Chapter 2 - Software

Question 1

What is application software ?

Answer 1

Application software enables the computer to do a particular task, such as word processing

Question 2

What is system software ?

Answer 2

It is the interface between computer hardware and user application programs

Question 3

What are the three functions of system software ?

Answer 3

• Allocating memory
• Storage
• Processing time

Question 4

Describe how the system software deals with processing time ?

Answer 4

Divides processing time into time slices depend on the priority each task is allocated a number of these time slices

Question 5

What is real time processing and what are some applications ?

Answer 5

• processing of data occurs immediately after it is input and updating occurs before next input occurs
• airline or concert booking systems

Question 6

What is batch processing and what are some applications ?

Answer 6

• data is collected over a period of time and processed together at a later time
• billing systems, banking systems

Question 7

What is multi-user system processing and what are some applications ?

Answer 7

• The operating system switches between computers giving each one a ‘time slice’
• database management systems

Question 8

What is a utility application ?

Answer 8

It is a program that carries out a specific task to assist the operating system

Question 9

Name three utility applications

Answer 9

• Disc defragmentation
• task scheduling
• data backup and restore

Question 10

Describe disc defragmentation

Answer 10

rearranges the data on a hard disk so that all the data is stored together and can be quicker to access

Question 11

Describe a backup

Answer 11

A second copy of a file made and stored on a different storage device

Question 12

What is an anti virus software ?

Answer 12

Scans files stored on a computer system, looking for viruses

Question 13

What is the anti-virus software main purpose

Answer 13

detect, locate and remove a virus