Chapter 05: System Software McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Competencies (Page of 2) • Describe the differences between system software and application software • Discuss the four types of system software • Discuss the basic functions, features, and categories of operating systems • Describe Windows, Mac OS, UNIX, Linux, and virtualization McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-2 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Competencies (Page of 2) • Describe the purpose of utilities and utility suites • Identify the five most essential utilities • Discuss Windows utility programs • Describe device drivers, including Windows’ Add a Device Wizard and Update McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-3 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Introduction • Computers are ubiquitous in our lives and we expect them to “be there when we need them” • We give little thought to the processes and programs running behind the scenes to keep them functioning effectively • Such programs (i.e operating systems, utility programs, and device drivers) are the system software you learn about here McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-4 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You System Software • Handles the technical details – Includes the operating system, utilities, device drivers, and language translators McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-5 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Operating Systems • A collection of programs that handle technical tasks, including managing computer resources • Every computer has an operating system (OS), such as Windows or Mac OS X • The OS provides the interface between the user and computer, and is required to run applications McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-6 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Functions of an Operating System • Manages computer resources – Coordinate memory, processing storage, and printers – Monitor system performance – Provide security – Start-up the computer • Provides user interface – Character-based interface – Graphical user interface (GUI) • Runs applications – Multitasking – Foreground and background applications McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-7 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Features of an Operating System • Booting • Features in common with application software – – – – – – McGraw-Hill Icons Pointers Windows Menus Dialog boxes Help Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-8 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Categories of Operating Systems • Hundreds of operating systems • Three basic categories – Embedded operating systems (handheld) – Network operating systems (linked computers) – Stand-alone operating systems (desktop) McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-9 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You More on Operating Systems • An OS is often called the software environment or platform • Operating systems commonly used by individuals – – – Windows – most widely used Mac OS – powerful and easy to use UNIX – network; originally designed for Web – LINUX – non proprietary; free from the Web McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-10 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You UNIX and LINUX • UNIX operating system – Originally designed to run on networked minicomputers • LINUX is a version of UNIX – Open source – Not proprietary McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-13 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Virtualization • Ability to support multiple operating systems on a single physical machine • Virtualization software – Physical machine can be logically separated into separate and independent virtual computers called virtual machines McGraw-Hill • Host operating system ã Guest operating system Copyright â 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-14 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Mobile Phone Operating Systems • Type of embedded operating system that is present in every smartphone • Some of the best known (with release dates): – – – – – McGraw-Hill Symbian (2009) BlackBerry OS or RIM OS (1999) iPhone OS (2007) Android (2007) Windows Phone (2010) Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-15 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Utilities • Specialized programs to make computing easier • Most essential utilities – – – – – McGraw-Hill Troubleshooting or diagnostic programs Antivirus programs Uninstall programs Backup programs File compression programs Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-16 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Windows Utilities • • • Backup and Restore Disk Cleanup Disk Defragmenter McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-17 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Backup and Restore • Utility program included with many Windows versions • Makes a copy of all files or selected files that have been saved on a disk • Helps prevent against disk failure McGraw-Hill Return Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-18 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Disk Cleanup • Identifies and eliminates nonessential files • Frees up valuable space and improves system performance McGraw-Hill Return Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-19 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Disk Defragmenter • Identifies and eliminates unnecessary fragments • Rearranges files and unused disk space to optimize operations • Speeds up file access McGraw-Hill Return Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-20 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Utility Suites • A group of utility programs bundled for sale • Buying the package is more affordable • Popular suites – – – McGraw-Hill Norton System Works McAfee Office V Communications SystemSuite Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-21 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Device Drivers • Specialized programs that allow communication between a device and the computer • Loaded into memory each time a computer is started • When a new device is added, new device drivers must be installed McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-22 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Virus Protection and Internet Security • Internet Security Suite – Continually monitors your computer • VirusScan – Controls the frequency of searches for viruses – Quarantines or deletes infected files • Privacy Service – Helps protect your privacy online – Block websites, cookies, and ads McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-23 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Careers In IT • Computer support specialist provide technical support to customers and other users • Resolve common networking problems and use troubleshooting programs to diagnose problems • Employers look for a bachelors degree, good analytical and communication skills • Computer support specialist can expect to earn $32K - $53K annually McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-24 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You A Look to the Future IBM's Aware Supercomputer • IBM’s Automatic Computing Initiative (ACI) – Handles time-consuming maintenance – Self-regulating and virtually invisible • Self-maintaining servers – – – McGraw-Hill Self-repairing Self-updating Self-protecting Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-25 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Open-Ended Questions(Page of 2) • Describe system software What are the four types of system programs? • What are the basic functions of every operating system? What are the three basic operating system categories? • Explain the differences and similarities between Windows, Mac OS, and Linux Discuss virtualization McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-26 omputing mputing Essentials 2012: Making IT Work for You Open-Ended Questions(Page of 2) • Discuss utilities What are the five most essential utilities? What is a utility suite? • Explain the role of device drivers Discuss the Add a Device Wizard and Windows Update McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved 5-27 ... differences between system software and application software • Discuss the four types of system software • Discuss the basic functions, features, and categories of operating systems • Describe... Operating Systems • Hundreds of operating systems • Three basic categories – Embedded operating systems (handheld) – Network operating systems (linked computers) – Stand-alone operating systems... Questions(Page of 2) • Describe system software What are the four types of system programs? • What are the basic functions of every operating system? What are the three basic operating system categories?