Chap 19(Software)

Question 1

Information about how much the hardware is used by each process is displayed?

Answer 1

•Proportion of CPU time spent on processes
•Amount of memory used by the process
•Amount of available memory (Real memory/Virtual Memory)

Question 2

What’s API?

Answer 2

Application Programming Interface: Code that allows two programs to communicate each other

Question 3

Why do we use OS API rather than accessing hardware directly?

Answer 3

• Doesn’t matter what hardware it is installed on(App programs run on OS)
  -OS controls what app program allow to do-> Reduce risk of program crashing & maintain security

Question 4

What’s multitasking OS and what allows it to happen?

Answer 4

-OS allows to run processes concurrently
by the scheduler giving each process their share of CPU time.

Question 5

What does a driver for a device do?

Answer 5

-A software really communicates with I/O device on computer’s bus.
-It transfers data between hardware device and OS in agreed format (API)

Question 6

Examples of API and usage

Answer 6

•Network Device Interface Specifications (NDIS) for Windows network drivers
•ALSA for Linux sound drivers.

Question 7

Types of Utility Software?

Answer 7

•Basic Tools
-Text Editor
-command prompt
-Hex Editor
-Calculator
-Software for accessibility

•File Management Tools
-Backup
-Coverting file formats
-Defragmenter(Speed up access time)
-Compression

•Security tools
-Antimalware
-Firewall
-Encryrption

Question 8

What does simulation and modelling allow us to do?

Answer 8

•Allow us to do experiments that can’t/shouldn’t be done in real world.
(What if earth temp raises)
(Stopping exercise cause depression?)

•Can answer what if questions(giving inputs to see the output or prediction)

Question 9

What’s abstraction?

Answer 9

Hiding complexity, only exposing key features of a situation and leaving oyt the details

Question 10

Two big problems with Simulation and Modelling?

Answer 10

-Model/Simulation includes assumption
-Use abstraction to simplify possible factors

Therefore inaccurate answers

Question 11

Examples of computer models?

Answer 11

•Flight simulator ->Pilots train to fly aricraft safely

•Atmosoheric models->track temp,pressure, humidity-> Calculate ->Forecast the weater

Question 12

Techniques used in finding pattern in data to predict future?

Answer 12

•Heuristics(Trials and error)

•Monte Carlos methods (Statistical analysis of number of random samples to get approximate solutions)

•Neural Networks(Learn and adapt like human brain)

Question 13

What’s a process?

Answer 13

Each task that is running

Question 14

Why is certain software a utility software?

Answer 14

•Does useful job that isn’t essential to OS
•Not the reason we use computer (Not app software)

Question 15

Why is defragmentation used?

Answer 15

As data is stored while platters spin, it is dispersed across the disk.(Fragmentation)
By rearranging relevant data into adjacent sectors makes it easier to access.