Operating Systems

Operating Systems

1. Examples

2. Hardware

   • Operating System
     • Word Processor
     • Utility Program
     • Web Browser
     • Image Editor

3. Functions of an OS

   • Communicates with Hardware
     • We use the hardware to talk to the OS which then uses that to talk to the software to make it easier for us to use. If we didn't have an operating system we would have to type all the commands manually instead of just clicking
   • Creates a user interface
     • The user interface allows the user to communicate with the computer. Many operating systems provide a Graphical User Interface (GUI) with Windows, Icons, Drop-down menus and pointers (WIMP). Common GUIs are Windows, IOS and Android. Other interfaces just allow the user to type in commands. These are called command line interfaces.
   • Provides a platform for different apps
     • App catagories
       • Books
       • Business
       • Catalogues
       • Education
       • Entertainment
       • Food and Drink
       • Finance
   • Allows the computer to Multitask
     • The operating system switches very quickly between the different tasks so it seems as if it is multi tasking but it is actually just doing all the tasks separately.
   • Security of the device
     • Allows the user to control the security of the device by using settings and limitations for example setting a user name and a password to login to different accounts that can be set up by the owner. Different accounts can be also limited to what they can access the top of the hierarchy being the admin.
   • File Management
     • The OS responsible for file management so it manages in a hierarchical structure. It also deals with the editing moving and deleting of files.

Images and files in the map