operating system definition
-allows user to interact with the hardware on a computer
-provides an environment for applications to run
systems software
-provides an interface for the user to interact with the computer’s hardware
what functions does the OS control
-UI
-memory management (shares processor time between different processes
-peripheral management
-user management (controls who can access the computer and what resources are available to them.
-file management (allows users to organise files into folders and subfolders)
what is a driver
device-specific program that translates OS instructions to a format that can be understood by the device
user management
-allows creation of different profiles that can be personalised
-allows for access rights
file management
-control how data is stored/received
-converts binary into files
-allows for creation, editing, renaming, moving and copying of files and folders
-tracks memory usage and free disk space
-handles conflicts of 2 users working on the same file
memory management
-OS allocates and deallocates memory to applications depending on whether they are being used
fragmentation
-programs become seperated in memory over time after opening and closing different applications causing parts of files to save on different areas of a disk
-slows down computer
scheduling
-OS assigns small amounts of processing time to each application at such a speed that it appears simultaneous
utility software
-specialised system softwares that maintain a computer system
-encryption software, defragmentation, data compression software
defragmentation
-software that reorginises files, putting all of the same file together and all of the free space together
data compression software
-uses algorithms to reduce file size
-lossy and lossless
what is the use of application software
-perform tasks that benefit the user
