1.5 Operating systems Flashcards

1
Q

Types of systems software

A

Operating systems
Utility software

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2
Q

examples of operating systems

A

Windows
IOS
Mac os
Android
Linux
Raspbian

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3
Q

What is systems software

A

System software is software which allows a computer to run and to be maintained.

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4
Q

Functions/features/purposes/functionality of an OS

A

The OS:

communicates with hardware via device drivers

Provides a user interface

Provides a platform on which users can run programs

Allows a computer to multitask by controlling memory

Deals with file and disk management

Manages the security of the system

_______________________________________
Provide a User interface
Memory management
Multitasking
Peripheral management
Drivers
User management
File management

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5
Q

Function of operating system

A

Provides a platform on which users can run programs

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6
Q

What is meant by a user interface

A

A computer design that allows the user to interact with the computer.

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7
Q

Function of utility software

A

Used to maintain the computer system

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8
Q

Types of user interfaces

A

Graphical User interface (GUI)
Command Line Interface
Menu Driven Interface
Natural language interface

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9
Q

State features of GUI

A

It has Windows, icons, menus, pointers (WIMP)

Visual

Interactive

Intuitive

Optimised for mouse and touch gesture input

(often known as WIMP interface)

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10
Q

What is meant by a Graphic User Interface

A

A user interface that uses graphics/images and words to represent the interaction between the end user and a computer.

Icons are used to represent actions and resources.

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11
Q

Features of Command Line Interface

A

Text based

Less resource heavy compared to GUI

More commands than a GUI

Efficient

For advanced users

Useful for automating processes with scripts

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12
Q

How is a Command Line Interface used

A

User provides a text input or command using the computer keyboard and the computer outputs text on the monitor.

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13
Q

What is meant by a CLI

A

An interface which allows the user to interact with a computer only by typing in commands from a set list

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14
Q

Features of Menu Driven Interface

A

Successive menus presented to the users

Single options chosen at each stage

Often with buttons on a keypad (Users interact with these devices with buttons on a keypad)

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15
Q

Identify two benefits of using a Command Line Interface instead of a GUI

A

Command line interfaces give greater control to Users than GUIs
They are less resource-heavy than GUIs

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16
Q

Where are Menu Driven Interfaces likely to be found at/on

A

Likely to be found at cashpoints and on chip-and-pin devices

17
Q

Features of Natural Language Interface

A

Responds to questions in spoken language

Not always reliable

Getting better all the time.

18
Q

How does the natural language interface work

A

A user can speak in their natural language into a computer system, so it responds to question said in spoken English

19
Q

What is multitasking

A

Running multiple applications at the same time by giving each application a small time-slice of processor time.

20
Q

State the advantages of multitasking

A

Multitasking allows more than one program to be held in memory at a time, and data to be shared between them such as copy and paste

It also enabled you to listen to music on your PC at the same time as word processing.

21
Q

Explain why, when the Operating System is multitasking, it appears as if multiple programs are executing simultaneously

A

Multitasking is running multiple applications at the same time by giving each application a small time-slice of processor time.

As this happens so quickly it appears as if multiple programs are executing simultaneously

22
Q

Explain how multitasking works

A

Multitasking is running multiple applications at the same time by giving each application a small time-slice of processor time.

Each program has a small time slice, (one program is allocated a time slice, once this is over, it is passed to the next program which has a small time slice, this process repeats.)

23
Q

What is memory management

A

Management/organization of memory at the system level.

24
Q

What is memory management used for

A

It is used to allocate free memory to programs that need it, and free up memory where it is not needed. - for computers to work efficiently

It is used to keep track of different program fragments

When programs are loaded, the operating system decides where they are held in memory

25
Q

How can a hard disk become fragmented

A

Files have been loaded from the hard drive into main memory (RAM)

When the user closes a program, it is removed from memory and the memory is freed up

Another program is loaded into RAM. This program may be bigger than the spaces left by the deleted files.

Therefore the program is split up

26
Q

A restaurant has a computer-based ordering system which is running slowly. A technician has
said that the hard disc drive is fragmented. The technician has suggested using utility software to
defragment the drive.

(a) Explain how the restaurant’s hard disc could have become fragmented.

A
  • Orders have been saved onto the system as they order food and then
    deleted once processed (1)
  • Once other orders have been made, new files are created (1) which may
    be bigger than the spaces left by the deleted files (1)
  • The order files are split up (1)
27
Q

What is peripheral management

A

Allows a computer’s external devices to communicate with the computer system.

28
Q

Explain how peripheral management works

A

Peripheral management allows a computer’s external devices to communicate with the computer system.

It controls external devices by sending them commands.

29
Q

Function of device drivers

A

Translates operating system instructions into commands that the hardware will understand

30
Q

In terms of device drivers, what does each peripheral need

A

Each peripheral needs a device driver (each peripheral needs its own device driver)

31
Q

Explain how device drivers work for printers

A

In the example of printers, a device driver translates the operating system instructions to print the document into a series of instructions which a specific piece of hardware will understand

32
Q

Explain why we need to use device drivers

A

Computers have to be able to output to a wide range of devices.

Files should look the same no matter what model of a specific output device a user sends it to (for example a document printed from a word processor should look the same no matter what make or model of printer the user sends it to)

The technology behind each model of specific type of hardware is very different

To overcome this in consistency, we use device drivers.

33
Q

Function of user management

A

Providing for different users to log into a computer

34
Q

Explain how user management works

A

User management provides for different users to log into a computer

The operating system will retains settings for each user, such as icons, desktop backgrounds etc.

Each user may have different access rights to files and programs

A client server network may impose a fixed or roaming profile for a user, and manage login requests to the network.

35
Q

In a network, what is meant by user management

A

The administrative feature of a computer system to allocate an account or control user access into a network.

36
Q

Explain what is meant by file management

A
  • A system that is used by the operating system to organise and keep track of files.
  • A software that manages data files.
37
Q

Features of file management

A

Features include naming, allocating folders, Moving Files, Saving files.

_____________
Data is stored in files

An extension (e.g., .pptx, .docx) to the filename tells the operating system which application to load the file into.

The operating system may present a logical structure of files into folders, and allow the user to rename, delete, copy and move files.

38
Q

Explain how the operating system manages memory and CPU time to allow the computer to multitask

A

When programs are opened, the OS moves the necessary parts to memory.

The OS will remove unneeded data from memory e.g. when programs or files are closed.

The OS divides memory into segments. When different programs are used, their data is placed into different segments so that running applications can not write over or interfere with each other.

The OS organises the movement of data to and from virtual memory

The OS divides CPU time between running programs, as it can only process one at time

The OS can prioritise CPU time for different programs in order for them to be processed in the most efficient order