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3.2 Detailed results

3.2.4 Graphics software

It is not easy to differentiate between graphics software and image processing software in some instances. Therefore, the reader should also consult our section discussing the use of image processing software.

What then can be say by way of summary on the use of graphics software in the social sciences? Here the graphs below detailing the number of questionnaires received broken down into subject area and into software product are helpful. It is clear, first, that graphics software is in widespread use throughout the social sciences. We have reports on its use in every subject area. Most reports come from sociology and social policy with politics following some way behind.

PowerPoint was the most frequently used software with eight questionnaires received. Harvard Graphics and Toolbook followed PowerPoint. Of the other 15 software products in this section we received just one report on their use each. As with spreadsheet software, the use of graphics software is widespread but, unlike spreadsheet software (where Excel dominates), a very wide variety of different tools are being used.

Responses were received for the following software products. More detailed comments are available under each sub-heading.

3Dstudio Max

A specialised visualisation package used in CAD and specifically from questionnaire responses in Architecture. Version R2 produced by Autodesk Inc, running under Windows95 was reported on.

The software is used by architects, landscape architects, furniture designers, sculptures etc. Its main use is to give an impression in three dimensions of colour, light, texture and form. The software was described as being quite easy to use and very useful. However, it was also described as being expensive.

In terms of product development sunpath placement would be valuable in order to give and impression of light at a particular time of day for a particular latitude. These comments have been passed to Autodesk.

Artworks

We received one report on Artworks from an Economic Geographer running the software on an IBM PC clone with 4MB of RAM.

The software was being used for research involving vector drawings and was considered to be very easy to use. It was also considered to be very useful on account of its speed and ability to interface with a range of other software.

AutoCad

We received one brief questionnaire describing the use of AutoCAD, version 13 running under Windows NT in Archaeology.

The software was being used in the generation of 2D and 3D Drawings and in digitising. Used in both teaching and research, AutoCAD was described as being very useful but quite difficult to learn.

Claris Works

An integrated package with similar functions to Microsoft Works. It includes, with the spreadsheet module graph-generation functions and has a drawing and paint package.

We received one report of Claris Works use in a Sociology Department. It was found to be easy to use and very useful.

Its particular advantages as a visualisation tool were listed as:

As might be expected for an integrated package, the main disadvantage was that the software would not draw complex graphs. Equally, this was viewed as the most important area of future software development.

Claris Corporation has advised by letter that they are now focusing exclusively on information-management solutions and particularly FileMaker Pro database software. As a result the group will no longer support Claris Works which will, in future, be developed and supported by Apple Computer Incorporated.

Corel Draw

Two questionnaires referred to Corel Draw, one to its use in teaching, the other in research. The software was used for creating relatively simple graphs for use in lectures, in work books and for WWW pages. The software was also used for image importing, retouching and masking.

Particular advantages were cited as:

Particular disadvantages were cited as:

No software developments were suggested.

D-prime Beta

Thanks to Peter Naish who provided details of D-Prime Beta. Peter wrote the software (running under MacOS 7/8) to analyse signal detection parameters and display results graphically. Peter is a cognitive psychologist.

D-Prime Beta permits demonstration of the principles of Signal Detection Theory and allows the standard parameters of SDT to be determined in two simple situations. Measurements are in either the visual or auditory modality; in the visual example stimuli are lines and S is required to detect short lines from a sequence of longer distractors. The auditory analogue requires detection of short 'beeps' from longer sounds. The difference between long and short may be entered in advance, using the 'Parameters' menu. This menu allows numbers of stimuli and proportion of signals to be set also. If preferred, a rough-and-ready method is available (under the 'Test' menu) to determine the just-noticeable-difference for either sounds or lines. Once a JND has been found it is automatically used in the SD tests. The default value is 10 units, which is 10% of the long line and 33% of the long tone. When the SD trial has been run, a summary of the data is presented, followed by the values of D' and ' and a sketch of the signal and noise curves and criterion point. If data amenable to SD analysis are available from elsewhere they may be analysed by using 'Calculate', from the 'Test" menu. Where zero false alarm or miss rates are entered, the convention of adding 0.5 to the score is adopted.

The program has been made available at this stage, following requests for an early release. Suggestions for improvements and additional facilities would be welcomed.

Freelance

We received one report on Freelance from a sociologist. They were using version 2 on a 486 PC running Windows 3.1.

The software was being used for presentations such as flow charts in teaching and was considered to be fairly easy to use.

GLIM

Another graphics package that is rarely used by social scientists. One reply was received from the Centre for Applied Statistics at Lancaster University. The reply made reference to GLIM 4 running on a Windows machine and was used for the production of postscript and on-screen line graphs in both teaching and research.

The software was considered to be very useful. Reference was made to the value of the command language providing simpler functionality that a complex series of menu options. The postscript files also fed well into latex for publication.

The software could be further developed by the addition of a wider range of device drivers and the production of a full Windows version of the software.

Gsharp

Gsharp has replaced Unimap and Unigraph although these products are still available. It has many more features and a much more up to date interface. It is primarily used for the creation of 2D, 3D and 4D graphs.

This software is not extensively used in the social sciences. A member of our project team completed a questionnaire, but this was the only reply we received. Many users were used to the Uniras interface and find Gsharp more difficult to use. This is, perhaps, reflected in the apparent unpopularity of the software in the social sciences.

The software has facilities which are simply not available in other packages. It has particular advantages in terms of the range of types of graph it can produce, the number of printer drivers it supports and the flexibility of the scripting language. Whilst not particularly difficult to use users must spend time acquainting themselves with the software to a greater degree than with some other packages. The VMS version of the software has a number of drawbacks making Unimap and Unigraph the preferred choice on this platform.

Harvard Graphics

One questionnaire was received describing the use of Harvard Graphics version 2.0 for DOS. The respondee also had access to versions 2.0 and 3.0 for Windows.

The software was used in both teaching and research for the immediate production of charts such as pies, bars, area and line and was considered to be very useful and quite easy to use.

The main advantages of Harvard Graphics were listed as

The main disadvantages were listed as

The respondee also commented that DOS was a dying operating system.

Macintosh Common Lisp

We received one report of version 4.2 of this software being used running under MacOS.

The software was used in research for computer simulation. The main advantages of Lisp were listed as

Disadvantages included:

The software would be improved through enhanced graphics.

Microsoft Drawings

One respondee in Economics made reference to Drawings - a fairly easy and useful drawing package for drawing graphs within WORD documents used in the preparation of teaching materials.

The software's main advantages were its straightforward intuitive mouse-driven actions and the ease with which images could be embedded within WORD documents. Its main disadvantage was the difficulty of using a mouse for drawing lines as opposed to a pen.

Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint was the most popular graphics/presentations package in use in the social sciences. Eight questionnaires made mention of it. A number of different versions were in use both on PCs and Macs from 4.0 to the latest - 97 - release. PowerPoint was generally found to be very easy to use - no one found it difficult even through not all had access to manuals. All who used it found it to be useful of very useful.

In all cases PowerPoint was used in teaching - not in research. In particular it was used for:

Particular advantages were listed as:

Disadvantages cited included:

Suggested software developments included:

Surfacer

A specialised visualisation package used by Archaeologists to build surface models of artefacts, verify model accuracy, provide an electronic database of artefacts including their physical properties, and to allow interactive visualisation.

Surfacer V, developed by Imageware, Ann Arbor, runs under SGI IRIX. Its particular advantages were described as its user-friendly nature, ability to cope with data in a range of formats, ability to handle precisely complex geometry and its interactive verification and editing facilities.

The main disadvantage with Surfacer was its cost.

In terms of software development 'For those of us interested in solid modelling, we would like to see better data exchange facilities with IDEAS Master Series.' These comments have been passed to the manufacturer.

Tolis123

We received one completed questionnaire discussing the use of Tolis123 version 5 running under Windows 3.1. The software was being used to create graphs in research. No further details were provided.

Toolbook

We received two reports of Toolbook being used, in both instances in teaching. The reports describe version 3 and version 4 of the software. Toolbook was used to create digitally based support materials for lectures and materials for students to refer to after lectures. It enables the creation of interactive diagrams and models.

The main advantages of the software were listed as:

One respondee wrote 'It has enabled us to create a whole range of simulations, Bihari Farmer, Africa in Crisis, Virtual Malta, Skills Shop and a number of DBSMs for years 1 and 2 of the Environmental Science degree.'

Disadvantages were described as:

xmgr

We received no reports of XMGR being used by social scientists. A member of our group - based in Computing Services - completed a questionnaire.

The software is used to generate graphs. Its main advantage is that it is a free package for Unix operating systems. However, as with all free packages there is no guaranteed support or upgrades. In terms of development new graph types and a PC version could be introduced.

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