GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES CHAPTER 1 WORD PROCESSING DATABASE SPREADSHEET GRAPHICS PRESENTATION WEB AUTHORING DESKTOP PUBLISHING

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing Need for GPPs STORAGE Much information can be stored in a small space. FOUNDATION RETRIEVAL Data accessed quickly (random/direct) & accurately COMMUNICATING large Quantities of Information To make decisions - all data can be searched, sorted & displayed as required.

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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.

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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 FOUNDATION

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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 GENERAL

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing Human Computer Interface Keyboard Shortcuts Perform functions by pressing keys rather than menu/ icon selection e.g. CTRL button plus S to SAVE Customising HCI Allows you to change the look of your desktop to suit yourself Change icon size Mouse tracking speed Background colour / pattern / photograph CREDIT CTRL

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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 CREDIT

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing Selection of Packages Main purpose of each package Word ProcessingProduces text documents e.g. letters DatabaseStoring, searching & sorting data SpreadsheetStoring numbers, performing calculations, charts GraphicsProducing graphics e.g. drawings, cartoons Web page creatorProducing web pages & web sites Presentation & MMProducing multimedia presentations e.g. sound Desktop PublishingDisplaying text, graphics with control & precision Expert Systems Storing & processing knowledge from a few experts FOUNDATION

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing Overlapping of Packages Word Processingalso deals with graphics Databasecan also do calculations & charting Spreadsheetcan also store data, sort & search Graphicscan also add text Choice of package used to perform a task depends on the hardware & software available - C GENERAL

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing Data Types Text (F) Number (F) Graphic (F) Audio (G) Photographic (G) Animation (C) Video (C) MY CAR IS GREAT!!

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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 FOUNDATION

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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 GENERAL

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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. FOUNDATION 

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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! GENERAL

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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 CREDIT

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing 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

GENERAL PURPOSE PACKAGES Standard Grade Computing And there’s more…. Can you wait for the next exciting chapter?