1.5 - Systems Software

Question 1

What is systems software?

Answer 1

The software that provides a platform for other software to work.

Question 2

What is the general function of an operating system?

Answer 2

To manage computer hardware, users, and the resources used by software.

Question 3

What are the functions of an operating system?

Answer 3

User Interfaces; Memory Management; Multitasking; File Management; User Management; Peripheral Management and Device Drivers

Question 4

What is the job of a user interface?

Answer 4

To provide a method for users to interact with a computer.

Question 5

What are the features of a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?

Answer 5

Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers (WIMP), Interactive

Question 6

What are the features of a Command Line Interface (CLI)?

Answer 6

Text based, requires background in programming, no need for GPU, less storage needed, less RAM needed, can be used to automate processes (using scripts)

Question 7

What are the features of a Natural Language Interface (NLI)?

Answer 7

Voice-based; convenient when can’t touch screen/ keyboard; unreliable

Question 8

What are the features of a Menu-based Interface?

Answer 8

Successive menus presented to user, with single options chosen at each stage, tends to have buttons on keypad.

Question 9

What is the role of the OS in memory management?

Answer 9

OS decides where to hold programs in memory; OS keeps track of where data is stored in RAM and virtual memory.

Question 10

What is the role of the OS in multitasking?

Answer 10

An OS manages several tasks happening at the same time, by giving each task a small time slice of processor time.

Question 11

What is the role of the OS in peripheral management?

Answer 11

Getting inputs from and sending outputs to peripheral devices.

Question 12

What is a device driver?

Answer 12

A program that translates OS instructions into commands that hardware will understand.

Question 13

What is the role of the OS in file management?

Answer 13

Naming, renaming, moving, saving, deleting, copying files

Question 14

What is the role of the OS in user management?

Answer 14

Allow different users to log into a computer and keep a track of their settings and access levels.

Question 15

What is the general function of utility software?

Answer 15

To perform extra functionality to maintain a computer system and keep it running efficiently.

Question 16

What are the functions of utility software?

Answer 16

Encryption, Defragmentation, Data Compression

Question 17

What is encryption?

Answer 17

Using an algorithm to encode plain text into cipher text, so that it cannot be understood without knowing the key to decrypt it.

Question 18

What causes a hard disk to become fragmented?

Answer 18

Files are stored on a hard disk in available spaces.
Files are moved, deleted, and changed in size.
So, small gaps appear on the disk.
The OS splits files into fragments so they can fit the gaps (which aren’t big enough to store the whole file).

Question 19

How does defragmentation work?

Answer 19

Data is reorganised, so fragments of the same file are put back together and free spaces is collected together.

Question 20

Why is data compression needed?

Answer 20

To reduce the amount of data sent (to ensure the limit is not surpassed); to reduce the amount of storage space needed on a disk.