CIT 2101: COMPUTER APPLICATION I

By Mbugua J.M

1.1 Session Objectives

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Explain the concept of O.S
• Explain the fuctions of O.S

Def: Computer

• electronic device
• that accepts data and instructions,
• stores them in the memory,
• then process
• to generate information.

INPUT PROCESSS OUTPUT

Information
Data & Execution &
Instructions storage

Data :What is fed into a computer

(raw facts).

Information: is already processed data.

Smartwatch Features You Need to Consider

• Locate Your Smartphone, Car & Key

• Make & Receive Calls
• Smart Compass
• Gesture Control
• Accept Verbal Commands
• Play Music
• Access Notifications
• Emergency Call & Fall Detection
• Tell time
• Keep track of your health, communication with loved ones

• Speed and size (Super computers are the fastest, most-powerful and most
expensive computers).
• Power consumption
• Data storage capacity
• Memory size

Session ONE: Operating system

2.2 Operating system

An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and computer
hardware.
Following are some of important functions of an operating System.

i) control hardware access

ii) manage files and folders
iii) provide a user interface
iv) manage applications
v) Security Management

2.3.1 Control Hardware Access

To access and communicate with the hardware, it installs a device driver for each
hardware component.

A device driver is a small program written by the hardware manufacturer and supplied
with the hardware component.

2.3.2 File and Folder Management

The operating system creates a file structure on the hard disk drive to allow data to be
stored.

Programs and data files are grouped together in a directory/folder.

Directories can be kept inside other directories.
These nested directories are referred to as subdirectories/subfolders.

MS –DOS operating system Environment

It has Command Line Interface (CLI).

DOS(Disk operating system) commands are the commands available to interact

with the operating system.

– The user types commands at a prompt c:\>

Procedure:

• Click START button

• Type cmd at search program and Files textbox and press ENTER key.
• c:\> prompt appears
• Type a command and press Enter Key
Eg
Date: The date command is used to show or change the current date.

Time: The time command is used to show or change the current time.

Dir: The dir command is used to display a list of files and folders contained inside
the folder that you are currently working in.
Md: The make directory command.
c:\>
e.g c:\> md APPLICATIONS ←
c:\>dir
CD/Chdir : used to change the drive or directory.
Eg c:\>
c:\> CD applications

c:\> applications>

c:\> applications> MD Word

c:\> applications> MD Exel
c:\> applications> MD Access
 c:\> applications> DIR ←

CD.. :Go to previous directory

Ver: The ver command is used to display the current MS-DOS version number.

Cls: The cls command clears the screen of all previously entered commands and
other text

Copy: The copy command copies one or more files from one location to another.

Del: The del command is used to delete one or more files. The del command is the
same as the erase command.

Rename: The rename command is used to change the name of the individual file
that you specify.
Eg c:\> applications
c:\> applications> Rename application2
Exit: The exit command is used to end the command.com session that you're
currently working in.

Windows operating system Environment

Working With Files and Folders

• Click File/Windows Explorer
• Open your Folders/Double click on the folder.

• The contents of the folder will be displayed in the

open window.
 • To get back to the previous folder, click the Back
Button.

3.8.1 Creating a Folder

• Locate the place to create your folder e.g. My
Documents, Desktop, C Drive

• If creating on the desktop right click on the desktop and

use the new option to create a folder.

• Type the name of your folder and Press Enter.

3.8.2 Renaming a Folder

• To rename an existing folder, move your mouse over the
name and right click.
• Click Rename
• Rename your folder and Press Enter.

3.8.3 Deleting a folder

• Right click on the folder and select delete. or Select the
file, go to file menu and select delete
N/B
Once files are deleted they go to the recycle bin.( holds
files not required).
These files can be retrieved from recycle bin as long as
recycle bin have not been emptied.

3.8.4 Retrieving files from recycle bin

• Go to recycle bin.
• Locate the file and right click on it and select restore.

3.8.5 Moving and copying files in folders

By dragging
• Click on the file and hold
• Drag it to the folder and drop

2.3.3 User Interface

The operating system enables the user to interact with software and hardware.

Three user interfaces exist:

• Graphical User Interface (GUI) – The user interacts with menus and
icons.
 Eg File menu in ws-word

• Menu-driven User Interface (MUI) – The user interacts with menus only.

Horizontal menu, Pulldown menu, pop-up menu.

• Command Line Interface (CLI).

N/B
Most operating systems, such as Windows 2000, XP, Vista,7 ,10,11 include both a GUI and
a CLI.

2.3.4 Application Management

The OS locates an application and loads it into the RAM of the computer.

Applications are software programs:

• word processors
• databases
• spreadsheets
• games etc.

Security Management
Operating systems allow users to control access to their computers.
Users gain access via a username (user ID) and a password.

A password is a special word, code, or symbol required to access a computer system. I

3.1 Operating system concepts

• Multi-user – Two or more users can work with programs and share
peripheral devices(printers) at the same time.

• Multi-tasking – The computer is capable of operating multiple

applications at the same time.

• Multi-processing – The computer can have two or more central

processing units (CPUs) that programs share.

3.2 Windows terminologies

Booting a computer:
Process of powering on the computer and starting the operating system.

When computer is swiched on, it activates bootloader program, which loads

operating system.

There are two types of booting.

• Hard/worm boot.
 • Soft/cold boot

The hard boot involves powering the computer up from an initial zero power
supply.

A Soft boot takes place when a software application or operating system triggers
the computer to perform a reboot.

The Five Steps of the Boot Sequence:

• Power Up: applying power to the machine.
• Power-On Self Test(POST): When the POST is running, you will see lights
flashing and hear a beeps.

A test make sure all the attached hardware are communicating with the
CPU.

• BIOS( Basic Input/Output System) is activated. The BIOS is stored in read

only memory (ROM).
Bootloader program opens or wakes up the BIOS.

• Load the Operating System.

• Transfer Control(Login).

3.4 Desktop
Desktop is your work area on which program and files icons are located.

It is a workspace where you access components like applications, Internet, etc.

The Desktop contains:

Icons
 START button Taskbar

Using the Windows 10 Interface

Windows 10 desktop and Start menu.

The Windows 10 has the following features:

• Start button—click it to display the Start menu.

• Start menu—divided into two sections.

On the left is a navigation section:

 that gives you access to your user account

  your most frequently used apps
 system features such as File Explorer
 Settings
 Power
 the rest of your apps

On the right:

Start screen that offers quick viewing and access to the tiles of a few apps.

• Tiles—The rectangles you see on the right side of the Start menu each represent an
item on your PC and you click a tile to launch that item.

• Live tiles—Many of the Start menu tiles are “live” in the sense that they display often-
updated information instead of the app icon.

For example

Weather tile shows the current weather for your default

location.

Mail tile displays recent email messages,

Calendar tile shows your upcoming events.

• All Apps—Clicking this icon displays a complete list of the apps and desktop
programs installed on your PC.

Click Back to return to the main Start menu.

• User account—Clicking this icon gives you access to several account.

 • Desktop: location for programs and documents.

• Taskbar—This strip along the bottom of the screen displays icons for each
running app.

• Search box—You use this box to search your PC.

The easiest way to launch apps, settings, and documents in Windows 10.

• Task View—Click this taskbar icon to display thumbnails of your running apps.

• Pinned apps—The Windows 10 taskbar comes with several pinned apps,

which means those icons remain on the taskbar even when the apps are
closed.

• Notification area— displays various system icons for features such as

networking, sound, and power, as well as the notification issued by Windows.

• Icons (or graphical pictures): represent applications, files.

3.5 Starting a Program like Ms word

(i) Click Start button
(ii) Click Microsoft Office.
(iii) Click Ms Word.

3.6 Parts of a Window

Windows contain buttons and menus to control the program and window.
Close Button: Closes the window.

Minimize Button: Minimizes a program from view. The program is still ready for
use and can be found in the task bar.

Maximize Button: Enlarges the window so that it fills the entire screen.

Restore Button: Clicking it will make the window smaller.

Tab: Controls what a program does.

Title Bar: Displays the name of the program and name of the file in use.

Main Window: working area within a program.

Ribbon. Have shortcuts to the menu items

3.7 To turn off the computer
• Click the Start menu.
 • Click shut down.
• A dialog box opens. Click log Off/restart.

3.9 Printing
To set up a printer
• Click start menu, then Devices and printers.
• Select printers and other hardware.

Example 1:
Creating Folders for a Video Store

Problem: Your friend works for Ebaird Video. He would like to organize his files in relation to
the types of videos available in the store. He has six main categories: drama, action, romance,
foreign, biographical, and comedy. You are to create a folder structure similar to Figure below.

Instructions: Perform the following tasks:

1. Insert a USB flash drive in an available USB port and then open the USB flash drive window.
2. Create the main folder for Ebaird Video.
3. Navigate to the Ebaird Video folder.

4. Within the Ebaird Video folder, create a folder for each of the following: Drama, Action,
Romance, Foreign, Biographical, and Comedy.

5. Within the Action folder, create two additional folders, one for Science Fiction and the
second for Western.
2. Create a folder and file structure as shown below.
Example 3
Think about how you use your computer for various tasks (consider personal, professional,
and academic reasons). What folders do you think will be required on your computer to store
the files you save?

4.1 Session Summary

The objective of an operating system is to make computer system convenient to use and to
utilize computer hardware in an efficient manner.
Operating system manages all computer resources.

4.2 Student Activity

i. What is operating program?
ii. Discuss the functions of operating system.
iii. Outline the booting process.

4.3 Further Readings/References

Shelly, G.B, Cashman, T.J, and Vermaat, M.E. (2006). Microsoft Office 2003: Brief
Concepts and Techniques (2nd ed.). Florence, KY: Course Technology.