protection tab, click the Create button, type a description for the restore point (such as "Before installing [name of software]"), and click Create. You will be notified when the restore point is created

program

An instruction set, also called a program, provides a means for us to interact with and use the computer, even if we lack specialized programming skills.

Unicode

By using 16 bits instead of 8 bits, Unicode can represent nearly 1,115,000 code points and currently assigns more than 128,000 unique character symbols. As we continue to become a more global society, it is anticipated that Unicode will replace ASCII as the standard character formatting code.

Corona

Corona SDK (coronalabs.com) is a powerful, free programming environment that has been used to develop games and business apps. Corona comes with a large library of application programming interfaces (APIs) that can be used as building blocks to make writing computer code less time-consuming (although you'll actually have to learn the Lua programming language). The Composer GUI is a visual editor for Corona, which makes it even easier to create apps without doing as much actual coding. Corona supports all major platforms including iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

Where is the best place to buy software?

Depending on which device you're purchasing software for, there are many different software outlets. If you have a machine with an optical drive (a DVD or Blu-ray reader), you may want to go to a brick and mortar store for your software. Software for gaming consoles is still sold on discs, for example. However, the most popular way to purchase software now is through an online download. Manufacturers' websites offer their full product line as electronic downloads, with the option to add an optical disc as a backup. Software for mobile devices is sold electronically through centralized stores for each operating system. Apple runs the iTunes store, and Google administers the Google Play site. These sites see over 78 billion downloads a year (

How do I ensure that the software I buy will work on my computer?

Ensure that you have the set of system requirements of sufficient storage, memory capacity, and processing capabilities for the software you are installing.

As of yet, there's no such thing as an official software police force, but if you're caught with pirated software, severe penalties do exist. A company or individual can pay up to $150,000 for each software title copied. In addition, you can be criminally prosecuted for copyright infringement, which carries a fine of up to $250,000, a five-year jail sentence, or both.

Failure to activate your serial number or attempting to activate a serial number used previously results in the software going into a "reduced functionality mode" after a certain number of uses. This usually precludes you from doing useful things like saving files created with the software.

software piracy

Historically, the most common way software has been pirated has been by borrowing installation discs from others and installing the software on other computers. Larger-scale illegal duplication and distribution by counterfeiters are quite common as well. In addition, the Internet provides various ways to copy and distribute pirated software illegally.

Is discounted software for students available?

If you're a student, you can buy substantially discounted software that is no different from regularly priced software. Campus computer stores and college bookstores offer discounted prices to students who possess a valid student ID. Online software suppliers such as Journey Education Marketing (journeyed.com) and Academic Superstore (

desktop publishing (DTP) software

If your business requires the need for newsletters, catalogs, annual reports, or other large, complicated publications, consider using desktop publishing (DTP) software. Although many word processing applications include some of the features that are hallmarks of desktop publishing, specialized DTP software, such as Adobe InDesign, allows professionals to design books and other publications that require complex layouts.

Can I get software for free legally?

In addition to open source software, freeware is copyrighted software that you can use for free. Explore sites like FileHippo (filehippo.com) to see how many good freeware programs are available. However, while much legitimate freeware exists, some unscrupulous people use freeware to distribute viruses and malware

Students who will be taking standardized tests like the SAT often use test preparation software.

In addition, many computer and online brain-training games and programs are designed to improve the health and function of your brain. Lumosity (lumosity.com) is one such site that has a specific "workout" program that you can play on your PC or smartphone. Brain Age (brainage.com) has software for the Nintendo DS and is designed for players of all ages.

How is software distributed? Software is distributed in three main ways:

Local installation, Saas(Software as a service), and Subscription

bloatware

Manufacturers often include software on new computers that you don't want or need. this software can slow down your computer and degrade its performance.

What types of programs are available to train people to use software or special machines?

Many programs provide tutorials for popular computer applications (you may even use one in your course provided with MyLabIT). These programs use illustrated systematic instructions to guide users through unfamiliar skills in an environment that acts like the actual software, without the software actually being installed.

Microsoft Office is a very successful set of productivity programs and is offered as installed software or as a fully online version

Microsoft Office Online. Google Docs is a strong competitor for purely online products. The open source option LibreOffice is free to download and install and is supported by an active community.

Note-Taking Software

Microsoft OneNote is a popular note-taking and organizational tool you can use for research, brainstorming, and collaboration, as well as just organizing random bits of information. Using OneNote, you can organize your notes into tabbed sections

How do I recover software that I installed on my device if it crashes?

Most app marketplaces keep track of the software you've purchased. If your device crashes, you can log in to the marketplace and reinstall software you've previously purchased.

What kinds of graphs and charts can I create with spreadsheet software?

Most spreadsheet applications let you create a variety of charts, including basic column charts, pie charts, and line charts, with or without 3D effects (see Figure 4.9). In addition to these basic charts, you can make stock charts (for investment analysis) and scatter charts (for statistical analysis) or create custom charts.

How do businesses use database software?

Most websites rely on databases to keep track of products, clients, invoices, and personnel information. Often, some of that information is available to a home computer user. For example, at Amazon, you can access the history of all the purchases you've ever made on the site. Shipping companies let you search their online databases for tracking numbers, allowing you to get instant information on the status of your packages. These functions require well-designed databases

How do I uninstall a program?

On the Start menu, right-click the app and select Uninstall.

How do I use spreadsheet software?

Spreadsheet Software Why would I use spreadsheet software? Spreadsheet software lets you make calculations and perform numerical analyses. For example, you can use it to create a simple budget, as shown in Figure 4.8a. Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice Calc are two examples of spreadsheet software. (Web-based options are available within Google Docs and Office Online.) One benefit of spreadsheet software is that it can automatically recalculate all formulas and functions in a spreadsheet when values for some of the inputs change. For example, as shown in Figure 4.8b, you can insert an additional row in your budget ("Membership") and change a value (for September Financial aid), and the results for "Total Expenses" and "Net Income" recalculate automatically. Because automatic recalculation lets you immediately see the effects different options have on your spreadsheet, you can quickly test different assumptions. This is called what-if analysis. Look again at Figure 4.8b and ask, "If I don't get as much financial aid next semester, what impact will that have on my total budget?" The recalculated cells in rows 18 and 19 help answer your question. In addition to financial analysis, many spreadsheet applications have limited database capabilities to sort, filter, and group data. Spreadsheet shows cash flow for college. Figure 4.8 Spreadsheet software lets you easily calculate and manipulate numerical data with the use of built-in formulas. Source: Excel 2016, Windows 10, Microsoft Corporation Figure Full Alternative Text Description How do I use spreadsheet software? The basic element in a spreadsheet program is the worksheet, which is a grid consisting of columns and rows. As shown in Figure 4.8a, the columns and rows form individual boxes called cells. Each cell can be identified according to its column and row position. For example, a cell in column A, row 1 is referred to as cell A1. You can enter several types of data into a cell: •Text. Any combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces. Text is often used as labels to identify the contents of a worksheet or chart. •Values and dates (numerical data). These values can represent a quantity or a date/time and are often the basis for calculations. •Formulas. Equations that use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division operators, as well as values and cell references. For example, in Figure 4.8a, you would use the formula = D8-D17 to calculate net income for November. •Functions. These help you develop your formulas. Adding a group of numbers (SUM) or determining the monthly loan payment (PMT) can be done using built-in functions. This frees you from needing to know the detailed mathematics behind the calculation. In Figure 4.8a, to calculate the total of all expenses for September, you could use the built-in summation function =SUM(B10:B16).

What software can I use to prepare my taxes?

Tax preparation software, such as Intuit TurboTax and H&R Block Tax Software, lets you prepare your state and federal taxes on your own. Both programs offer a complete set of tax forms and instructions, as well as videos that contain expert advice on how to complete each form. Each company also offers free web-based versions of federal forms and instructions. In addition, error-checking features are built into the programs to catch mistakes. These can help you file worry-free because they can also run a check for audit alerts, file your return electronically, and offer financial planning guidance to help you plan and manage your financial resources effectively in the following year

To determine whether you have a pirated copy of software installed on your computer, conduct a software audit

The Business Software Alliance website (bsa.org) has several free third-party software audit tools that help you identify and track software installed on your computer and networks. These programs check the serial numbers of the software installed on your computer against software manufacturer databases of officially licensed copies and known fraudulent copies. Any suspicious software installations are flagged for your attention.

What are some tips to make a great presentation?

Use images: Images can convey a thought or illustrate a point. Make sure any text over an image can be read easily. •Be careful with color: Choose dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background. Avoid using text and background colors that clash. •Use bullets for key points: Limit the number to four to six bulleted points per slide. Avoid full sentences and paragraphs. •Consider font size and style: Keep the font size large enough to read from the back of the room. Avoid script or fancy font styles. Use only one or two font styles per presentation. •Keep animations and/or background audio to a minimum: They can be distracting.

computer-aided design (CAD)

What types of software do large businesses use? An application exists for almost every aspect of business. There are specialized programs for project management software, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), e-commerce, marketing and sales, finance, point of sale, security, networking, data management, and human resources, to name just a few. Figure 4.19 lists many of the common types of business-related software. Some applications are tailored to the specific needs of a particular company or industry. Software designed for a specific industry, such as property management software for real estate professionals, is called vertical market software. Table showing the common types of large business-related software. Figure 4.19 Common Types of Large Business-Related Software Source: Cacaroot/Fotolia; Maksym Yemelyanov/Fotolia; Spiral media/Fotolia; Khanisorn Chalermchan/123RF; Adimas/Fotolia; Nmedia/Shutterstock Figure Full Alternative Text Description What software is used to make 3D models? Engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) programs such as Autodesk's AutoCAD to create automated designs, technical drawings, and 3D model visualizations. Here are some cool applications of CAD software:

When is it time to upgrade software I own?

When software is sold by subscription or using the cloud-based SaaS model, you don't need to worry about upgrading because it's handled automatically. However, if you're using software that was installed locally to your hard drive, you'll need to make the upgrade decision yourself. Periodically, software developers improve the functionality of their software by releasing a software upgrade. Before upgrading, it's important to understand what's included in the upgrade and how stable the new software version is in its performance. Depending on the software, some upgrades may not be sufficiently different from the previous version to make it cost-effective for you to buy the newest version. Unless the upgrade adds features that are important to you, you may be better off waiting to

Some software is purchased with a single license to cover one person's specific use

You can't share these licenses, and you can't "extend" the license to install the software on more than one of your computers. Many manufacturers are now offering licensing bundles to allow several computers in one household to be installed with a legal copy. For example, Apple offers a Family Pack Software License Agreement that permits a user to install the purchased software legally on as many as five computers in the same household, and some versions of Microsoft Office come with a license that allows you to install the software on multiple computers in the same household. Businesses and educational institutions often buy multiuser licenses that allow more than one person to use the software. Some multiuser licenses are per-seat and limit the number of users overall, whereas others, called concurrent licenses, limit the number of users accessing the software at any given time.

Do I face any risks when I install or download beta versions and freeware from the Internet?

You must exercise caution when downloading freeware and beta versions as they may contain bug or viruses.

What's the difference between all the digital audio file types on my computer?

You probably have a variety of digital audio files stored on your computer, such as downloaded music files, audiobooks, and podcasts. These types of audio files have been compressed so they're more manageable to transfer to and from your computer and over the Internet. MP3, short for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, is a type of audio compression format and is the most common compressed digital format, but there are other compressed formats, such as AAC and WMA. You may also see uncompressed audio files on your computer, such as WAV or AIFF files. Uncompressed files—the files found on audio CDs, for example—have not had any data removed, so the quality is a perfect representation of the audio as it was recorded. Unfortunately, the file size is much larger than that of compressed files. Compressed formats remove data such as high frequencies that the human ear does not hear in order to make the files smaller and easier to download and store. MP3 format, for example, makes it possible to transfer and play back music on smartphones and other music players. A typical CD stores between 10 and 15 songs in uncompressed format, but with files in MP3 format, the same CD can store between 100 and 180 songs. The smaller file size not only lets you store and play music in less space but also allows quick and easy distribution over the Internet. Ogg Vorbis (or just Ogg) is a free, open source audio compression format alternative to MP3. Some say that Ogg produces a better sound quality than MP3.

What are the most common word processing applications?

You've probably used word processing software to create and edit documents such as research papers, class notes, and résumés. Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing program that you can buy and install on your computer. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, you might want to try an open source program such as Writer, from LibreOffice

simulation programs

allow you to experience or control the software as if it were an actual event. Such simulation programs include commercial and military flight training, surgical instrument training, and machine operation training. One benefit of simulated training programs is that they safely allow you to experience potentially dangerous situations such as flying a helicopter during high winds. Consequently, users of these training programs are more likely to take risks and learn from their mistakes—something they could not afford to do in real life. Simulated training programs also help prevent costly errors. Should something go awry, the only cost of the error is restarting the simulation

What software do I use to create a web page?

allows even novices to design interesting and interactive web pages without knowing any HTML code. Web authoring applications often include wizards, templates, and reference materials to help novices complete most web authoring tasks. More experienced users can take advantage of these applications' advanced features to make the web content current, interactive, and interesting. Adobe Dreamweaver is an installed program that both professionals and casual web page designers use. Squarespace is an online-based option that is full featured and easy to use.

software license

also known as an End User License Agreement (EULA), is an agreement between you, the user, and the software company (see Figure 4.4). You accept this agreement before installing the software on your machine. It's a legal contract that outlines the acceptable uses of the program and any actions that violate the agreement. Generally, the agreement states who the ultimate owner of the software is, under what circumstances copies of the software can be made, and whether the software can be installed on any other computing device. Finally, the license agreement states what, if any, warranty comes with the software.

Financial planning software

helps you manage your daily finances. Financial planning programs include electronic checkbook registers and automatic bill payment tools. With these features, you can make recurring monthly payments, such as rent or student loans, with automatically scheduled online payments. The software records all transactions, including online payments, in the checkbook register. In addition, you can assign categories to each transaction and then use these categories to create budgets and analyze your spending patterns. Intuit's installed and web-based products, Quicken and Mint (mint.com), are the market leaders in financial planning software (see Figure 4.17). Both are great at tracking and analyzing your spending habits and at offering advice on how to better manage your finances. With either, you also can track your investment portfolio. With Mint, you can monitor and update your finances from any computer with a private and secure setting. You can also access Mint on a smartphone or tablet, so access to your financial information is always convenient. Mint also provides access to a network of other users with whom to exchange tips and advice.

Multimedia software

includes digital image- and video-editing software, digital audio software, and other specialty software required to produce computer games, animations, and movies (see Figure 4.22). Many mobile and desktop software programs allow everyone, from beginner to professional, to create animations, videos, audio clips and images.

Adobe Illustrator

includes tools that let you create professional-quality creative and technical illustrations such as muscle structures in the human body. Its warping tool allows you to bend, stretch, and twist portions of your image or text. Because of its many tools and features, Illustrator is the preferred drawing software program of most graphic artists. Be sure to also explore Inkscape, an open source program similar to Illustrator. For touch-based devices there is a great collection of software for creating vector art. Apps like Paper and Concepts turn your tablet into a terrific tool for creating illustrations.

Audio-editing software

includes tools that make editing audio files as easy as editing text files. Software such as the open source Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net) lets you perform basic editing tasks like cutting dead air space from the beginning or end of a song or clipping a portion from the middle. You can also add special sound effects, such as reverb or bass boost, and remove static or hiss from MP3 files. These applications support recording sound files from a microphone or any source you can connect through the input line of a sound card.

template

is a predesigned form. Templates are included in many productivity applications. They provide the basic structure for a particular kind of document, spreadsheet, database, or presentation. Templates can include specific page layout designs, formatting and styles relevant to that particular document, and automated tasks (macros).

macro

is a small program that groups a series of commands so that they will run as a single command. Macros are best used to automate a routine task or a complex series of commands that must be run frequently. For example, a teacher may write a macro to sort the grades in her gradebook in descending order and to highlight grades that add up to less than a C average. Every time she adds the results of an assignment or a test, she can set up the macro to run through this series of steps.

Scratch

is another MIT programming environment that facilitates the creation of interactive stories, games, and animations that you can then share with an online community. The programming interface of Scratch is somewhat similar to that of App Inventor. Many elementary schools use Scratch to introduce young children to the ideas behind computer programming.

Proprietary (or commercial) software

is created by companies for profit and then sold to you. You're probably familiar with buying products like Adobe Photoshop

What do I use to create my own audio files? Digital audio workstation software

lets you create individual tracks to build songs or soundtracks with virtual instruments, voice recorders, synthesizers, and special audio effects, and these will end up as uncompressed MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files. Examples of DAWs include Apple GarageBand and Ableton Live. You can use these programs to record audio from live sources as well, such as riffs from your electric guitar or vocals.

Productivity software

lets you perform various tasks required at home, school, and business. The main types of productivity software include programs for word processing,What are the most common word processing applications? spreadsheet analysis, presentation software, database management, note-taking, and personal information management. In addition, financial planning software and tax preparation software are available for personal use.

image-editing desktop software

like Adobe Photoshop and Corel PaintShop Pro. A free alternative is Gimp (gimp.org), a download that has most of the features offered by the for-pay applications. Desktop photo-editing software offers sophisticated tools (see Figure 4.23) for tasks like layering and masking images (hiding parts of layers to create effects such as collages). Designers use these more sophisticated tools to create the enhanced digital images found commercially in logos and advertisements.

If you want to try your hand at creating your own video games right now at home

multimedia applications such as Unity and RPG Maker provide the tools you need to explore game design and creation. The program GameMaker (yoyogames.com) is a free product that lets you build a game without any programming; you drag and drop key elements of the new game creation into place. Alice (alice.org) is another free environment to check out; it lets you easily create 3D animations and simple games

app creation software

programming environments that can produce apps that run on various mobile devices. Many are approachable for beginners. MIT's App Inventor (which we use in the Make This exercises in this book) is an open source web application that makes it easy for beginners to create functional apps for Android devices (see Figure 4.26). Featuring a drag-and-drop interface, the application enables users to quickly begin developing powerful apps without actually knowing how to write program code

digital video-editing

refine your videos. Although the most expensive products (such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple's Final Cut Pro) offer the widest range of special effects and tools, more moderately priced video-editing programs often have enough features to keep the casual user happy. Apple iMovie and VivaVideo, for example, both have intuitive drag-and-drop features and numerous templates and effects that make it simple to create professional-quality movies with little or no training

System software

software that helps run the computer and coordinate instructions between application software and the computer's hardware devices. System software includes the operating system (such as Windows and macOS) and utility programs (programs in the operating system that help manage system resources

A full installation

sometimes referred to as a typical installation) copies all the most commonly used files and programs to your computer's hard drive

Do I need special software to take courses online? Although some courses are run from an individually developed website, many online courses are run using course management software

such as Blackboard, Moodle, and Canvas. In addition to traditional classroom tools such as calendars and grade books, these programs provide special areas for students and instructors to exchange ideas and information through chat rooms, discussion forums, and e-mail. In addition, collaboration tools such as whiteboards and desktop sharing facilitate virtual office hour sessions. Depending on the content and course materials, you may need a password or special plug-ins to view certain videos or demos.

How can software help with my presentations?

such as Microsoft PowerPoint (see Figure 4.11) or Apple's Keynote to create a slide show. Because these applications are simple to use, you can produce high-quality presentations without a lot of training. You can embed online videos, add effects, and even trim video clips without the need for a separate video-editing program.

Database software

such as Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft Access are powerful applications that let you store and organize data. Spreadsheet applications are easy to use for simple tasks such as sorting, filtering, and organizing data. However, you need to use a more robust, fully featured database application to manage larger and more complicated data that is organized in more than one table; to group, sort, and retrieve data; and to generate reports. Traditional databases are organized into fields, records, and tables,

The base-10 number system, also known as decimal notation

the system you use to represent all of the numeric values you use each day. It's called base 10 because it uses 10 digits—0 through 9—to represent any value.

programmers often use hexadecimal notation

to make these expressions easier to use. Hexadecimal is a base-16 number system, meaning it uses 16 digits to represent numbers instead of the 10 digits used in base 10 or the 2 digits used in base 2. The 16 digits it uses are the 10 numeric digits, 0 to 9, plus six extra symbols: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Each of the letters A through F corresponds to a numeric value, so that A equals 10, B equals 11, and so on.