1.5 OS and Utility Software

Describe the purpose of an operating system?

• Includes operating system and utilities software. Tells computer hardware what to do and provides a user interface (OS). Maintains, optimises and cleans a computer (Utilities).

• A set of programs that controls how the user interacts with the hardware and software of a computer.

Name four commonly used operating systems

• Windows, Mac OSX, Android, IOS
• PowerPoint, Word, Publisher, Notepad

What is meant by a user interface?

• Allows a user to interact with the computer (hardware)
• A screen overlay for the monitor

What is meant by a Command Line Interface (CLI)?

• The user has to type in specific commands to do things like moving and copying files.
• The user communicates with the operating system using windows, icons, menu and pointers (WIMP) e.g. Windows

What is meant by a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?

• The user has to type in specific commands to do things like moving and copying files.
• The user communicates with the operating system using windows, icons, menu and pointers (WIMP) e.g. Windows

GUI or CLI?

• GUI
• CLI

GUI or CLI?

• GUI
• CLI

Operating systems have five functions - what are they?

• Memory management/multitasking, providing a user interface, peripheral management and drivers, user management and file management.
• Human resource management, memory management, pedestrian management, user management and file management.

What is meant by memory management? (A function of an o/s)

• Windows, Linux, OSX and Android are multitasking operating systems. A multitasking operating system allows more than one program to run at the same time.
• In charge of the RAM. Programs often use RAM throughout their operation, some use more memory than others. The memory manager checks requests from programs for memory space are valid and then allocates memory space.It also de-allocates space.

What is meant by multitasking? (A function of an o/s)

• Windows, Linux, OSX and Android are multitasking operating systems. A multitasking operating system allows more than one program to run at the same time.
• In charge of the RAM. Programs often use RAM throughout their operation, some use more memory than others. The memory manager checks requests from programs for memory space are valid and then allocates memory space.It also de-allocates space.