System Software

The user interface is a way in which we interact with computer hardware.

WIMP - Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointers. command-line interface - no mouse or menus, just a text prompt where a user enters a command graphical user interface - PCs use this.

When a program is running it must be in the computers main memory, and the operating system must manage when in memory each program and the data it needs will go.

A computer that is capable of switching between tasks rapidly is known as a multi - tasking computer.

Peripherals are devices that do not include the CPU. This includes Input devices and Output devices. Some are not so obvious such as Storage devices like USB sticks, hard disks and memory sticks.

A driver is a device that controls a peripheral device such as a printer. Many devices have their drivers built into the operating systems.

User management is where the network administrators allow certain accounts to have certain access rights.

File management is creating folders and placing files into the correct folders. they enable a user to search for a particular file, keep track of the location of a certain file, enables user to restore deleted files.

Utility software makes the user’s life a lot easier by making it easier to perform a particular task. They also provide housekeeping functionalities.

Encryption software helps to keep sensitive data safe. Copies of sensitive data such on memory sticks or laptops are vulnerable to theft. Encrypting the data makes sure it can not be interpretted.

When files are stored they are stored in all of the possible gaps, this results in the data being broken up into pieces. Joinin ghtese small pieces make the data be in the same place so more space is freed up.

Utility data compression converts several small files and compresses them into a single zip file. They can then be transmitted as one file not several small files