4.1

Question 1

What is hardware?

Answer 1

The physical components of a computer system

Question 2

What is software? 2 categories?

Answer 2

Name given to program code. Sequences of instructions which are executed in order to perform a task
System & application software

Question 3

What is application software? Examples?

Answer 3

Name given to programs that complete a specific task for the user
Word processor, web browsers, spreadsheet software

Question 4

What is systems software?

Answer 4

It operates, controls and maintains the computer and its components

Question 5

What does the systems software include?

Answer 5

• operating system
• utility programs
• library programs
• translators

Question 6

What does the OS do?

Answer 6

Allows its user to control the computer with ease by providing a virtual machine which hides the true complexity of the computer from the user

Question 7

The OS also manages resources, what is included in resource management?

Answer 7

• processor scheduling
• memory management
• IO management

Question 8

What do utility programs do?

Answer 8

Used for completing housekeeping tasks in a computer system such as:
- data backup
- defragmenting hard drives
- data compression
- encryption

Question 9

What is defragmentation?

Answer 9

Reorganising data on a hard drive in order to improve speed of access

Question 10

What are library programs?

Answer 10

They contain useful functions that are frequently used by a program to simplify the process of developing a program

Question 11

What are translators?

Answer 11

Pieces of software which translate between different types of language:
- compilers
- assemblers
- interpreters