Types of user interface Flashcards
Types of user interface
- GUI (graphical user interface)
* Command line
Description of user interface
Software that allows a user to input data, and presents result (outputs) to the user
Purpose and example of systems software
- Programs that run/operate the applications and hardware
* e.g. operating systems, utility programs
Tasks performed by an operating system (OS)
- User interface
- Memory management / multitasking
- Peripheral management / drivers
- User management
- File management
Features of a GUI
- Graphical user interface
- Windows, icons, menus and pointers
- User friendly and intuitive but slow for experienced users
Functions of memory management (OS)
- Deciding when to read/write data from/to memory,where to read/write it from/to and what memory to access it from (e.g. RAM, HDD)
- Deciding when to user virtual memory, and managing VM
- Managing access to memory, e.g. RAM, hard drive
Functions of multitasking (by an OS)
- One CPU(or CPU core) can only run one process at a time
- An OS can make it appear that several things are happening at the same time, e.g. running multiple software packages
- It does this by switching between them so quickly that the user doesn’t notice
Types of compression
- Lossy
* Lossless
Description of lossless compression
- When decompressed the file is the same as the original
* Data is not lost
Purpose and examples of utility software
- Performs maintenance
* e.g. encryption, defragmentation, compression, backup
Functions of user management (OS)
- Setting up and managing user accounts, e.g. usernames and passwords
- Allocating files for users
Purpose of file backup
Creating a copy of files, in case the original are lost
Types of backup
- Full
* Incremental
Description of incremental backup
Only files, data and/ or software that have changed since the last backup are backed up
Advantage of incremental backup
Faster to run because once everything is backed up, only small parts are backed up each time
Purpose of data compression
Reduces the size of a file
Description of a fragmented disk
- Fragmentation occurs when files become split across several areas of a hard disk
- Leads to decreased performance in writing to and reading from the disk
- Develops over a period of time
Functions of file management(OS)
- Creating and naming files and folders
- Renaming files/folders
- Moving files/folders
- Deleting files/folders
Functions of defragmentation
- Moves all data blocks together, and all free space together
- Increases efficiency when writing to and reading from the disk
Situations where data compression is needed
- Downloading/uploading files-the smaller the file, the faster the files can be transferred
- Streaming-the smaller the file, the less bandwidth is required by both the server and client
- Limited storage size-the smaller the file, the more files can be stored on the device
Importance of backing up files
- To have a copy in case the originals are lost
* Data is valuable and can not afford to be lost
Description of full backup
All files,data and software are backed up
Advantage of full backup
Nothing is lost; any changes to any files/data/software are backed up
