1.5: SYSTEMS SOFTWARE

Question 1

What is system software?

Answer 1

-software that governs the computer system.

Question 2

Two kinds of systems software to consider:

Answer 2

-operating systems
-utilities

Question 3

What is an operating system? (2 MAIN POINTS)

Answer 3

-a suite of programs that manages and controls the computer.

Question 4

Give an example of an operating system:

Answer 4

-Microsoft Windows
-Apple OS X
-Android
-IOS

Question 5

What is a user interface?

Answer 5

a suite of programs that allows a user to interact with a computer.

Question 6

List the 3 types of user interface:

Answer 6

-graphical user interface (GUI)
-mobile user interface (Mobile UI)
-command line interface (CLI)

Question 7

Characteristics of GUIs and MUIs: A&D

Answer 7

-Applications represented by icons (and accessible through menus.)
-Users interact by using a mouse and on-screen pointer/ touch.
-powerful and easy to use, but require a lot of processing power.

Question 8

Characteristics of CLIs: A&D

Answer 8

-text-based.
-Users control the computer by typing in commands.
-require little processing power and are extremely powerful, but are difficult to use

Question 9

Explain why computers need an Operating System:

Answer 9

-proves an interface between software and hardware
-allows control of hardware

Question 10

What is multi-tasking?

Answer 10

-Many multiple tasks/ instructions running at the same time.

Question 11

Multi-tasking is only possible if: (2)

Answer 11

-the operating system can support multitasking
-the computer has enough memory to hold more than one program in primary memory at the same time

Question 12

What does Memory management manage? and what does it ensure can happen?

Answer 12

-manages RAM (main memory)

-more than one program can run at the same time
-more than one document can be opened at the same time

Question 13

what are the 5 functions of an operating system?

Answer 13

o User interface
o Memory management and multitasking
o Peripheral management and drivers
o User management
o File management

Question 14

What are peripherals?

Answer 14

-hardware devices connected to a computer

Question 15

How does the operating system operate a peripheral?

Answer 15

-uses a program called a device driver

Question 16

What do device drivers contain?

Answer 16

-contains instructions on how to control an external device/ peripheral

Question 17

Advantages of using device drivers:

Answer 17

-any device can be used with the operating system, as long as a driver is available for it
-drivers can be updated, usually to give better performance or to remove a bug

Question 18

What is File management? and what does it do?

Answer 18

-program that OP uses to organise and keep track of files.

-keeps track of the exact sector of the hard drive the files are stored in

Question 19

The file management software allows users to:

Answer 19

-create, modify and delete files and folders
-copy and duplicate files and folders
-move files and folders
-rename files and folders
-sort items into different orders, according to name, file type, date created and more
-search for particular files and folders
-restore deleted files
-set access rights to files such as read only or edit

Question 20

Different types of utility software:

Answer 20

encryption software
defragmentation software
data compression software
firewall

Question 21

What does an encryption software do?

Answer 21

-it disguises the contents of files so they can only be understood by authorised users