csci 1200 introduction to computing for non majors chapter 5 tami meredith, ph.d....
TRANSCRIPT
Objectives Understand the use and role of
applications for document creation and publishing
Describe the functions and applications of spreadsheets and other types of statistical and simulation programs
Understand the role of a database system Explain how computers are used as tools
for simulating mechanical, biological, and social systems
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Use and Abuse
Most people tend to use a few applications for almost everything
To improve sales, companies add "convenient features" that allow one to use favourite applications for more and more things (e.g., statistics in Excel)
Software producers are thus trying to gain sales by exploiting the fact that software is difficult to learn and thus, we only learn a few applications
Users then use these "convenient features" that do a mediocre job instead of buying and learning software that does the job more effectively
Users now try to publish with Word or use Excel as a database and statistics tool, and do neither that well (in part because the tools aren't really designed to do these tasks)
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The Wordsmith’s Toolbox Writing has not fundamentally changed because of
word processing software Products such as Microsoft Word permit authors to
write faster and edit/change their text easier than in the past
However, Word does not make one write better or produce stronger content
Tools such as a spell-checker do not negate the need to know how to spell, and in fact, are believed to be responsible for decreased quality writing
Grammar checkers should be avoided as they can push one into a specific style that may not be what the author wants
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Printing vs. Publishing
Writing has two components:1. Content creation – actually writing a document2. Typesetting – controlling it's appearance
Word processors are designed for the first task and only do the second task marginally well
Microsoft Word is OK when it comes to printing a document, but not for creating publishable quality page proofs
Publishers convert Word files into something more suitable for publishing
Publishing (typesetting) software (e.g., TeX, LaTeX, Adobe InDesign) is not very effective for content creation
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Word Processing Tools and Techniques
Working with a word processor involves:› Entering text› Editing text› Formatting the document
however, most amateurs tend to create documents that are considered as "childish" by professional publishers
› Saving the document› Printing the document
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Typesetting
There is a clear distinction in writing between content and appearance
90% or more of Word's features are associated with a document's appearance
E.g., margins, line spacing, font (type, size, colour), tab stop size, alignment and justification
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Sad Realities
Most users don't know enough to use the features of Word effectively and make common mistakes (e.g., using san-serif fonts for text)
Word is very limited as a publishing tool and can't effectively do all tasks (e.g., typeset equations)
Fancy fonts and pretty documents don't improve the quality of the content – poor writing is poor writing regardless of how it's presented
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Typographic Blunders
There are a lot of resources that will help you avoid some of the worst mistakes made by amateurs› https://designschool.canva.com/blog/typography-
mistakes/› http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/12/10-
common-typography-mistakes/› http://www.poynton.com/notes/typesetting/› http://www.creativebloq.com/typography/mistakes-
41411451 Remember: Just because it looks good on the
screen doesn't necessarily mean it will look good on paper
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Document Formatting
Document Style: margins, headers, footers, columns Text Style: font, size, colour, kerning, bold,
italics/slant Line Control: Hyphenation, justification, orphan
control Footnotes, end-notes, references and citations Figures: tables, images, charts and other illustrative
material Macros, Templates, Wizards – for automating
complex and large tasks Writing aids: spell check, grammar check,
autoformat, auto-correct10
Font Technology• A bitmapped font stores
characters as a collection of tiny dots or squares.
• A scalable (vector) font represents each character as an outline that can be scaled without distortion.
• Embedding a font puts font information into the document so that any computer can reproduce it (if the font isn't on that computer)
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Writing Styles
Some authors like to use bullet-point outlines as a starting point when writing
Some authors simply build "critical mass" by writing a lot of text and then do the organisation at the editing phase
Some authors edit very little and write very slowly using mental model of the finished product
Word processors try to support some of these styles by providing tools such as outliners
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Outliners
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Digital References References available on the Web
include:› Dictionary, Thesaurus Quotation
Collections, Encyclopedia, Atlas, Almanac
› Useful, but like all tools, must be used effectively
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Spelling Checkers Correct spelling is an important part of
written communication Of limited utility with some technical
terms and pronouns (i.e., names). Simply ensure a word exists, not that it is
the correct word (e.g., there, they're, their)
Careful proofreading is still essential
I spel gud becos I uze fonetiks! 15
Form-Letter Generators
Most word processors include mail merge (though mail servers might not be able to handle it)
Produce "personalized" form letters Generate individually addressed letters
and mailing labels› Used with database of names and
addresses› Can incorporate custom paragraphs
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Collaborative Writing Tools
Large writing projects involve groups of people working together
Computer networks make it easy for people to share documents
Groupware keeps track of document’s history› Individuals make suggested changes› Changes are incorporated into a single
master document
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Emerging Authoring Tools
Word processing software has evolved rapidly
Current trends suggest that coming changes include:› Processing handwriting
› Processing speech
› "Intelligent" word processors
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Processing Handwriting Pen-based systems provide an
alternative tool for entering text Handwriting recognition requires
sophisticated software to interpret pen movements as characters and words
Diversity in handwriting makes it difficult to translate scribbles into text
Digitizing and OCR is also possible Typing is faster than writing ...
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Processing Speech
User tells computer what to type and how to type it by talking into a microphone› User’s speech enters computer as digital
audio signal› Speech recognition software looks for
patterns in the sound waves. Interprets sounds by locating familiar patterns Segments input sound patterns into words Separates commands from text Passes commands to word processing software
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Intelligent Word Processors
Some possibilities for future word processors:› Remind you that you have used the same
word several times in the last few paragraphs
› Analyze writing style as you type› Modify your writing to conform to
organizational style guidelines› Perform search of literature on the Web
and report back relevant facts
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The Desktop Publishing Story
Publishing was traditionally an expensive, time-consuming, error-prone process
World of publishing was radically transformed in the 1980s› Apple introduced first LaserWriter printer.› Aldus introduced PageMaker for the Macintosh
Desktop publishing became an enterprise for anyone with a computer and a little cash
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What Is Desktop Publishing?
Process of producing a book, magazine, or other publication includes:› Writing and editing text› Producing drawings, photographs, and
other graphics› Designing a basic format› Arranging text and graphics on pages› Typesetting and printing pages› Binding pages into a finished publication
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Why Desktop Publishing?
Offers advantages for businesses Saves money
› Publishing in-house costs a fraction of former costs Saves time
› Turnaround is days instead of weeks or months Quality control is easier to maintain ... maybe ... Makes it easy to repurpose content for use on
Web Individuals have affordable publishing
alternatives
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Some Hints
Plan before you publish Use appropriate fonts Don’t go style or colour crazy View the document though the reader’s
eyes Learn from an expert Know your limitations Remember the message When in doubt – K.I.S.S.!
Typesetting is more than font selection ...
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Paperless Publishing and the Web
Some predict that paper publishing will be replaced by electronic media
Paper still offers advantages for countless tasks› Reading printed words is easier on the eyes.› Paper documents can be read without electricity› No equivalent for the aesthetics of a beautifully
designed, finely crafted book Digital media are likely to eclipse paper for
many applications
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Paperless Publishing and the Web
Offers unprecedented mass publishing possibilities to millions of Web users
Many programs can save documents in HTML format › Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, Apple Pages
Other programs are specifically designed for Web publishing.› Offer advanced capabilities for layout,
graphics, animation, and multimedia publishing
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E-Books & E-Readers
E-book: digital version of a book› May be read on a computer, PDA,
smart phone, and/or an e-reader E-readers: handheld devices
for reading digital publications E-paper: display technology
used by most e-readers to look more like ordinary paper than an LCD display
The Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet software enables users to take control of numbers; can make short work of tasks that involve repetitive calculations:› Budgeting› Financial Management› Accounting› Business projections› Grade books› Checkbooks
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Excel is NOT:
A very good statistics tool A general data management tool Good for scientific data Able to solve complex formulas
(particularly with symbolic manipulation)
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The Malleable Matrix A spreadsheet document, called a
worksheet, typically appears on the screen as a grid of numbered rows and lettered columns
A spreadsheet is a table Cell: intersection of a row and column Each cell may contain:
› A numeric value› An alphabetic label› A formula representing a relationship in other
cells
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“What If?” Questions
Spreadsheets are valuable for answering “what if?” questions for financial situations
You can change numbers and instantly see the effects of those changes
Some spreadsheet programs include equation solvers that: › enable you to define an equation› enter your target value› let the computer determine the necessary data
values
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Spreadsheet Graphics:From Digits to Drawings
Spreadsheet programs include charting and graphing functionality:› Pie charts: show relative proportions of parts to
whole› Line charts: show trends over time› Bar charts: similar to line charts; more
appropriate when data falls into a few categories› Stack charts: show how proportions of a whole
change over time› Scatter charts: help discover a relationship
between two variables
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Plan worksheet before entering values and formulas
Make assumptions as accurate as possible (know your assumptions!)
Double-check every formula and value Make formulas readable Check output against other systems –
evaluate your results!
Avoiding Errors
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Build in cross-checks Change the input data values and
study the results Take advantage of preprogrammed
functions, templates, and macros Use spreadsheet as decision-making
aid, not as decision maker Take advantage of built-in error
checking tools
Using a Spreadsheet
Beyond Spreadsheets
Spreadsheet software is versatile, but no program is perfect for every task.
Other types of number-manipulation software are available for situations in which spreadsheets don’t suit the job
Tools like SPSS and SAS are superior for doing statistical and complex analysis
Most scientists use these tools for their data
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Money Managers
Most businesses use professionally designed accounting and financial-management software
Records transactions—checks, cash payments, charges, and other activities
Automatically adjusts the balance in every account after each transaction
Can export records to programs that calculate income taxes
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Automatic Mathematics
Higher mathematics is an essential part of the work of scientists, researchers, engineers, architects, economists, financial analysts, teachers, and others
Math-processing software makes it easier for mathematicians to create, manipulate, and solve equations
A math processor generally includes an interactive, question-and-answer mode, a programming language, and tools for creating interactive documents that combine text, numerical expressions, and graphics
Matlab, Maple, Wolfram Alpha, Mathcad
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Statistics and Data Analysis
Statistics—science of collecting and analyzing data—has become more important in computer age
Statisticians in government, business, and science depend on computers to make sense of raw data
Statistical-analysis software can suggest answers to questions by testing strength of data relationships
SPSS, SAS, R
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Scientific Visualization Scientific-visualization software uses
shape, location in space, color, brightness, and motion
Scientific visualization involves the graphical representation of numerical data
Computers have been used to analyze and visualize scientific data collected through experiments and observation.
A computer also can serve as a virtual laboratory
Problem of creating an accurate simulation helped initiate the study of chaos and fractals (e.g., non-linear equations)
Chaos is now a vast field of study with applications in many disciplines
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Chaos Theory
Risk: Computer Modeling and Simulation
Computer modeling is the use of computers to create abstract models of objects, organisms, organizations, and processes
Can be created for work, education, or play, to mimic some type of system
A computer simulation allows you to see how the model will operate under certain conditions
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Computer Simulations: The Rewards
Widely used for training and research in physical, biological, and social sciences, and in engineering for these reasons:
› Safety
› Economy
› Projection
› Visualization
› Replication
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Simulation: The Risks
Capturing the subtlety and complexity of the real world is a tremendous challenge› Accuracy depends on how closely mathematical
model corresponds to system being simulated› Some simulations are so complex they need to be
simplified to get them to run on available hardware
› Risks are magnified because people take computer reports seriously at expense of other sources of knowledge
› Never as "real" as reality – results can never be fully trusted (e.g., flight simulators)
Low-cost or free software alternatives are available:
› GIMP
› Open Office
› Google Tools
Much of the time, you are getting a somewhat usable, alternative to mainstream software that can do most common tasks
Occasionally, some "free" software will do the job as well as (or even better) than professional level software, but it's rare
Free software comes with no support, no maintenance, and no guarantees - it might not even exist in 2 years
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You Get What You Pay For ...
Chapter 5 Summary Word processing software enables the
writer to edit and (somewhat) format text on the screen before printing
Desktop publishing produces professional-quality text and graphics documents at a reasonable cost
The Web makes it potentially possible for publishers to reach mass audiences
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Summary Spreadsheet programs are used for tracking
financial transactions, forecasting economic conditions, and other financial tasks
Specialized accounting and tax preparation software packages perform specific financial functions
Symbolic mathematics processors can handle a variety of higher mathematics functions involving numbers, symbols, equations, and graphics
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Summary
Software, computer hardware, data backup, training ... is not cheap, and often costs more than non-technological solutions
Software is a tool, not a solution – used wrongly it can lead to poor solutions
Software can and often is WRONGGIGO: Garbage In = Garbage Out
Pushing a button will yield a result, but if you don't know all the details, are you are playing with fire
Great technicians fully understand the tools that they employ
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