Chapter 4 - Specialized Application Software

From the previous portfolio, I have described about what basic application software is. So, this time I would like to elaborate more about specialized application software.

If basic application software were widely used by all profession of end users, then specialized application software is the opposite of it where it is used within the specified profession. Commonly it is used in graphic field which include multimedia programs, audio and video software, graphics programs, web authoring programs and artificial intelligence.

                                                                                                         Figure 1.

Below are some of the example of desktop publishing that are used in creating publications of profession quality. These programs allows the end users to mix differents texts and graphics to produce templates, brochures,  newspaper and many more. All the end users can express their creativity with these software since it is very flexible and convenient in presentation in printed copies and in digital media.  Speaking of graphics, there must involve some images. To edit this images, the end users can use image editor software. Some editors will use Adobe Photoshop, Pixlr, Photo Director and some of them will use online photo editor such as canva. These specialized software are use to edit and modify the images by removing scratches and other imperfections.

                                                              Figure 2: Different before and after the image is edited.

Moving on to audio and video editing software. Audio editing software provide the ability to create and edit audio clips. Users can apply features in the audio depending to their creativity. This is because, this software allows them to add audio effect like filters and even making their own audio. Some of the audio editor are Apple Garage and Wavepad Audio Editor. For video editing software, this software allows the end users to reorganize the flow of the video, add some sound and motion effect to the footage. In the past, to produce own video was quiet challenging as they need to send the documents to studios. Now, everyone can make their own video anywhere without any limitation. Commonly, the end users will use Apple iMovie and Microsoft Movie Maker, but today there are new audio and video editor software such as PowerDirector, Adobe Premiere Pro and Vegas Pro. In these softwares, there a more stylish features that can be added in the video to make it more interesting.

                                                                                             Figure 3: Audio editor

                                                                                        Figure 4: PowerDirector

Next is about multimedia. Multimedia is the integration of all application that have stated above which are the combination of texts, images, audio, video and many more. What makes multimedia is so unique is that it incorporates users’ participation. This allow the user to select option to view certain information, to control the pace, to respond to items and receive feedback. The ability to interact in the media are widely applied in edutainment, video games and business matters. This interactivity usually involve links that connect to other related information that can be video, graphics and files while buttons allows the user to navigate through the presentation to locate and discover information. So, in the multimedia, the end users can control the flow and the content of the multimedia.

                                                          Figure 5 shows the program used to create multimedia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

From this, the end users are able to apply this concept in creating their own blog. This activity is also known as Web Authoring. However, before creating the web, all users need to understand and determine the overall contents of the web site. This is to help the users to see the overview in designing the web site. Web pages are typically HTML where users can use simple text editor to create Web pages. But using more specialized web authoring programs such as Web page editors and HTML editors, where it will help end users to produce sophisticated web pages. Other than that, there are also web authoring programs that imply WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors where the users do not have to interact directly with HTML codes. Below are examples of web authorizing programs.

                                                                                        Figure 6: HTML tool kit

                                                                               Figure 7: Web Authoring programs

As the technology is developing, human start to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in their everyday life. This field of computer science is to develop computer system that can mimic or stimulate human senses, though, processes and actions. This modern application of artificial intelligence is to help people and organization to become more productive in all different kinds of field such as business, medical, law and education. There are three areas that uses AI which is

• Virtual Reality
• Knowledge-based (Expert) systems
• Robotics

VIRTUAL REALITY – users can create and virtually experience the environment that they wished to be. They could experience walking on the moon, riding the scariest roller coaster or even exploring the inside of nuclear waste dump without having to physically experience it. However, virtual reality is also used in serious application to stimulate experience or training environment such as complicated surgical operations, spaceship repair, and nuclear cleanup.

KNOWLEDGE-BASED (EXPERT) SYSTEMS – a type of AI that uses database that contain specific facts, rules to relate with the facts and users input to provide assistance to the users. The sequence of processing is based on the interaction between the users and the knowledge-based. Many expert systems use fuzzy logic where it allows the system to respond in humanlike way. Some of the examples are MYCIN that is use in medical field to detect bacteria that causes severe infection and AGREX that helps to give advices to the farmers about agriculture.

ROBOTICS – this field studies about the development of robots that are used in motor related activities such as in factories, home security, military and many more. This is because robots are used to fulfill the work that are limited to humans particularly in handle dangerous and repetitive tasks. There are four type of robots which are

• Perception system robots
• Industrial robots
• Mobile robots
• Household robots

                                                                                     Figure 8: Household robots

SOURCE

• Computing essentials 2013 (making IT work for you) written by Timothy J. O’Leary and Linda I. O’Leary.
• Pictures from Google Image
• Lecturer’s Slide