Chapter 1.7 - Systems Software Flashcards
What is the purpose of system software?
To manage files, users, peripherals, memory and user interface
What are the 2 types of system software?
Operating system and Utility (application) software
What is the operating system made up of?
User, hardware, applications, user interface, utility programs, device drivers, file management, memory management.
What is a device driver?
Device drivers translate OS instructions into instructions hardware can understand (peripherals operate in a certain way.
Give examples of user interfaces (name the 4 key ones).
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Natural language interface
Menu interface
Command line interface
What is a menu interface?
Allows user to select from a fixed number of display options e.g. an mp3, old phones, menu driven operations, etc.
What is a command line interface?
User inputs instructions line by line for the computer to process and execute, the program has white writing on a black background usually. They are text based and mainly only now used by experts, they are efficient.
What is a natural language interface?
A device that can interact with user via voice communication, however it is not always reliable.
What is a GUI?
A Graphical User Interface has a WIMP. Windows (tabs open), Interface (what it appears like to the user , graphical icons that are easy to understand), Menu, Pointers (allow easy access)
What is multitasking?
When computers juggle many tasks at once, processing requests so quickly it appears as if they are all occurring at the same time to the naked eye (each application is given a small time-slice of the processor time.
