Application Software (Edexcel IGCSE Ict)

Office-productivity tools

Spec point — 1.3.4

What are office productivity tools?

• Office productivity tools are applications designed to enable common work related tasks to be carried out
• Office productivity tools are often combined into a single application suite

Word processing

• Word processing software is software used primarily for tasks involving text and images

• Common tasks include:

  • Letters
  • Reports
  • Essays
  • Books

• Examples of word processing applications include:

  • Microsoft Word
  • Google Docs

Spreadsheet

• Spreadsheet software is software used for tasks involving calculations

• Spreadsheets allow users to model financial situations and answer 'what if' questions

• Formulas and functions can be used to aid complex arithmetic calculations

• Examples of spreadsheet applications include:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Google Sheets

Desktop publishing

• Desktop publishing software is software used for tasks that involve complicated page layouts

• Common tasks include:

  • Newsletters
  • Leaflets

• Examples of desktop publishing applications include:

  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Adobe InDesign

Database

• Database software is software used to store data

• Common features include:

  • Data entry form design
  • Perform queries to select data that meet a certain criteria
  • Build reports to display data in a readable format

• Examples of database applications include:

  • Microsoft Access
  • Oracle MySQL

Web authoring software

Spec point — 1.3.4

What is web authoring software?

• Web authoring software is software designed to allow the creation of websites

• Websites are written in HTML and translated by web browsers to display in a way users can see and read

• Web authoring software gives users with little to no HTML experience tools to help them create web pages

• Uses a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) interface

• Examples of web authoring applications include:

  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Google Sites

Image editing & sound editing software

Spec point — 1.3.4

What is image editing software?

• Image editing software is software that allows users to manipulate and enhance digital photographs and images

• Common features include:

  • Resizing
  • Adjusting brightness & contrast
  • Applying filters
  • Red-eye removal
  • Cropping

• Examples of image editing applications include:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • GIMP

What is sound editing software?

• Sound editing software is software that allows users to edit audio files

• Common features include:

  • Cut and join audio clips
  • Alter volume
  • Change tempo
  • Add effects
  • Apply audio processing

• Examples of sound editing applications include:

  • Audacity
  • Adobe Audition

Presentation software

Spec point — 1.3.4

What is presentation software?

• Presentation software is software designed to allow users to create multimedia content that can be displayed typically on slides

• Common features include:

  • Transitions & animations
  • Presenter notes
  • Automatic or timed navigation

• Examples of presentation applications include:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Google Slides

Control software

Spec point — 1.3.4

What is control software?

• Control software is software that users sensors to capture inputs, processes them and outputs something

• They make something happen in the physical environment

• Outputs can be commands that control devices such as:

  • Actuators
  • Motors

• Commonly used in engineering, vehicles and building control

Project management software

Spec point — 1.3.4

What is project management software?

• Project management software is software designed make the organisation of projects more efficient by tracking individual tasks

• Common features include:

  • Timeline- shows a graphical representation of events and the time and order in which they occur
  • Critical path - allows a project manager to see the shortest time a project will take to complete
  • Milestones - a time or date by which a task must be completed

• Gantt charts are often used to visualise project timelines

Worked Example Describe how application software is different from systems software

[2]

Answer

• Application software is used to carry out tasks for the user [1]
• Systems software carries out tasks for the machine/computer [1]