Function Comparison
Word processing applications are best used when detailed written descriptions of each aspect of data is needed. In contrast, presentation applications are intended to show an overview that will be accompanied by oral discussion or narration. A spreadsheet application is great for showing numbers, graphs and calculations on a single worksheet or workbook. Though a spreadsheet application can be used with multiple workbooks, a database application makes it easier to link one set of data in a database with other standard sets of data in other databases. A database application, though more complicate to use, has it benefits when there is vast amounts of data to visualize.
Pros and Cons
One advantage of using a word processing application is a clear and consistent formatting that follows through to each page of your document. A disadvantage of using a word processing application is that its difficult to place images and tables anywhere on the page as you may like. This is an advantage of using a presentation application, not only can you animate the content, you can place that content anywhere on the page. However, if you did have a lot of text and needed the text to flow to another slide automatically, presentation applications do not handle this task very well.
Have a lot of data and want to do quick calculations? Spreadsheet applications excel at this. They are great for doing calculations on the fly. However, they are no so great at creating forms for entering new data. Database applications have built in methods of doing reports and searches. They are even great for entering new data using forms as opposed to a new row in an already large spreadsheet. There is however a steep learning curve using database applications. There are a lot of concepts to learn that can be intimidating.
Application Recommendation
It seems I like to talk. For me personally, I think the word processing application is what was most applicable about describing my day. My response also depends on the audience. If I were in a room and had to tell others about my day, I would choose to use a presentation application instead. If I were doing a survey of how people in general use their time and how they prioritize their time, I would use a database application. For calculations regarding how much time someone uses for specific tasks throughout the day, I would use the spreadsheet application.
Conclusion
It’s great to have options, but you must always understand the intended audience. Many times, a combination of applications is better than using one alone. Your audience might be made up of people who better understand graphical representations of data, while there are others in the audience who simply want to see the numbers and get to the bottom line. Then, there are people who need in-depth descriptions. Each application has its place and its learning curve, but together they can address anyone’s needs.
References
Post a Comment