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1.7: Systems software - Coggle Diagram
1.7: Systems software
What is an
operating system
?
Definition
: a collection of
programs
(suites) that
control and manage
the
function
of a system.
It has a variety of functions, including, but not limited to:
Controlling
hardware
components
Providing a
user interface
Multitasking
facilities
Managing
files
Examples of operating systems include:
IOS
Linux
Microsoft Windows
Android
User interfaces (UIs)
Definition
: a program or programs that allow a user to
interact
with a system.
There are three types of UIs to consider:
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Feature a
desktop
where everything is
displayed
.
Applications
run in Windows and all objects are represented with
icons
.
Application
features
can be
accessed
through
menus
.
Users
interact
with the interface using a
mouse or pointer
.
Mobile User Interface (Mobile UI)
Similar to GUIs, except they
respond to touch
. Fingers and styluses are used to open and interact with programs and software.
Found on smartphones and tablets.
Command line interface (CLI)
Text-based interface
controlled by users typing in
commands.
Require
little processing power
and are very powerful.
Difficult to use
.
Multi-tasking
Definition
: multi-tasking is when a system is running
more than one
program at any given time.
Limitations of multi-tasking:
The OS can support the multi-tasking.
The computer has
enough storage
to hold more than one program in primary memory at the given time.
Peripherals and drivers
Definition
: A peripheral is any
hardware device
connected to a computer e.g. a printer.
Definition
: A driver is
software
that communicates with and
controls peripherals
.
Advantages of drivers:
Any device
can be used with the
OS
, as long as its
driver is available.
Can be
updated
e.g. to improve performance or fix bugs.
File handling
One of the most importance tasks in the OS.
Uses of file handling for users include, but are not limited to:
The creation, modification and deletion of files and folders.
Copying and moving
of files.
Searching
for particular files/folders.
Changing access levels.
User management
An OS also
manages users
.
The OS allows:
Individual
users
to be
created/deleted
.
Access levels
to be given to users e.g. administration rights.
Auditing
of files created, accessed, deleted etc.
What is
systems software
?
It has a variety of functions, including:
Allowing other software to be run.
Providing a
user interface
so that people can interact with the system.
Controlling
hardware
including peripherals.
Maintaining
the system.
There are two types of systems software that are considered:
The
utilities
: A program that performs maintenance tasks to improve the performance of a system.
The
operating system
(OS): software that manages the hardware and software resources in a system.
Definition
: Systems software is a type of
software
that
governs
how a computer system runs.
What is
utility software
?
Definition
: Utility software is any software that helps to
maintain
a system.
Utility software includes:
Encryption software
Disguises
content of files so as to only be understood by
authorised users
.
It can encrypt
specific files
or
all the files on a hard disk.
Defragmentation software
Fragmentation
Definition
:
Fragmentation
is when
segments
stored on a hard disk become
split up
; usually
occurs more
as the
system gets older
.
A
fragmented
disk takes
longer
to read from and write to, so
affects the computer's speed
.
Defragmentation software
takes the
fragmented files
and
rearranges the segments
so that they are
next to each other
,
increasing the computer's speed
.
Data compression software
Compression software
reduces the size
of files stored on secondary storage.
Backup software
Backups
Data can be
lost
by accident,
stolen
or
deleted
on purpose.
To prevent data loss, network administrators make
regular copies
of data. Backups often write to
secondary storage
.
There are two types of backup that can be done using backup storage:
Full backup
A full backup involves making a copy of
every file
on the computer or network. This requires
a lot of storage capacity
and can be
time-consuming.
Incremental backup
Incremental backups take a copy of
any new files
created since the last backup, or files that have been edited since the last backup.