ITGS Notes: Productivity

Scientific Visualization:
-uses shape, location in space, color, brightness, and motion to help us visualize data
-helps researchers see relationships that might have been obscure or even impossible to grasp without computer aided visualization tools.
Computer Modeling uses computers to create abstract models of objects, organism, organizations, and processes
Ex: games, models, flight simulators, business simulations
Computer Simulations:
-widely used
there are many reasons such as safety, economy, projection, visualization, replication
Risk of Computer Simulations:
-GIGO revisited
-the accuracy of a simulation depends on how closely its mathematical model corresponds to the system being simulated
-some models suffer from faulty assumptions
some models contain hidden assumptions that may not even be obvious to their creators
-some models go astray simply because of clerical or human errors
-still garbage in garbage out is a basic rule of simulation   
Making Reality Fit the Machine
-some simulations are so complex that researchers need to simplify models and streamline calculations it get them to run on the best hardware available.
Sometimes this simplification is reality is deliberate more often its conscious
-either way information can be lost and the the loss may compromise the integrity of the simulation and call the results into question.
The illusion of infallibility
-a computer simulation whether generated by a PC spreadsheet or churned out by a super computer can be an invaluable decision making aid
-the risk is that the people who make decisions with computers will turn over too much of their decision making power to the computer
-risks can be magnified because people take computers seriously.
-Future users interfaces will be based on agents rather than on told
-agents are software programs designed to be managed rather than manipulated
-an intelligent software agent can ask questions as well as respond to commands, pay attention to its users work patters, serve as a guide and a coach, take on its owner's goals, use reasoning to fabricate goals of its own
-tomorrow's agents will be better able to compete with human assistants
0future agents may possess a degree of sensitivity
-a well trained software agent in the future might accomplish these tasks: Remind you that it is time to get the tires rotated on your car and make an appointment for the rotation and distribute notes to the other members of your study group or work group and tell you which members opened those notes
-keep you posted on new articles on subjects that interest you and know enough about those subjects to be selective without being rigid
-manage your appointments and keep track of your communications
-teach you new applications and answer reference questions
-defend your system and your home from viruses, intruders, and other security breaches
-help protect your privacy on and off the Net

ITGS NOTES: CHAPTER 5

Formulas can be relative-referring to different cells when they are copied

Absolute-formula references never changes when they are copied.

Functions automate complex (SUM, AAVG, SQRT)

Macros store keystrokes and commands so they can be played back automatically

Templates offer ready to use worksheets with labels and formulas already entered. Linking spreadsheets together when the values change in one spreadsheet, the data is automatically updated in all linked spreadsheets.

Database capabilities search for information, sort the data by a specific criteria, merge the data with a word processor, generate reports

Rules of Thumb: Avoiding spreadsheet pitfalls

-plan the worksheet before you start entering values and formulas

-make your assumptions as accurate as possible.

-Double-check every formula and value.

-Make formulas readable

-Check your output against other systems

-Build in cross checks

-change the input data values and study the results

-take advantage of pre-programmed functions, templates, and macros

-Use a spreadsheet as a decision making aid not a decision maker.

What if Questions

-Spreadsheets allow you to change numbers and instantly see the effects of those canges.

Equations Solbers

0Some spreadsheets generate data needed to fit a given equation and target calue

Spreadshee Graphics

-Charts allow you to turn numbers into isual data

-pie charts show proportions relative to the whole.

-Line charts show trends or relationships over time

-Use bar charts is data falls into a few categories

-Use scatter charts to discover rather than display a relationshoip between two variables.

Choose the right charts for the job

-Think abut the message you’re trying to convey

-Pie Charts, bar charts, line charts, and scatter charts are not interchangeable

Keep it simple, familiar, and understandable

-Use Charts in magazines, books, and newspapers as models

-Strive to reveal the truth, not hide it

Accounting and Financial Mangement software allows you to electronically handle routine transactions such as:

-writing checks

-balancing accounts

-creating budgets

-using online banking services

-preparing taxes-Quick Book

Mathematics processing software

-software turns abstract mathematical relationships into visual objects. (Mathematica  by Wolfram)

=Generally they include an interactive, wizard-like question and answer mode, a programming language, and tools for creating interactive documents that combine text, numerical expressions, and graphics.

Statistical and data analysis software

-collects and analyzes data that tests the strength of data relationships

-Can produce graphs showing how two or more variables relate to each other

-can often uncover trends by browsing through two and three dimensional graphs of data looking for unusual patterns in the dots and lines that appear on the screen.

    Scientific Visualization

-Scientificvisualization software uses shape, location in pace, color, brightness, and motin to help us visualize data.

Visualization helps researchers see relatinshops that might have been obsure or even impossible to grasp withour cimptuer aided visualization tools.

Chapter 5: Productivity Applications

Objectives:

• Describe how word processing and desktop publishing software have revolutionized writing and publishing
• Discuss the potential impact of desktop publishing and web publishing on the concept of freedom of the press
• Speculate about future developments in word processing and digital publishing
• Descirbe the basic functions and applications of spreadsheets and other types of statistical and simulation programs.

Doug Engelbart Explores Hyperspace:
-One of the pioneers of the computer hardware and software

• In 1968, he demonstrated his Augment System: mouse, video display editing, mixed text and graphics, windowing, outlining, shared screen video conferencing, computer conferencing, groupware, hypermedia

Working With a Word Processor involves several steps:

• Entering Text
• Editing Text
• Formatting the document
• Proofreading the document
• Saving the document on disk
• Printing the document

Entering, Editing, and Formatting Text
-Entering Text

• Text is displayed on the screen and ftored in the computer's RAM
• Save your work periodically because RAM is not permanaent memory

-Editing Text

• Navigate to different parts of a document
• Insert or Delete text at any point
• Move and copy text
• Seach and replace words or phrases.

Word Processors and Other Word Tools
-Formatting Commands
-Formatting Characters

• characters are measured by point size (one point is equal to 1/72 inch
• A font is a size anf style of typeface
• Serif fonts have serifs or fine lines at the ends of each character.
• You can use monospaced fonts and proportionally spaced fonts.

-Formatting paragraphs invovlves

• Margin Settings
• Line Spacing
• Indents
• Tabs
• Justification

-Formatting the doument

• Stylesheets
• Header and Footers
• Multiple Variable Columns
• Graphics
• Automatic editing heatures
• Hidden comments
• Table of contents and indexes
• Coaching and help features
• Conversion to HTML or Web Publishing

Rules of Thumb: Word Processing is Not Typing
-Use the reutn or enter key only when you must
-Word wrap moves text to the next line
Use tabs and margin gruides not the spacebar to align columns
-WYSIWYG is a matter of degree
-Text that looks perfectly aligned  onscreen may not line up on paper.
Don't Underline
-Use Italics and boldface for emphasis; italisize books and journal titles
Use only one space after a period
-proportionally spaced fonts look better withuot double spaces
Take Advantage of special characters
-Bullets, dashes, and smart quotes make your work look more professional
Outliners and Idea Processors are effective at:
-Arranging information into levels
-rearraging ideas and levels
-hiding and revealing levels of detail as needed.
Digital References:
-dictionaries, quotation books, encyclopedias, ,atlasses, almanacs, and other references are now available in digital form
-the biggest advantage of the electronic form is speed.
-the biggest drawback is that quick and easy copying might tempt wiriters to plagarize.
Synonym Finders.
-a computerized thesaurus cann provide instantaneious feedback for sunonyms
Spelling Checkers
-compare words in your document with words in a disk-based dictioniary
-Words might be flagged but you make the decision to ignore or change the spelling
Grammar and Style Checkers
-Analyze each word in context, checking for errors of content Check spelling
-Point out possible errors and suggest improvements
-Analyze pros complexity using measurements such as sentence length and paragraphs.
Form Letter Generators.
-Mail Merge capabilities produce personalized form letters.

• Create a database with names
• Create a form letter
• Merge the database with the form letter to create a personalized letter.

You can incorporate custom paragraphs based on the recipient's personal data
-Each letter looks as if it were individually written
Collaborative Writing Tools
-Groupware; software designed to be used by a work group
-provides for collaborative writing and editing
-Tracks changes and identifies them by the originator's name
-Compares document versions and highlights differences in documents
-Processing handwritten words
-Processing words with software that can reliably recognize human speech
-Anticipating a writer's , acting as an electronic editor or co-author.
What is Desktop publishing?
-The process of producing a book, magazine, or other publication includes several steps: Writing Text, Editing Text, Producing drawing photographs, and other graphics to accompany the text
-designing a basic format for the publication
typesetting text
arranging text and graphics on pages
-typesetting and printing pages
-binding pages into a finished publication
-Modern desktop publishing teachnolgy (DTP0, the producyion processes can be accompanied with sophisticated tools that are affordable and easy to use.
-Desktop Publishing Sfotware

• Image Editing Software
• Page Layout software combines the various source documents into a coherent visually appealing publication

Rules of Thumb:

• Plan before you pubolish
• Use appropriate fonts
• Don't go style crazy
• Vieww your document through your reader's eyes
• -Learn from your masters
• Know your limitations
• Remember the : "The purpose of publishing is communiation, don't try to use technolgy to disguise the lack of something to communicate."

Why Desktop Publishing?

• Save money
• Saves time
• Can reduce the number of publication errors
• Offers new hope for every indiviaul's right to ppublish

Paperless Publishing and the Web
-A common prediction is that desktop publishing and paper publishing in general will be replaced by paperless electronic media

The Maleable Matrix
-The spreadsheet consists of Cells and Addresses

Spreadsheets can contain Values and Labels
Formulas allow you to create instructions using mathematical expressions and commands