Computer Software Vocab

Question 0

Operating System (OS)

Answer 0

• Most basic level of software; handles low level hardware instructions like translating signals from the mouse into cursor movements, displaying pixels on the screen, and reading and writing from a hard drive
• i.e. Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX, Linux (software for one wont work on another)

Question 1

Software

Answer 1

• The instructions for a computer
• tells the CPU what to calculate
• tells the other hardware what to do

Question 2

Drivers

Answer 2

Instructions for the OS to use other devices

Ex: an OS might not know how to use a printer until it has the right driver for it

Question 3

Program

Answer 3

Software that a user interacts with (the one most familiar to us)

Question 4

Basic Input/ Output System (BIOS)

Answer 4

• Software built int o a motherboard that runs when a PC is loading; most important job is to decide what storage device to use to finish booting (load an operating system)
• Will typically use the hard drive
• Access by pressing delete @ startup

Question 5

Command Line

Answer 5

Early computers didn’t have graphics & you would have to type commands; can make complex tasks more efficient