Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Summary
Business Productivity Software
A
word processor
is used to create text-based documents.
Desktop publishing
software provides
more control over page layout than a word processor. A
spreadsheet
is a grid used to analyze and
present numeric data in
cells
. Spreadsheets use
formulas
to perform calculations.
A database is a structured collection of data. The data resides in
tables
, each of which contains
records
and
fields
. An application that creates databases is a
database management system
.
Data
mining
is the process of extracting useful information from a database. The most common type
of database is a
relational database
, which has multiple tables with relationships between them;
another type is a
hierarchical database
, which uses a tree structure made up of
nodes
.
A suite is a group of related applications, such as the applications in Microsoft Office. There are
other suites too, such as Adobe Creative Suite.
Accounting software
helps small businesses maintain their financial records.
Personal finance
software
helps individuals and families do the same.
Tax software
helps individuals and businesses
file their tax forms.
Graphics Software
Graphics software
is software that enables you to create and manipulate visual images.
Vector
graphics
are lines and shapes drawn mathematically, like in geometry. Vector graphics are small
and easily resizable but not realistic.
Raster graphics
, or bitmaps, are composed of a grid of colored
pixels
. They are large and don't
resize well but can be photorealistic. A raster graphic's size is its
resolution
(number of pixels
horizontally and vertically). It has a
color depth
, which is the number of bits required to describe
each pixel's color. Some file formats support
image transparency
,
image animation
, and/or
compression
. When a raster image is resized, it may become
pixelated
.
Presentation graphics software
enables you to create
slides
to use as visual aids in presentations.
Computer-aided design (CAD)
software is used to design 3D objects using vector-based draw-
ings. An object drawing starts out as a
wireframe
and then is
rendered
by having surface textures
and colors applied to it.
Other Types of.Software
Music applications such as iTunes can plan and manage not only music but also videos, podcasts,
and audio books. DVD player software can play movies from DVD discs on your computer. For
Windows Media Player to play DVDs, you must have a supported version of Windows or purchase
a
codec
. To edit your own audio and video files, a variety of free and low-cost programs are avail-
able, as well as higher-end professional tools.
Legal software
helps people draw up basic legal documents that are valid in their location.
Reference software
provides a collection of information, such as a dictionary or an encyclope-
dia.
Educational software
can teach new skills and expand your knowledge through lessons and
tutorials.
