Operating Systems

Operating Systems

1. Types

   • Menu
     • On screen list of options
   • Command line
     • space to type instructions
   • Natural language
     • voice based

2. User interface

   • Software that enables you to provide instructions and control the device
   • WIMP
     • Windows icons mouse pointer
   • GUI
     • Graphics / Images

3. Utility Programs

   • Small program that monitors and maintains the system
     • Antivirus / printer monitoring
   • They are not essential to running the system but it makes it run smoother

4. Application software

   • Allows the computer to solve problems or solve tasks

5. General Purpose

   • Word processors / Spreadsheets / Databases / Desktop publishing packages / graphic packages
   • Cheap / available from most computer shops / been thoroughly tested so no serious problems / lots of user support

6. Bespoke

   • Tailored made software
   • Advantages
     • Company will get exact software / the software will work exactly how they want it to work / the software will only have the features that they specifically need in their business
   • Disadvantages
     • Takes a long time to develop / great deal of money to develop / company may need to employ a team of people ot make it / little in the way of user support