The Analytical Engine Online: Local Applications

These lab activities develop your expertise with four local applications that are so standard and commonplace you probably already have access to them: a word processor, a spreadsheet, a graphics processor, and an integrated page layout program.

Lab 2.1: Words on your Behalf

Lab 2.2: Spreading the Wealth

Lab 2.3: No-Mess Painting

Lab 2.4: Tools of the Trade

Describe four common "microworlds" and their realizations as modern software applications
Briefly inventory computer applications in business, technology, the professions, and entertainment
Develop (or demonstrate) your skills with a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a graphics processor, and some other more specialized programs.

Module Quiz

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References

In the text portion of this module, we explore the explosive growth of computer technology in more detail, concentrating on the evolution and influence of some of today's standard computer applications: word processors¹, spreadsheet programs, and image processors² in terms of their respective utility and the empowering effects they have on their users, and then go on to look at some commercial and industrial applications that are influencing our world in less obvious, but equally important ways. We want you to appreciate that you don't have to be a power nerd to get the computer to work effectively and productively for you.
¹pp. 28–32, 48–50
²pp. 35–37, 86, 315–316

The portable electronic calculator is a perfect example of what we describe as an application. It is a program³ and a computer in a box. It has evolved from a familiar microworld (the adding machine) to include advanced features (graphing calculators) that were impossible to achieve with its original technology. And, its effects on its users are both immediate and uncertain. All of this, coupled with the fact that it was the first application to achieve this degree of influence, make it a perfect choice for the metaphor for this module.
³pp. 13, Mod. 2, 234, 273, 285

	Print References
In the text portion of this module, we explore the explosive growth of computer technology in more detail, concentrating on the evolution and influence of some of today's standard computer applications: word processors¹, spreadsheet programs, and image processors² in terms of their respective utility and the empowering effects they have on their users, and then go on to look at some commercial and industrial applications that are influencing our world in less obvious, but equally important ways. We want you to appreciate that you don't have to be a power nerd to get the computer to work effectively and productively for you.	¹pp. 28–32, 48–50 ²pp. 35–37, 86, 315–316
The portable electronic calculator is a perfect example of what we describe as an application. It is a program³ and a computer in a box. It has evolved from a familiar microworld (the adding machine) to include advanced features (graphing calculators) that were impossible to achieve with its original technology. And, its effects on its users are both immediate and uncertain. All of this, coupled with the fact that it was the first application to achieve this degree of influence, make it a perfect choice for the metaphor for this module.	³pp. 13, Mod. 2, 234, 273, 285

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