Our Digital World
Chapter 4
System Software:
The Control Center of Your Computer
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This chapter will help you understand:
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The role of system software.
The history and development of operating systems.
Functions of an operating system.
The role of the OS and utilities in monitoring system
performance.
• Mobile operating systems.
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Main Topics
• 4.1 What Controls Your Computer?
• 4.2 Perusing the Popular Operating System
Packages
• 4.3 The Tasks of the Operating System
Package
• 4.4 Going on the Road with Mobile
Operating Systems
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Why Should You Care?
• System software runs your computer.
• Helps you to troubleshoot your computer and
make purchasing decisions.
• The operating system (OS) helps you keep
data secure and perform maintenance tasks.
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4.1 What Controls Your
Computer?
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System Software
• Is loaded into RAM when the computer starts.
• Includes operating system and utility software.
– The OS provides an interface.
– Utility software used to maintain your system.
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Starting Your Computer
• Booting
• Cold booting
• Warm booting
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Starting Your Computer
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What Does the OS Control?
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A History of Operating Systems
• Once there were no
operating systems.
• Increased complexity
required change.
• Mainframe computers
had operating systems
made by their
manufacturer.
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A History of Operating Systems
• AT&T Bell Laboratories developed UNIX.
• MS-DOS and command-line interfaces.
• Introduction of graphical user interface (GUI).
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firmware
system software
operating system (OS)
utility software
Disk Cleanup
booting
cold boot
warm boot
system files
Terms to Know
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system configuration
operating system package
driver
DOS
command-line interface
graphical user interface (GUI)
Terms to Know
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Ask Yourself…
What was Microsoft’s first operating system?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Windows 1
MS-DOS
Linux
Windows 2000
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4.2 Perusing the Popular
Operating System Packages
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Platforms and Platform Dependency
• What is a Platform?
• What is Platform
Dependency?
• Windows, Mac OS X,
UNIX, and Linux.
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The Future of the OS
• Web operating systems.
• Browser based and cross-platform.
• Access to online services.
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Reinventing Windows
• What are the pros and cons of moving
the OS into the cloud?
• How will smaller computers change
operating systems?
• How might operating systems be
different in 2020?
Spotlight on the Future
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platform
platform dependency
Microsoft Windows
Macintosh OS X
UNIX
• Linux
• open source
operating system
• multitasking
• least possible
privileges
Terms to Know
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Ask Yourself…
What is the current Macintosh operating system
called?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Macintosh Panther
Macintosh
Macintosh OS X
Apple OS
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4.3 The Tasks of the Operating
System Package
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What the Operating System Does
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Provides a user interface.
Configures hardware.
Controls input and output devices.
Manages system performance and memory.
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What the Operating System Does
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Routes data between applications.
Manages file systems.
Provides search and help.
Provides maintenance features.
Sends the computer to sleep or shut off.
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Interface and Input Options
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Memory
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How Your Computer Organizes Files
and Folders
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• Work in local computer stores or
international call centers.
• Need solid grounding in computers.
• Ability to communicate and deal with
the public.
Computers in Your Career
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• Remote assistance features.
• Only provide to people you trust.
• Remove access privileges.
Playing It Safe
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user interface
desktop
Plug and Play
performance
virtual memory
swap file
file allocation table (FAT)
path
Terms to Know
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Ask Yourself…
What type of interface do today’s operating
systems have?
a.
b.
c.
d.
command-line interface
graphical user interface
text-based interface
DOS
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4.4 Going on the Road with
Mobile Operating Systems
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Mobile Operating Systems
• What makes them unique?
• Mobile OS choices.
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Mobile OS Interfaces
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• Roll out new versions of software.
• Train users.
• Run a help desk.
Computers in Your Career
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mobile operating system
smartphone
mobile Internet device (MID)
3G
Terms to Know
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Ask Yourself…
Which mobile platform does Google back?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Chrome
iPhone OS
Symbian OS
Android
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Our Digital World
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