AS Level ICT

Selection and use of appropriate software: Operating systems

What is software?

• Software is the name given to all the programs that run on computer hardware • There are two main types of software: – Operating software (also known as systems software) – Applications software

Operating systems • An operating system is a program that controls the hardware • Operating systems perform the following tasks: – They assist applications software to communicate/interact with the hardware (e.g. allow a word processed document to be printed) – They manage the system resources (e.g. allocate Central Processing Unit time to the tasks being undertaken)

Operating systems – They manage the transfer of data to and from the systems peripheral devices (e.g. keyboard, mouse, scanner, printer) – They manage system security (e.g. allocating restricted rights to users to do certain things)

Operating systems • The operating system acts a a ‘shell’ around the hardware • The applications software need an operating system to work, and users need the applications software to interact with the hardware via the operating system

Operating systems User Application Operating system Hardware Application User User Application User Application

Multi-tasking • Multi-tasking is the ability to do more than one thing at a time.

• If an operating system can multi-task, it enables a computer system to do several things at the same time (e.g. A user can print a document whilst reading their emails).

Multi-user • A multi-user facility allows more than one user to access data or an application program at the same time • Without a multi-user facility in an operating system it would be almost impossible for a network to function

Operating systems • Examples of operating systems include: – Windows Vista – Windows XP – Windows ME (Millennium Edition) – Windows 2000 – Windows NT – UNIX – LINUX – Macintosh OS – OS/2

Operating systems - Windows • Microsoft Windows is the most commonly used operating system • It works with a wide variety of different computers from different manufacturers • It has been constantly developed since it was first introduced in 1983

Operating systems - Windows • Windows 3.0 first went on sale in 1990 • It was followed in 1992 by Windows 3.1, which was one of the first major PC GUI (graphical user interface) operating systems widely used.

• Windows 3.1 allowed users to utilise several new features including the use of a mouse to navigate and manipulate data on the computer • In addition, the user did not have to memorize MS DOS commands • Windows also allowed the user to multitask

Operating systems - Windows Windows 3.0

Operating systems - Windows Windows 3.1

Operating systems - Windows • Windows 95 was the next stage of development • It introduced new features including: –

Plug and Play

– this allows hardware devices to be automatically installed into the computer –

32 Bit Operating System

– this allows the computer to run faster and more efficiently –

Right mouse click

– This allows users to access and manipulate text by utilising both mouse buttons

Operating systems - Windows Windows 95

Operating systems - Windows • Windows 98 introduced further new features including: –

Protection

– additional protection for important files was introduced, including automatically backing up the registry –

Improved support

– the support for new devices (including DVD, USB, and MMX) was improved –

Plug and Play

was improved – the ability to detect devices

Operating systems - Windows –

Internet Explorer 4.0

– this was included within the Windows 98 package –

Customisable Taskbar

to customise the taskbar – users were now able –

Active Desktop

– users were now able to customise their active desktop so that it looked like the Internet

Operating systems - Windows Windows 98

Operating systems - Windows • Windows ME (Millennium Edition) allowed users of Windows 95 and 98 to upgrade their operating systems to include: –

Revert back to backup

– users could automatically restore an old backup if files became corrupted or were deleted –

Protect system files

–important system files were protected from being modified by other software

Operating systems - Windows –

Movie Editor

– it became possible to edit and combine Microsoft movie files –

Windows Media Player

– enabled the use of more advanced methods of listening to and organising media files

Operating systems - Windows Windows ME

Operating systems - Windows • Windows XP (XP stands for ‘experienced’) was a radical redesign of the Windows operating system that included: –

New interface

– the user interface looked completely different and was capable of customisation –

Updates

– the operating system could be automatically updated via the Internet –

Internet Explorer 6

– this enhanced web browser was included in the Windows XP package

Operating systems - Windows –

Multilingual support

– support for different user languages was included –

Reliability

– the operating systems reliability was enhanced

Operating systems - Windows Windows XP

Operating systems - Windows • Windows Vista is the latest development of the Windows operating system • It looks very different from previous versions of Windows and has been designed to give users a better overall experience • Vista’s key features include: –

Windows Aero

(Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, and Open) – a completely new-look GUI –

Basic file backup and restore facility

Operating systems - Windows –

Improved DVD support

– this enables the user to create custom DVD movies –

Easy transfer

– this feature assists the user to transfer files from an older to a newer computer –

File encryption

–

Instant search

– the Explorer windows permit instant searches to be undertaken –

Support for DirectX 10

Operating systems - Windows –

Self-healing

– the computer can automatically detect and correct any problems that may be encountered –

Shadow copy

deleted files – this allows the user to recover –

Improved photo gallery and control of photographs

–

Windows Sidebar

– this feature allows the user to add different hardware devices

Operating systems - Windows –

Improved parental control

–

Improved Windows Calendar

– this allows the user to easily set tasks and appointments

Operating systems - Windows Windows Vista

Operating systems - UNIX • UNIX has evolved since it was first introduced in 1969 • It is a powerful multi-tasking operating system that was developed for use in a minicomputer environment • It is still a widely used network operating system, especially by universities and ISPs (Internet Service Providers) • It uses a mixture of GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) and command line interfaces

Operating systems - UNIX • The main features of UNIX are: – It is written in the programming language C – It is a multi-programming operating system – It is a multi-tasking operating system – It can be used to run hundreds of terminals

Operating systems - Linux • Linux is an open source (i.e. free) operating system • It is mainly used as server software, although its popularity with other users is growing

Operating systems – Macintosh OS • The Macintosh operating system was developed by Apple in 1979, when Apple launched the ‘Lisa’ computer • It was the first commercial operating system that made use of GUIs (Graphical User Interface) – this pre-dated the use of GUIs by Microsoft in 1983 when they launched Windows 1.0

• The Macintosh (also know as Mac) operating system is particularly popular with users who are involved with graphic design

Operating systems – OS/2 • OS/2 is and operating system that was developed originally by Microsoft Corporation for IBM • It was intended to be the operating system for IBM PCs that used Intel's 80286 and 80386 microprocessors • Microsoft withdrew from the development of the operating system, and its further development was managed solely by IBM • OS/2 is compatible with DOS and Windows, and it can run all DOS and Windows programs

Operating systems – OS/2 • However, programs written specifically to run under OS/2 will not run under DOS or Windows

AS Level ICT

Selection and use of appropriate software: Operating systems