- He was one of the pioneers of the computer hardware and software
-In 1968 he demonstrated the Augment system which included mouse, hypermedia, groupware, outlining and more.
- Many of these inventions can be found in modern times
Wordsmith's Toolbox
- Wordsmith helps people communicate effectively in writing
- Wordprocessors involve several steps:
- entering text
- editing text
- formatting the document
- proofreading the document
- saving the document on disk
- printing the document
- Entering text is where the text is displayed on the screen and stored in the computer's RAM. It is also where one saves their work periodically because RAM is no permanent memory
-Editing text is where one: navigates to different part of a document, is able to insert, delete, move and copy text (s), and search and replace words or phrases.
-Formatting commands lets you format characters.
-When formating characters, one can measure by point size, i.e. one pts - 1/72 inchs.
-Formatting paragraphs involves margin settings, line spacing, indents, tabs, and justification (alignment of texts)
-Formatting documents involves stylesheets, headers, footers, graphics, conversion to HTML for web publishing and more.
Rules of thumb: word processing is not typing:
- only use 'return' or 'enter' keys when needed
--> word wrap moves texts to the next line
-don't use the spacebar to align columns, instead use tabs and margin guides
--> What you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) depends on the matter of degree
Things to remember when using word processors and other tools:
- don't underline! Use italics for book and journal titles. Use boldface for emphasis
- use only one space after a period
-take advantage of special characters
Outliners and idea processors help with arranging info into levels, rearrange ideas and levels, hiding and revealing levels of detail
Digital References
-dictionaries, quotation books, encyclopedia's and more are now avaible in digital form
-the biggest advantage is the electronic form is speed!
-the biggest drawback is that people can plagiarize
Synonym finders are computerized theasaures
Spelling checkers compare words in documents with words in disk-based dictionary
-words may be flagged, but it your choice with what to do with it.
Grammar and style checkers analyze each word in context, checking for errors in content, check spelling, and point out possible errors and suggest ideas.
Form letter generators: mail merge capabilities produce personalized form letters, create a database with names, create form letters. THEN: merge the database with the letter to create a personalized one.
- you can use custom paragraphs based on the recipient's personal data so that every letter looks as if it were individually written.
Collaborative Writing tools
- Groupware is software designed to be used by a workgroup. i.e.
-Providers for collaborative writing and editing
-tracks and identifies changes by originator
-compares document versions
POSSIBLE WORD TOOLS TO COME:
-handwritten word processors
-human speech processors (Speech recognition software)
-anticipating a writer's needs, acting as an electronic editor
What is desktop publishing technology (DTP)? The process of producing book, magazine, and more that include writing and editing texts.
- Also, produce drawings, photographs to accompany texts
-typesetting/ arranging texts on graphics on pages
-binding pages into a finished publication
- DTP makes the production process affordable and easy, and have a sophisticated result
-DTP software: image-editing software, page-layout software, i.e. QuarkXPress.
With creating professional-looking documents, one must:
-plan before you publish
-use appropriate fonts
-not go style-crazy
-view documents through the reader's eyes
-learn from the pros
-know the limits
Why DTP? Saves you: money, time, number of errors,. Also, it offers everyone the right to publish.
Going beyond printed paper:
- paperless publishing and the web
-electronic books and digital paper
The Malleable Matrix: where a spreadsheet consists of cells and addresses
Spreadsheets contain: values (i.e. numbers/dates), labels<-- Formulas allow you to create instructions using mathematical expressions and commands
Formulas can be : -
- Relative, meaning that they refer to different cells when they are copied
- Absolute when the formula references never change when they are copied
- Spreadsheets offer many automatic features such as replication of data.
- Automatic Recalculation: in excel, whenever you change anything in the data, it will automatically update itself to those changes.
- Functions: automate complex calculations
- Macros: store keystrokes and commands so the can be played automatically
- Templates: offer ready to use worksheets with labels and formulas already entered.
- Linking spreadsheets together: when changes are made in one spreadsheet, the data is automatically changed and linked to other spreadsheets.
- A database is able to help you search for info, generate reports, and more!
- To avoid making big mistakes when using spreadsheets, it's a good idea to plan on what you are going to write before you add any formulas/ values, and when you do add them make sure you have double checked them so that they are readable. Also predict possible issues that you may come across. Lastly, it's important to use spreadsheets as a decision-making aid rather than a decision maker.
- Spreadsheet graphics help one take digits and make them into graphics, like in pie and line charts. Certain data works with certain graphics, like when one uses a scatter chart to compare two variables.
- Scientific visualization software uses: shape, location in shapes, color, brightness, and motion to help us visualize data.
- It turns numbers into pictures, and makes the unseen, seen.
- Visualization helps researchers see relationships that are hard or even impossible to see w/ out tools.
- Computer modeling uses computers to create abstract models of objects, organisms, organizations, and processes. For example: games, businesses, and flight simulation
- Computer simulations are widely used for reasons such as, safety, economy, projection, and more.
- GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) is the accuracy of a simulation that depends on how accurate its mathematical model corresponds to the system that is being simulated.
- Some of these models suffer from false and hidden assumptions, go astray b/c of human errors.
- Making reality fit the machine: some simulations are so complex that researches need to simplify models and streamline calculations so that they can run on the best hardware possible.
- No matter what, information can be lost, and loss may compromise with the integrity of the simulation and question it.
- The Illusion of Infallibility
- future users interfaces will be based on agents rather than on tools
- agents are software programs that are designed to be managed, not manipulated
- Intelligent software agent can ask questions and respond to commands, serve as a guide and coach, take on goals, and more!!
- They teach you new applications and answer reference questions
- Help you protest your privacy on and off the net
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