GRAPHICS PACKAGES

Graphics packages are application programs that are

used to create and manipulate images on a computer.
They are also for graphic production of images,
drawing, designs, pictures and other graphic related
jobs.
It uses lines, shapes, colours and patterns to show
information.
 Types of Computer Graphic
Images are displayed on the computer screen as pixels.
How the program treats the pixels is determined by
whether the image is defined as a raster or a vector
graphic.
There are two (2) types Computer graphic ;
1. Painting (Raster) graphic
2. Drawing (Vector) graphic
Raster (Bitmap) graphics: where each pixel is separately
defined, it produces images by changing the colour of pixels
on the screen, while vector images uses mathematical
calculations to draw lines and shapes, which are then
interpreted at the view’s end to produce the graphic.
 General Features of Graphic Packages

1. Rotating.
2. Cropping.
3. Layers.
4. Flipping / mirror image.
5. Stretching.
6. Resizing.
 Examples of Graphic Packages
The following are examples of graphic packages:
1. CorelDraw
2. MS Paint
3. Adobe Photoshop
4. Harvard graphics
5. Print artist
6. LOGO (Language Of Graphic Oriented) graphics
7. Adobe Illustrator
8. The GIMP
9. Jasc’s Paint Shop Pro
10. Ventura
 Uses of Graphic Packages
1) They are used in designing professional artwork.
2) They are used for book illustrations.
3) Logo designs.
4) Product packaging.
5) Magazines and newspapers design
6) They are used for creating letterhead.
7) Banners
8) Posters and others.
 USING CORELDRAW
CorelDraw is a vector illustration program
developed and marketed by Corel Corporation.
It is also the name of the Corel graphics suite,
which includes the bitmap-image editor Corel
Photo-Paint as well as other graphics-related
programs. CorelDraw is designed to edit two-
dimensional images such as logos and posters.
Opening CorelDraw
• To open CorelDraw, click the Start button from the
Taskbar. This opens the Windows Start menu.
• Select Programs from the list.
Find the Corel section and select CorelDraw Graphics
Suite.
• Click on CorelDraw.
• Choose New Graphic to create a new document.
 Features of CorelDraw Window
The general features of graphic package windows
include:
1) Title bar.
2) Menu bar.
3) Printable area.
4) Colour palette.
5) Tool box.
6) Status bar.
7) Resizing buttons
 Window Components
A menu bar is a graphical control element
Menu Bar which contains drop-down menus.
Standard
Toolbar A toolbar with a set of standard controls, the
ones most commonly used with a program.

The Property Bar is dynamic. Property options

change depending on what you are working on.
Property Bar This enables you to access commands that are
specific to the current tool or feature you are
using.
Main Tool Box The main tools you will use are accessed from this
bar.
The Rulers show the current mouse cursor location
Rulers as you move in the work area.
 The Status Bar is used to give you information about
Status Bar cursor movements or symbol properties such as the
fill or size.

The Page Selector is used to add and move between

Page Navigator pages. When a file contains multiple pages,
individual page tabs appear to the right of the Page
Selector bar.
Dockers allow access to effects, styles, colors, and
Docker Tabs many other features of CorelDRAW. They can be
floated or “docked” at the side of the window. When
closed, they are accessible through a vertical tab.
Is the topmost bar that displays the name of the file
Title Bar and the application.

The Color Palette by default is located to the right of

the work window. Like the Toolbars, it can also be
Color Palette relocated. You can choose from a preset palette of
colours, or use a specific colour system such as
Pantone Spot Colors.
 The ToolBox
The Toolbox is located at the left portion of the window
and contains all the drawing and editing tools necessary
to create objects for an illustration. Most tools contain
a small triangle at the bottom right corner called Flyout.
Flyouts signifies that there are more tools.
 Selects objects or groups of objects. Once
Pick Tool selected, you can use the Pick Tool to move,
stretch, scale, rotate, and skew objects.
Reshapes objects. Objects are reshaped by
Shape Tool moving nodes, lines, and control points.

Changes the current view of the drawing.

Zoom Tool You can also select magnification options
from the Property Bar in the Zoom mode.

Freehand Tool Draws lines and curves. You can also use this
tool to trace bitmaps.
Smart Drawing Converts the freehand strokes you draw to
Tool basic shapes and smoothed curves.
Draws rectangles and squares. Squares are
Rectangle Tool created by using the Control key while
drawing.
Text Tool Adds either Artistic or Paragraph text to your drawing.

Sets the outline style of an object or a line.

Outline Tool
This includes the line type, ends, colour, and weight. The
flyout gives quick access to some changes.

Assigns the fill style of any object. Fills are only visible
Fill Tool on closed objects. The flyout gives access to control
dialogs for each type of fill.
Interactive Fill
Allows you to apply Fountain fills (gradients) using the
Tool
mouse. The flyout gives access to the Mesh fill Tool.

Draws ellipses and circles. Circles are created by

Ellipse Tool
holding down the Control key as you draw.

Draws a collection of boxes that simulates a sheet of

Graph Paper Tool
graph paper.
 A collection of objects which you can add to your
Perfect Shapes drawing. They include such things as arrows, stars, talk
Tool bubbles, and flow chart symbols.

The Blend Tool allows you to merge objects together

Interactive Blend through a series of steps. The flyout gives access to
Tool several more interactive tools that are described on
the following pages.

The Eyedropper Tool allows you to select a color

within an object, especially a bitmap, and allows you
Eyedropper Tool to apply that color to another object. You can also
capture the color for a customized palette. The flyout
gives access to the paint bucket that applies the
color.
 Simple Designs
Designing the globe
Steps
 Draw a circle with the ellipse tool while holding down
the crtl key.
 With the pick tool, click the sizing handle by the side and
drag inwards, while holding down the shift key, right
click to duplicate.
 Carry out the above processes repeatedly until satisfied.
 Do same horizontally.
 Select the entire objects, apply any colour and click
Combine from the Arrange or Object Menu.
Designing Business Card
 With the rectangle tool, draw a shape.
 Select the drawn shape and apply the
measurements of the card and press the enter
key.
 Type the required texts, apply appropriate
colours and insert logo/objects accordingly.
Designing NNPC logo
 Draw a uniform circle by holding down the ctrl key.
 Draw a rectangle and place at the centre of the
circle.
 Select the rectangle object, go to Arrange Menu,
>Transformations>Rotate or Window Menu>
Dockers>Transform>Rotate.
 In the displayed dialog box, type the degree of
rotation and apply accordingly to duplicate.
 Select all the objects, go to Arrange or Object
menu, locate Shaping and click on Weld, apply
colour accordingly.
 COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Communication systems are systems designed for

the transfer of information from person to person
or equipment to equipment. A communication
system usually comprises of sending equipment
(transmitter), receiving equipment (receiver), and
a transmission channel through which information
flows from source to destination. Modern
communication systems are essentially based on
Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Meaning of ICT
ICT is an acronym for INFORMATION and
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY. This is
simply the storage, retrieval, manipulation,
transmission, and receipt of digital
information through a communication
device. This device could be a computer,
radio, television, Network hardware,
software, satellite system etc. ICT is widely
used in business, schools, large
organisations, etc.
• The following six components can be identified for an ICT
system to function.
• People: The data created, transmitted and manipulated
come from people. Even if software is used to operate the
information, users and programmers operate the software
packages.
• Data: These are the raw material for the whole system.
• Procedure These describe how tasks are done. These are
rules to be followed in carrying out activities
• Hardware: These are the physical equipment.
• Software: These refer to computer programs.
• Information: When data is processed, information is the
result. It is used largely for decision-making.
• TYPES OF ICT
• Broadcasting
• Telecommunication
• Data networks
• Information systems
• Broadcasting: is the distribution of information to
a mass audience through an audio or visual device
• Telecommunication systems: This exchange of
information over a long distance through
electronic means.
• Data networks: are a means of conveying
information through a computer based equipment
• Information Systems: deal with how to plan for,
develop, manage and use information technology
tools to help individuals and organisations to
process and manage information.
 Broadcasting
This is the distribution of information (audio or
video) to a mass audience or the general public
through an audio or visual device. To broadcast is
to send a one-way information or entertainment
content to the general public.
Typical broadcasting media are;
• Radio
• Television
Those media have their abilities to receive being
enhanced by the presence and use of the antenna.
 TYPES OF BROADCASTING
• RADIO BROADCASTING: this is the transmission of some
(audio) from a transmitter through the air and it is received
with the help of a radio set having an antenna. Broadcasts
are in form of radio waves which propagate from the
transmitter of the transmitting station to the antenna of a
radio receiver. Content usually broadcast include news,
announcement, commercials, entertainment programmes,
etc.
• TELEVISION BROADCASTING: is similar to radio
broadcasting. However, television broadcasting is the act of
sending sound (audio) and video signals to individuals.
These signals are sent and received with the aid of antenna
connected to the television set. Content usually broadcast
include news, sports, commercials, entertainment
programmes, etc.
• SATELLITE TELEVISION SYSTEMS: this is a
television service delivered to individual via a
satellite system. A transmitting station on earth
transmits signals in form of microwaves into
space directly to a satellite dish and decoder,
microwave signals can be focused on a Low
Noise Block (LNB) converter, which converts the
signals into an electric current. The electric
current then flows to a satellite receiver
connected to the converter at one end, and to a
TV set at the other end. It is a subscription-based
service.
 Telecommunication Systems
Telecommunications systems include wired and
wireless local and wide area networks and hardware
and software providing the capabilities for systems to
communicate with each other or with users.
It involves sending and receiving audio, visual or audio-
visual information over a long distance using radio
waves, microwaves optical signals and electrical signals.
 TYPES
1. PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK (PSTN) is
the world’s collection of interconnected voice-oriented
public telephone networks. It is the traditional circuit-
switched telephone network. PTSN comprises all the
switched telephone networks around the world that
are operated by local, national or international carriers.
It lets users make landline telephone calls to one
another.
2. Mobile Phone System: the typical example of this is Global
System for Mobile Communication (GSM). Due to its
standardization and ease of integration, there are over 2 billion
GSM mobile phones users worldwide. A GSM phone can call any
other phone like in any location. This technology was developed
in Europe and has spread to other parts of the world. This
technology uses a SUBCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE (SIM)
smartcards to store users account information. Once the SIM is
inserted into a GSM phone, it is automatically configured for use.
GSM provides a SHORT MESSAGING SERVICE (SMS) which
permits 160 characters per message (the data rate) and provides
support for other technologies with capacity for higher
download speeds e.g. GPRS WCDMA, EDGE, etc.
3. Satellite telephone system: this allows a mobile
phone to connect to a satellite orbiting the earth
instead of base station which is stationary. The
advantage satellite phones have over normal mobile
phones is that they do not require call sites for signals
to be received since they can connect directly to the
satellite. Examples of satellite phones are those made
by IRIDIUM, THURAYA, IMMARSAT and GLOBAL STAR.

4. Fixed Wireless: Devices used for the provision of this

service are fixed in location. Fixed wireless phones are
not meant to be carried about like GSM and satellite
phones which are mobile. This wireless system is based
on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.
 DATA NETWORKS
A data network is a digital telecommunications network which allows
nodes to share resources. It is a system of computers and other
devices that are connected to each other via a transmission medium
for the purpose of resource sharing. The transmission media are;
Cables, Switches, Hubs, Routers, etc. Data networks are primarily
designed to transfer data from one point to one or more points
(multipoint). Communication includes audio and video because these
files are transferred as Data.

TYPES OF DATA NETWORKS

• Personal Area Network (PAN): This can be a cabled or wireless
connection such cabled connections use Universal Serial Bus (USB)
or FIREWIRE ports, while wireless connections are accomplished
with BLUETOOTH or INFARED signals. This type of network, usually
does not exceed 10 meters in connection distance.
• Local Area Network (LAN): This is the most common
type of computer network. It is a data
communication system that comprises computer and
printers. Connection can be via cables or wireless.
Any network situated within a building of connection
within a distance of 100 meters.
• Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN): This is a large
scale network that extends over an entire city. It is a
connection of individual corporate LANs which are
usually managed by network service providers who
sell such service to corporate organizations. MAN
usually operates with 50 kilometers distance.
• Wide Area Network (WAN): This connects two or
more LANs across wide geographical area. The internet
can be used to facilitate this type of connection. This
network can connect facilities in different parts of a
country or worldwide and hence has no limitation in
connection distance.
• INTERNET: This is a worldwide, publicly accessible
series of interconnected computer networks that
transmits data by packet switching using the standard
Internet Protocols – Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). It is a network of networks
that consists of millions of smaller domestic,
academics, business and government networks. It is
not owned by anybody but activities on it are
monitored by the Internet Society.
 INFORMATION SYSTEMS
An information system helps people collect, store,
organise and use information. Information System is a
computer system or set of components for collecting,
creating, storing, processing, and distributing
information, typically including hardware and software,
system users, and data.

The basic purpose of any information system is to help

its users get a certain type of value from the information
in the system. Information systems have become such a
normal part of the modern business world that they are
no longer noticed. For example, the process of making an
ATM withdrawal is managed by a huge financial system.
The basic components of computer-based information systems
are:
• Hardware- these are the devices like the monitor, processor,
printer and keyboard, all of which work together to accept,
process, show data and information.
• Software- are the programs that allow the hardware to
process the data.
• Databases- are the gathering of associated files or tables
containing related data.
• Telecommunications/Networks- are connecting systems that
allows diverse computers to distribute resources.
• Procedures- are the commands for combining the
components above to process information and produce the
preferred output.
• Human Resources: refer to the people that operate the
information systems.
 TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The four major types of information systems are as follows:
1. Transaction Processing Systems (TPS): These are designed to
process routine transactions efficiently and accurately. Examples
include banking transaction systems, JAMB, NECO and WAEC
registration systems, Hotel reservation systems, air ticket reservation
systems, etc.
2. Management Information System: MIS is responsible for managing
data obtained from internal sources within an organisation. A MIS is a
set of software tools that enables managers to gather, organize and
evaluate information about a work group, team, department or an
entire organization.
3. Decision Support Systems (DSS): These are special applications
that collect and report certain types of business data, which can help
managers make better decisions.
Business managers often use DSS to access and analyze data in the
company’s TPS. Many DSS are spreadsheet or database applications
that have been customized for certain business.
4. Executive Support Systems (ESS): These are designed to
help senior management make strategic decisions.
Others are:
5. Office Automation Systems (OAS): refers to the use of
computers and/or networks to perform various operations
such as; word processing, accounting, document
management, or communications. OAS are designed to
manage information – related tasks more efficiently. A
good example is Microsoft Office, which is a suite of
programs that includes a word processor, a spreadsheet
program, a presentation program and a database
management system (DBMS) as well as others.
6. Expert Systems (ES):These perform tasks that
normally would be done by a human, such as
medical diagnosis or loan approval.
For example, a diagnostic system can review a
patient’s symptoms and medical history, then
suggest a diagnosis with possible treatments.
7. Geographic Information System (GIS): This is an
organized collection of hardware, software and
personnel set used to capture, store, update,
manipulate and display geographically oriented data
which are usually maps.
 Data Processing
Data processing is the collection and manipulation of items of
data to produce meaningful information by a computer. Any use
of computers to perform defined operations on data can be
included under data processing. In the commercial world, data
processing refers to the processing of data required to run
organizations and businesses.
Stages of the Data Processing Cycle:
1. Collection is the first stage of the cycle, and is very crucial,
since the quality of data collected will impact heavily on the
output.
2. Preparation is the manipulation of data into a form suitable
for further analysis and processing. Raw data cannot be
processed and must be checked for accuracy.
3. Input is the task where verified data is coded or converted into
machine readable form so that it can be processed through a
computer. Data entry is done through the use of a keyboard, digitizer,
scanner, or data entry from an existing source.
4. Processing is when the data is subjected to various means and
methods of manipulation, the point where a computer program is
being executed, and it contains the program code and its current
activity.
5. Output and interpretation is the stage where processed information
is now transmitted to the user. Output is presented to users in various
report formats like printed report, audio, video, or on monitor. Output
need to be interpreted so that it can provide meaningful information
that will guide future decisions of the company.
6. Storage is the last stage in the data processing cycle, where data,
instruction and information are held for future use. The importance of
this cycle is that it allows quick access and retrieval of the processed
information, allowing it to be passed on to the next stage directly,
when needed.
 Global Positioning System (GPS)
A system by which signals are sent from satellites to a
special device, used to show the position of a person
or thing on the surface of the earth very accurately.
It is a space-based Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS) that provides reliable location and time
information in all weather and at all times and
everywhere on or near the Earth when and where
there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more
GPS satellites. Scientists are using the GPS to measure
the movement of the arctic ice sheet, the earth’s
tectonic plates and activity.
 APPLICATION AREAS OF ICT

ICT is used in all areas of human endeavour. There is no field or

occupation that does not make use of ICT in its operations. ICT
has brought about efficiency, speed and simplified ways of
doing things. ICT has a positive impact in the following areas:
1. Teleconferencing: This is basically the use of
telecommunication systems to facilitate conversations or
discussion (audio only) with multiple participants
simultaneously despite being separated in space and/or
time
2. Videoconferencing: This is the use of any of the ICT
systems to facilitate video and audio communication
between two or more locations simultaneously. Equipment
like webcam and audio streams are used with appropriate
software to provide live video and audio.
Videoconferencing is similar to a live TV broadcast.
3. Tele-Presence: This is a high-end videoconferencing
system and service usually employed by enterprise –level
corporate offices. It refers to a set of technologies which
allows a person to feel as if he was present via tele-robotics,
at a place other than his true location.

4. Telecommunication and Networking: the operations of

these services have been greatly improved by ICT with the
help of various technologies working together to provide
highly efficient connection.

5. Telecomputing: this is the act of sending and/or receiving

information over a data (computer) network. It is remote
communication between computers. The most common use
of interlinked computers now is by the way of the internet.
6. Messaging: Internet as one of the ICT facilities is constantly
being used in message sending and receiving. The electronic mail
(e-mail) and Instant Messaging (chatting) are important tools
that individuals and organization use for communication.
7. Information Search, Retrieval and Archival: Search engines
like Google, [Link] and Yahoo are used in information search
and retrieval. The compact disk, flash drive are used for storing
or archiving information for future usage.

ICT BASED GADGETS

A gadget is a small machine or device used in carrying out a
function in order to achieve a desired goal. Gadgets that are
based on ICT technologies and principles are said to be ICT based
gadgets. Some of these gadgets include:
• Smartphones
• Computers
• Fax machines
• Dispensing Machines
• Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
• Point of Sale machine/Automated Cash Register
(POS/ACR)
• GPS navigation tools in automobiles
• Robotics in manufacturing
• Medical diagnostic scanners
• Most home appliances.
Uses of ICT Gadgets
• Cell Phone is a good example of mobile phone. Some cell
phones have internet facilities, which allows anyone using it
to perform internet function.
• Computer is central to ICT usage and application. It is used to
manipulate, store, retrieve, transmit and send digital
information.
• Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is a computer controlled
device that dispenses cash and provides other services to
customers who identify themselves with a PIN (Personal
Identification Number).
• Radio is used in broadcasting voice information only to people
while television combines voice and video (graphics)
information.
1. The major differences between tele and video
conferences:
2. Write on the uses of the following ICT gadgets:
POS/ACR
Fax machine
Dispensing machine