Transcript COMPUTER HARDWARE

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
GRAPHICS
GENERAL
PURPOSE
PACKAGES
WEB AUTHORING
DATABASE
WORD PROCESSING
CHAPTER 1
PRESENTATION
SPREADSHEET
DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
What is a GPP?
SINGLE PURPOSE PACKAGE
• Has only one function
• You cannot add any information e.g. a game
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGE
• Allows you to complete many different tasks
• You supply the data e.g. word processing documents
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Need for GPPs
STORAGE
Much information can be stored in a small space.
RETRIEVAL
Data accessed quickly (random/direct) & accurately
COMMUNICATING large Quantities of Information
To make decisions - all data can be searched, sorted &
displayed as required.
Standard Grade
FOUNDATION
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Need for GPPs
GPPs allow us to have
• ACCURATE INFORMATION – G
e.g. calculations, sorting & searching, spell checkers etc
• UP-TO-DATE & COMPLETE INFORMATION – G
Data easily amended & added to
• DATA FLOW WITHIN / BETWEEN ORGANISATIONS – C
Easier to share electronic data rather than paper information
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Storage
NEED FOR BACKUP (F)
An extra copy of programs & data are kept for emergency use
e.g. data corruption, viruses, storage room damaged.
STANDARD FILE FORMATS (C)
Allows data to be transferred between different packages /
different computer systems.
 Text / ASCII – allows plain text to be transferred
 RTF (Rich Text Format)- formatting is also transferred
with the text e.g. bold, underline, centred etc.
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Human Computer Interface
How does the user & computer communicate?
USER FRIENDLY
It is easy to use the package? e.g. click icons / select from a menu
WIMP
Windows Icons Menus Pointer – easy to understand & use
TEMPLATE
A readymade blank document with place holders for text, graphics etc
WIZARD
Package feature that takes you step by step through a process e.g. reporting
Standard Grade
FOUNDATION
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Human Computer Interface
Online Help:
Advice when you have a problem
Online Tutorial
Teaches you how to work a new feature
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
WIMP
Toolbar
Select icons from top of package
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Human Computer Interface
Keyboard Shortcuts
Perform functions by pressing keys rather than menu/ icon selection
e.g. CTRL button plus S to SAVE
CTRL
Customising HCI
Allows you to change the look of your desktop to suit yourself
• Change icon size
• Mouse tracking speed
• Background colour / pattern / photograph
Standard Grade
Computing
CREDIT
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Software Integration
INTEGRATED PACKAGES – F
2 or more GPPs sold as a single package e.g. WP, DB, SS
LINKS BETWEEN TASKS - F
Different types of document open at the same time
COMMON HCI – F
Same key presses/menus/toolbars for each package =easy to learn
EASE OF TRANSFER OF DATA – G
Data easily transferred between applications….compatible file format
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Software Integration
Linkage involves sharing the same data in separate
packages in a software suite
STATIC LINKAGE
Change data in one package & it does not change in the other
i.e. the link has been broken
Dynamic Linkage
Change data in 1 package & data will change in the other
i.e. the link remains
Standard Grade
Computing
CREDIT
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Selection of Packages
Main purpose of each package
Word Processing
Database
Spreadsheet
Graphics
Web page creator
Presentation & MM
Desktop Publishing
Expert Systems
Standard Grade
Produces text documents e.g. letters
Storing, searching & sorting data
Storing numbers, performing calculations, charts
Producing graphics e.g. drawings, cartoons
Producing web pages & web sites
Producing multimedia presentations e.g. sound
Displaying text, graphics with control & precision
Storing & processing knowledge from a few experts
Computing
FOUNDATION
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Overlapping of Packages
Word Processing also deals with graphics
Database can also do calculations & charting
Spreadsheet can also store data, sort & search
Graphics
can also add text
Choice of package used to perform a task depends
on the hardware & software available - C
Standard Grade
GENERAL
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Data Types
Text (F)
MY CAR IS GREAT!!
Number (F)
Graphic (F)
Photographic (G)
15 500
Animation (C)
Video (C)
Audio (G)
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Social Implications
JOB TYPES
Many jobs now require IT skills to operate computers
CAREERS
Schools, colleges, universities offer IT related courses
RETRAINING
Staff need to learn to use new software & hardware
MAIL SHOTS (Junk Mail!)
Many customers are simultaneously sent identical mail but
with personal details added
Standard Grade
Computing
FOUNDATION
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Social Implications
EFFECTS ON EMPLOYMENT
Less staff can produce more work with computers
WORKING CONDITIONS
Quieter, cleaner offices with work to a higher standard
MORE PAPER
Mails shots allow companies to produce vast quantities of
mail to be sent to customers
Standard Grade
GENERAL
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Security & Privacy
You have the right, by law, to see any personal data
stored about you.
You have the right to have any errors corrected

Companies must take backups to prevent
any data loss.
Standard Grade
Computing
FOUNDATION
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Security & Privacy
Exceptions to Right of Access
• Safeguard national security
• Prevent & detect crime
• Collect taxes
Access Control
User ID & password entered to access to company data
Unauthorised Data Access
Hacking is breaking the law!
Standard Grade
GENERAL
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Security & Privacy
Data Protection Act
• Data subject: person about whom data is held
• Data controller: person company holding the data
• Data user: same as data controller
Computer Misuse Act
Against hackers & viruses
Copyright, Designs & Patents Act
Protects program creators against theft
Standard Grade
CREDIT
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Economic Implications
INITIAL COSTS – F
How much it costs to buy the equipment & software
REPLACEMENT COSTS - G
How much it costs to upgrade & replace broken equipment
RUNNING COSTS – G
Cost of using the system e.g. computer paper, ink/toner
STAFF COSTS – C
For operating computers & training for new software
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Advantages
Why use GPPs?
• Data can be processed QUICKLY & ACCURATELY – F
• Data can be amended easily (& tidily) – F
• Businesses can reduce their costs in the long term,
as productivity is increased – G
• Layout Flexibility – G
• Availability of Information – C
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
Common Features
Run application/ new / open file / save file / print file
–F
Insert/ amend/ delete/ change text appearance/
copy/ move/ header & footer – F
Print part of file / document – G
Print from page 2 to 4, even pages, current page
Standard Grade
Computing
GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES
And there’s more….
Can you wait
for the
next exciting chapter?
Standard Grade
Computing