An operating system is the most important software that runs a computer.
It manages all the hardware and software on the computer.
3 most common operating systems for personal computers are Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux
2.9.1 User interface
The user interface is the point of human to computer interaction/communication of a device.
It is the way the user interacts with the website/application
Types include:
graphical user interface(GUI)-user interacts with digital control panels e.g computer desktop.
comand line interface(CLI)-proccesses commands to computer in form of text.
menu driven user interface- employs a series of screens that allows user to make choices.
touch user interface-when user has to physically touch the screen.
voice user interface(VUI)- user interacts through their voices. e.g siri,alexa
form-based user interface-user interacts with app by selecting diffferent possibilities
natural language user interface(NLUI)-allows user to interact with human language.
examples include:
Mouse
remote control
VR
ATM
speedometer
2.9.2 managing system recources
Controls what starts up and what stops.
uses RAM(random access memory)
when RAM is all used process runs slower or computer crashes
to coordinate different tasks such as printing several documents from different users, an OS places these in a buffer for printing one after the other
a buffer is a place in memory
2.9.3 managing security and access rights
an OS can grant/deny access
- User names and passwords – these are names and passwords registered with the operating system to whom it allows access at the time of login.
- Key Cards – these are physical cards programmed by the OS with unique identifying information that allows the user to login to the system.
- User attributes – The operating system registers unique physical characteristics of the user (called attributes) to identify him at login. These may include fingerprints, signatures, and eye retina patterns.
allocates rights to particular users based on administrator requirements
give access to all, or some, network resources
File backups that entail backing up of data, files and folders associated with applications and programs. These can be saved within the system or to an external data storage. And,
System Image Backups that entail backing up of the OS along with programs, applications, and files. It facilitates a successful restore of the entire system to its original state. This is necessary in the event the OS itself is corrupted or crashes or some irreversible disaster occurs due to physical threat. Image backup will ensure a complete roll back of the whole machine.
2.9.4 Running applications
An OS provides users to start application
once App is started placed into RAM
When User shuts down app OS removes it ffrom RAM
questions
Name 3 types of User intrerfaces?
What does RAM stand for and what happens when all the RAM is used?
What can a Buffer be used for?
References
User, S., 2021. AIT – What functions does an operating system (OS) perform?. [online] Thecomputingteacher.com. Available at: <https://www.thecomputingteacher.com/ait/hardware/operating-systems/68-what-functions-does-an-operating-system-os-perform.html> [Accessed 13 April 2021].
Churchville, F., 2021. What is User Interface (UI)?. [online] SearchAppArchitecture. Available at: <https://searchapparchitecture.techtarget.com/definition/user-interface-UI#:~:text=The%20user%20interface%20(UI)%20is,an%20application%20or%20a%20website.> [Accessed 7 April 2021].
Study.com. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/menu-driven-interface-definition-examples.html#:~:text=A%20menu%2Ddriven%20interface%20is,about%20what%20to%20do%20next.> [Accessed 7 April 2021].
Study.com. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-role-of-operating-systems-in-security.html> [Accessed 13 April 2021].
MLSHS Applied Info Tech 