1.5 Systems Software

Question 1

What are the two types of system software

Answer 1

Operating systems and utility software

Question 2

What is an operating system

Answer 2

• software that controls the computers hardware
• provides an interface between the user of the computer and the hardware
• hides complexities of the hardware from the user

Question 3

What’s utility software

Answer 3

• used to maintain the computer system
• designed to do just one task

Question 4

What is user interface

Answer 4

A program that allows a user to interact with a computer

Question 5

What is multi-tasking

Answer 5

• running multiple applications at the same time by giving each one a small time-slice of processor time
• this allows more than 1 program to be held in memory at a time and data shared between shared between them eg = copy and paste
• enables you to listen to msuic on your PC at the same time as word processing

Question 6

What is memory management

Answer 6

• when programs are loaded the operating system decides where they’re held in memory
• over time the memory becomes fragmented as programs are loaded and closed because they use different amounts of memory
• the operating system must keep track of different program fragments
• when the memory’s full the operating system uses virtual memory

Question 7

What is peripheral management/device drivers

Answer 7

• translates operating systems instructions into commands that the hardware (eg = printer) will understand
• a piece of software used to control a piece of hardware
• each peripheral needs a device driver, many are already built into the operating system

Question 8

User interface examples

Answer 8

• graphical user interface (GUI)
• command line interface
• menu driven interface
• natural language interface

Question 9

Advantages of GUI

Answer 9

• uses WIMP (windows, icons, menus, pointers)
• intuitive, easy to learn/use

Question 10

GUI disadvantages

Answer 10

• Needs lots of memory
• lots of processing needed

Question 11

Command line advantages

Answer 11

• very fast
• very little processing/memory required

Question 12

Command line disadvantages

Answer 12

• needs to know the code, good for experts

Question 13

Menu driven interface advantages

Answer 13

Easy to use