1.5 Systems software Flashcards
What does systems software do
Controls the hardware, including peripherals
Allows other programs to run
Provides an interface for the user to interact with
Maintains the system
What is an OS
Operating System - software that controls the computer’s hardware and software resources
What is a user interface
A program that allows a user to interact with a computer
What are the types of interfaces
Graphical User Interface (GUI) - a desktop where everything is displayed and all objects are represented by icons
Command Line Interface (CLI) - users control the computer by typing in commands
Natural language - involves the user giving instructions for the computer to perform using language you would normally use when speaking to another person
What is multitasking
When the computer is doing multiple tasks one after the other to make it look like it’s doing everything simultaneously
What is memory management
Keeps track of what portions of memory have been allocated. Maps memory to each process. Determines how much memory to allocate to each process
Determines when a portion of memory should be available for a process
What are peripherals and device drivers
Peripherals - hardware devices connected to a computer, e.g. camera
Device driver - software that communicates and controls peripherals
What is file handling
Rename, create, edit, copy and delete files/folders
What is user management
Manages users, e.g. creating/removing individual users and giving them access levels
What is utility software
Software that helps maintain the system
What does encryption software do
Disguises the contents of files so they can only be understood by authorised users
What does disc defragmentation do
Takes the fragmented files and rearranges the segments so that they run contiguously. This decreases read/write time, thereby speeding up computer performance
What does data compression do
Reduces the size of a file stored on secondary storage
