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SOFTWARE Module 1.4

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SOFTWARE Module 1.4

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Content (1)• Choosing the right software

• The purpose of the software• Web-based applications versus installed application

s• Compatibility• System requirements

• Application software • Common applications• Software that enhances accessibility, efficiency and

productivity

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Content (2)• Fixing software problems

• Basic troubleshooting• Bugs – why we need to keep software updated• User-centred design

• Test and improve your knowledge

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT SOFTWARE

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The purpose of the software• Many applications available

• Often basic software could be adequate

• Sometimes you may need more advanced programs

Notepad MS Word 2010

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Web-based applications vs. installed applications

Advantages of web‑based applications

• Use the software from any computer / mobile device anywhere in the world (with Internet connection).

• Software always up‑to‑date.

• Don’t have to download or install application – saves storage space.

Disadvantages

• Software might not have all the features/ capabilities of traditional ‘desktop’ versions.

• Cannot work with the software if you do not have an Internet connection.

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Web-based applications – examples

• Google Calendar • Create and schedule events.• These schedules can be shared.• Add a location via Google Maps.

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Web-based applications – examples

• Office 360/365 and Google Drive• Web-based office suites from Microsoft and Google

respectively.• Create, edit and store documents, spreadsheets and presentations

on the Web.

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Web-based applications – examples

• Facebook apps• Apps (applications) that are written especially to work

within Facebook

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Web-based applications – examples

• Adobe Photoshop Express• Web‑based image editing app from Adobe

• can be used to edit photos on blogs and social networking sites directly.

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Compatibility • Software compatibility:

• Compatibility with the operating system• Compatibility between versions of the same application

• One can usually save files in older formats for compatibility (e.g. by using the Save As option).

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System requirements (1)• Minimum or recommended requirements.• E.g. Photoshop

Processor Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processorMemory 1 GB of RAMDisk space 1 GB of available hard disk space is necessary DVD-ROM drive The DVD-ROM drive is used to install the softwareGraphics requirements

1024 x 768 display (1280 x 800 recommended) 256 MB of video RAM

Operating system

Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista Home Premium (Service Pack 2 recommended), or Windows 7 or 8

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System requirements (2)

Additional software

QuickTime 7.6.2 software for multimedia features; plug-ins or expansions for games.

Connectivity A broadband Internet connection for online services.

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Written module activity

• Read pages 44 – 46

• Page 58: Complete questions 1 – 15

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APPLICATION SOFTWARE

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Common applications• Office suites• Word processing – create, edit, format or work with a

document.• Spreadsheet – budgeting, financial and business

planning, analysis.• Presentation – creating slides to get your message across

to an audience. • Database – collect, store, search, filter and report on data.

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Common applications• Productivity software for the mobile user • Lightweight versions of productivity software for mobile

devices. • Apple’s mobile versions

• Pages (word processor)• Numbers (spreadsheet)• Keynote (presentation software)

• Quickoffice and Documents To Go• Office suites for mobile devices.

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Common applications• Reference software• The Web much easier to use; mostly more up to date than

a CD/DVD. • Reference software has become very unpopular on

desktops and laptops; making a re‑appearance on mobile devices.

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Common applications• Web browsers • A web browser allows you to navigate and view content

(web pages) on the Web. • searching for information• interacting socially with friends by using social networking sites• using browsers in business and commerce • providing entertainment• running web‑based applications

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Common applications

• E-mail software• Basic e‑mail software – receive mail, read it, reply to it

and create your own messages. • Complex e‑mail software, such as Outlook – includes a

database of contacts, a to‑do list and a calendar function.

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Common applications

• Document management software – using the PDF

• Create your document using

whatever software you want to use.

• Then create a PDF file by • using the Save As option • using PDF creation software

• You can send it to anyone and they will see the document the way you created it (even if they do not have the software used to create the original document).

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Software that enhances accessibility, efficiency and productivity• Voice recognition software • Voice recognition – the ability to talk to the computer

and for it to ‘understand’ you.

Advantages

• Allows disabled users to control a computer by verbalising instructions.

• Enter text by dictating it rather than typing it.

• Situations where you can’t afford the distraction of looking at a screen and typing.

Limitations

• Have to invest a lot of time and effort to train the computer to recognise your voice.

• Background noise and a poor quality microphone can have a serious impact on the effectiveness.

• Need a good quality, high-speed Internet connection for voice recognition packages that make use of servers on the Internet.

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Software that enhances accessibility, efficiency and productivity• Voice recognition software

• Voice recognition on computer • Dragon Dictate series by Nuance software.• Some operating systems now include dictation voice

recognition that works in any software where you enter text.

• Voice recognition on smartphones and tablets• You can TELL your smartphone or tablet to do simple

things like make appointments, write SMS messages, search the Web and get weather updates.

• Using this software depends on a good Internet (3G) connection.

• Two popular examples: Siri and Dragon Mobile Assistant.

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Software that enhances accessibility, efficiency and productivity

• Note‑taking software• Allows you to mix text images, links to web

pages and sound bites, etc. • You can record a session that you are taking

notes in and it will synchronise the notes that you write with the recording.

• Examples: OneNote, Evernote

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Software that enhances accessibility, efficiency and productivity• Note‑taking software: features to look for – it

can • make handwritten notes • use handwriting recognition to convert

handwritten notes to typed text• use sound recording and synchronisation• insert sketches, pictures) and links or web pages• use OCR software on text in images• search for items in notes, even if they are

handwritten or if they are the text in photos• order and arrange your notes• synchronise between devices

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Software that enhances accessibility, efficiency and productivity

• Education or training software• Advantages:

• Work at your own pace.• Immediately assessed and given feedback.• Motivated to learn by the immediate feedback and

competition against yourself and others.

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Written module activity

• Read page 47 – 52

• Page 59, 60: Complete questions 16 – 31

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FIXING SOFTWARE PROBLEMS

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Basic troubleshooting

‘Freezing’ – non-responsive tasks or programs• The software seems to ‘freeze’

and become non-responsive.• The rest of the system works

fine.

Close the ‘frozen’ application by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete to force it to shut down.

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Basic troubleshooting

• Read‑only files• A file may appear as read-only when you load it from a read-only

location, such as a DVD.

Copy the file to another location and remove the read-only property or save it under a different file name.

• Software ‘crash’ • Reboot your system and try again.• Run the problem software with no other programs running.• Make sure your software is up to date. • Check the online forums and help system. • Inform the company’s support of the problem.

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Bugs – why we need to keep software updated• Any software will initially have bugs in it. These are not

viruses, but are ‘mistakes’ or errors that were introduced when the programmers wrote the system.

• Two common ways of fixing bugs in software: • A patch is an update that can be downloaded to fix a specific bug in

your software. • A service pack is a release of corrections and new features since the

release of the original software.

• Most programs allow you to download updates from the website of the vendor.

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User-centred design • Basic guidelines for practical use in user-centred design:

Layout

• Don’t put too much on a single page, slide, etc.

• Group related items together

• Use ‘white space’

• Use clear labels and headings

• Consistency

Font and colour

• Appropriate colour combinations

• No distracting colours and fonts

• Legible text sizes

• Use formatting to emphasize important concepts

Use of instructions and graphics

• Use simple concise language

• Use commonly known icons

• Use clear graphs, diagrams and tables

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User-centred design

• Some steps to include in the process of user-centred design:

• Put the needs of the user first.

• Create a sample interface. Get real users to use it and comment on it.

• Go back and make changes. Then test again. Repeat this until the final product is as good as it can get.

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Written module activity

• Read pages 53 – 57

• Page 60: Complete questions 32 – 37

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TEST AND IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE

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Written module activity