Chapter 5: Productivity Applications

1968, Doug Englebart demonstrated the Augment system

• mouse
• video displaying editing
• mixed text and graphics, windowing
• outlining
• shared-screen video conferencing
• computer conferencing
• groupware
• hyperware

Word processing steps

1. entering text
• displayed text on screen and stored in the computer's RAM
• saves work periodically
2. editing text
• navigate different part of the document
• insert and delete text
• move and copy text
• search and replace words
3. formatting the text
• character measured by point size (1 point=1/72 inch)
• different kinds of fonts
• margin settings
• line spacing
• indents
• tabs
• justification- alignment of a text
• headers and footers
• automatic editing features
• table of contents
• style sheets
• multiple variable-width columns
• conversion to HTML for web publishing
• wizards
• hidden comments
4. proofreading the document
5. saving the document on disk
6. printing the document
7. early-word processing systems forced users to follow these steps strictly
8. some systems still in user, mainly on mainframe and other time sharing systems, allow the steps to be switched freely, or at the same time

• Word processing is not typing
• use tabs and margin guides, not the space bar, to align columns.
• WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)- words appear on screen exactly as they will appear on a printed page--"wizzy-wig" 
• make your work look professional
• ideal processors help outline, arrange, and rearrange information and ideas into levels

digital reference

• dictionaries
• quotation books
• encyclopedia
• almanac
• biggest drawback- plagiarism

synonym finders

• computerized thesaurus for instant synonyms

spell check

• compare your words in document with dictionary based words
• word is flagged, you decide to ignore or check
• shortcut- F7

grammar and style checkers

• checking for grammatical errors
• checks spelling
• points out errors and suggests improvement
• shortcut- F7

Form letter generators

• mail merge capability- create personalized letters
• creates database with names
• create a form letter
• merges the database with the form letter to create
• can incorporate custom paragraphs
• looks as if individually written

collaborative writing tools

• groupware- software designed to be used by a work group
• collaborative writing and editing
• tracks changes
• compared document version and highlights differences in documents

Emerging word tools

• processing hand written words
• speech recognition
• electronic editor or co-author

Desktop publishing
process of a producing a book, magazine, or other publication includes several steps:

• produces drawings, photos, and other graphics to accompany text
• designing a basic format for the publications
• typesetting text
• arranging text and graphics on pages
• typesetting and printing pages
• binding pages into a finished publication

With modern DTP, the production process can be processed with sophisticated tools that are affordable and easy to use
Desktop publishing software

• image editing
• page-layout software
• QuarkXpress
• PageMaker
• Adobe InDesign
• rules of thumb
• plan before you publish
• use appropriate fonts
• dint go style crazy
• view docs. before printing
• learn from the masters
• know your limitations
• "The purpose of publishing is communication; don't try to use technology the lack of something to communicate."
• pros of desktop publishing
• saves money
• saves time
• reduces number of publication errors
• offers new hope for individual's right
• paperless publishing
• electronic books
• spreadsheets
• values-numbers and dates
• labels- columns and report heading
• work with formulas
• screen tests

Formulas can be relative-   refers to different cells when copies
and they can be absolute-  formulae references never changes when copied

automatic recalculation- any changes in the spreadsheet causes the spreadsheet to update
functions automate complex formulas
macros stores keystrokes and commands so they can be played back
templates provides ready-to-use worksheets with labels and formulas already entered previously

allows linking of spreadsheets
when the value of one spreadsheet the values of another spreadsheet is automatically altered
database capabilities
spreads information, sorts data by specific criterion, merges data using word processor, generates reports

Spreadsheet graphics: from digits to drawing
charts allow numbers to turn into visual data
pie charts illustrate proportional relativity
line charts depict trends/relationships over time
bar charts categorizes data
scatter plots discovers relationships between different variables

accounting and financial management software allows us to electronically handle checks, account balancing, budget creating, online banking services, taxes
mathematics processing software turns abstract mathematical relationship into visual images; includes a question-and-answer mode, programming language, interacting document tools that combines text, numerical symbols, and graphics
statistics and data analysis - collects and analyzes data relationships; uncovers trends by browsing 2D and 3D graphs of data, looking for patters, dots, and lines
scientific visualization helps visualize data unreachable without computer-aided visualization tools by using shape, color, space, motion, and brightness
computer modeling uses computers to create abstract models (examples of popular computer models: games, flight simulators, models
Computer Simulations widely used
reasons for uses: safety, economy, projection, visualization, replication
GIGO- accuracy depends on how closely its mathematical model corresponds to the stimulated system
basic rule of simulation- Garbage In, Garbage Out

future user interfaces will be based on agents rather than tools
agents- software programs designed to be managed rather than manipulated
intelligent agents work can:

• ask questions
• pay attention
• work as guide
• take on owner's goals
• use reasoning

future agents may possess sensitivity