There are many reasons why people purchase commercial software. It may be due to brand awareness and popularity or it may be because a particular software title is commonly used in the workplace. Whatever the reason, many people are unaware of the options that open-source software provides. Open-source does not necessarily mean that the software is free, but it may be less expensive than more well-known products. However, open-source software may not come with all the “bells and whistles” or as much technical support as traditional titles. Select a popular software title (such as Microsoft Excel or Adobe Dreamweaver) and use the Internet to locate at least two open-source alternatives. Locate knowledgeable reviews for each product to help you evaluate them. Write a brief paper that compares and contrasts the open-source products with the commercial product (be sure to document your sources). Answer the following questions for each product:
Suggested Web Sites: http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_eval.html http://osswin.sourceforge.net http://www.opensource.org http://www.opensourcewindows.org http://www.osalt.com http://www.w3.org/Status
Suggested Keywords: Open-Source, Open-Source Alternatives, Open-Source Evaluation, Software Review
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just talk to your computer and tell it what you’d like it to do? With speech-recognition software, that’s not so farfetched. Speech-recognition, or voice-recognition, software is designed to respond to your verbal commands. Speech-recognition software was available on some older versions of Microsoft Office and is now part of Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows Vista. Using an Internet search engine, research the origins of speech-recognition software and explore the various ways it is being used today. Locate three different speech-recognition applications and compare and contrast them. If possible, experiment with one of these programs and evaluate its usefulness. Was it easy to use? How much training time did you spend with it and was the resulting level of accuracy acceptable? Write a brief paper summarizing your findings and opinions.
Suggested Web Sites: http://www.businessweek.com/1997/16/b352339.htm http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/30/scitech/pcanswer/main2053778.shtml http://www.e-speaking.com http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking
Suggested Keywords: Speech-Recognition Software, Voice-Recognition Software, Voice Commands, Computer Dictation
Have you ever enrolled in a computer course just to find that you need to install an expensive software package on your own computer in order to fulfill the requirements of the class? If you have not faced this challenge yet, you may soon. The popularity of courses such as game programming, Web graphics, office applications, and digital video production continues to rise. Although most schools have computer labs that you can use in order to complete coursework, there are many times that you will probably want to practice at home. Also, the growing popularity of online classes may mean that you never take a face-to-face course and will be responsible for furnishing your own software. This situation can quickly turn into a stressful financial situation. Are there options available to reduce the strain on a student’s wallet? Using an Internet search engine, research at least five different software packages using at least three software sites that provide academic pricing. Examples of software packages that might be used in your research are Maya, Photoshop, Flash, QuarkXPress, and Expression Web. Write a brief paper that contains the following information. Be sure to identify the sites you used and the software you researched.
Suggested Web Sites: http://www.journeyed.com http://www.academicsuperstore.com http://www.campustech.com http://superstore.schoolworld.com
Suggested Keywords: Student Priced Software, Academic Discount, Software Educational Discounts, Academic Pricing on Software
Many people mistakenly believe that they own the software they have purchased. In reality, what has been purchased is a software license, giving you the right to use the software under the conditions specified by the end user licensing agreement (EULA). If you break the licensing agreement by installing software on more than the approved number of computers or by sharing it with a friend, you may be guilty of software piracy. Just as authorities have begun enforcing copyright laws for sharing music and video files, software piracy is also coming under scrutiny. Use an Internet search engine to locate and read the EULA for a popular software title such as Microsoft Office, and research the problems involved with software piracy. Write a brief paper that answers the following questions:
Suggested Web Sites: http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/07/02/bsa-raises-reward_1.html http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/default.mspx http://www.siia.net/piracy http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/E/EULA.html
Suggested Keywords: Software Piracy, Software Copyright Infringement, EULA, Software License
