What app should I use?

 Applications play a major role in day-to-day life, especially in the life of a professional. The applications offer substantial functionality to varies people. Each application is used for a very specific purpose. The way the user wants the data to be presented is the driving factor for what application to use. After utilizing each application, an analysis can be made on when and why to use each application. Word processors such as Microsoft Word and Google chrome are used when there is a need to format text. These are used in place of simple text files or Notepad because “a text file only stores text without any formatting information, and typically has a filename extension like myfile.txt. Simple apps like Notepad (for Windows) or TextEdit (for Macs) can edit text files” (Vahid et al.). This can be helpful when writing a paper that requires a specific format such as an APA style essay. Being able to format text in various ways is a major advantage over the other applications. One disadvantage that the word processing applications have is the lack of capability to manipulate large amounts of data. This application was best used to journal about my day. 

Spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or Google sheets are extremely powerful tools for organizing, representing, and manipulating numerical data. This application was best used in my day in my life assignment to find percentages of time spent. It was easy to apply functions and find sums and percentages. One major drawback of a spreadsheet is the lack of a good way to represent text and the steep learning curve. 

Presentation software such as PowerPoint and google slides are best used like the name suggests, presenting an idea. A user is able to create colorful and interactive presentations that are a visual aid while presenting. The ability to add notes to assist the presenter is a great feature. Another great feature is the option to emphasize pictures or words. This was the perfect tool to summarize my day and show it to any interested party. 

Database applications are best used to organize and retrieve data for efficient use. Manny applications rely on other database management systems. A DBMS is “an app that creates, maintains, and accesses database systems. Popular DBMS' include MySQL, Oracle Database, and Microsoft Access.” (Vahid et al.). One way I see this done in real life is to catalog known positions of satellites in a database such as MongDB or MySQL. Then a very smart app developed by the military can use that and make predictions on future locations of those satellites. 

In conclusion, the choice of what application to use is directly related to the task supposed to be accomplished. Word processors are amazing for formatting large amounts of text, while spreadsheets work great numerical data management and manipulation. One might need to choose presentation software to paint a narrative. Overall, it really depends on the immediate need of the user. 

References:

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks.