Chapter 4: Application Software: Programs That Let You Work and Play

Chapter 4: Application Software: Programs That Let You Work and Play

• What’s the difference between application software and system software? (p. 162)
• What kinds of applications are included in productivity software I might use at home? (pp. 162–175)
• What are the different types of multimedia software? (pp. 175–178)
• What are the different types of entertainment software? (pp. 178–180)
• What is reference software? (p. 181)
• What are the different types of drawing software? (p. 182)
• What kinds of software do small and large businesses use? (pp. 182–187)
• Where can I go for help when I have a problem with my software? (pp. 187–188)
• How can I purchase software or get it for free? (pp. 188–191)
• How do I install, uninstall, and open software? (p. 192–195)

Discussion Questions

1. The cost of new software applications can be prohibitively high. You need to do a project for school that requires the use of a software application you don't own, but your roommate has a copy that her dad gave her from his work. She is letting you install it on your machine.
   1. Is it okay for you to borrow this software?
   2. Would it be okay if you uninstalled the application after you were finished using it?
   3. Would it be okay if the software was on the school's network and you could copy it from there?
2. Currently, there is no true system to check for illegal installations of software programs. What kind of program or system do you think could be developed to do this type of checking? Who would pay to develop, run, and maintain the program: the developers or the software users?
3. Less than a decade ago, home users had no media files on their computer systems. Today, many users have a library of music, a collection of digitized movies, personal photo collections, and even a large set of recorded television shows. Examine three different software packages on the market today for managing these materials. What features do they need to make the PC the primary entertainment device for a home? What would make users move their PC from the office into the living room?
4. The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Muhammad Yunus, who created the Grameen Bank. This bank makes very small loans to the poor of Bangladesh, without requiring collateral. Often these loans are less than $200 but allow women to begin small businesses and climb out of poverty. How has software made the Grameen bank productive and able to serve almost 7 million borrowers? What other ways could software make a difference to the struggling peoples of the world?