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•System software (key term) is not a single program but is a collection of programs
that handles hundreds of technical details
•End-users focus on application programs more than the system software, but it is
important to understand how system software works

Four types of programs:

• Operating systems (key term) coordinate computer resources
• Utilities (key term) perform tasks related to managing the computer resources
• Device drivers (key term) programs that allow devices to communicate with the
computer system
• Language translators (key term) converts programming instructions into a language
the computers understand

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Operating systems (key term) collection of programs that handle technical tasks

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User interface (key term) and graphical user interface or GUI (key term)

Multitasking (key term) – the ability to switch between applications

Foreground (key term) – the program you are currently working on
Background (key term) – the other program that is running but not the active
window

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•Booting (key term) is the process of starting a computer
•Warm boot (Key Term) – computer is already on and you restart it without
turning off the power
•Cold boot (Key Term) – starting a computer that has been turned off

Common features in application software:

Gesture Control (key term) is the ability to control operations with finger movements:
i.e. swiping, sliding and pinching

Most operating systems store data and programs in system files (key term) and
folders (key term)

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Three basic categories of operating systems:

Embedded OS (key term) – used for handheld devices (among other things)
Network operating systems (NOS) (key term) – control and coordinate networked
computers. OS is stored on the network server (key term)
Stand-alone (key term) – or desktop operating systems (key term) – control a single
desktop computer

Operating system is often referred to as the software environment (key term) or

software platform (key term) some OS’ are designed to run only on specific platforms

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Mobile operating systems (key term) also known as mobile OS (key term) are
embedded OS

Android (Key term) – owned by Google

iOS (key term) - formerly iPhone OS (key term) , iPad and iPhone
Windows Phone 8 (key term) – introduced by Microsoft to support a variety of
devices including smartphones

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•Note that LINUX is easier to learn; easily transfer to UNIX
•UNIX originally designed as cross-platform to help “integrate” the Web

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Windows 7 (key term) – traditional user interface. Released in 2009
Windows 8 (key term) – integrated desktop and mobile. Released in 2012
• Uses tiles (key term) to display active content linked to applications.
• Tiles can be accessed through the start screen (key term)
• Can still get the traditional desktop, Windows RT (key term), to run on the tablet
•More application programs are designed to run under Windows than any other
operating system (reason: It makes financial sense to more develop apps for the most
popular OS)

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Mac OS (key term) – not as widely used as Windows, designed to run on a MAC

Mac OS X (key term) – most widely used MAC OS; has two versions.

1. OS X Mountain Lion (key term) – released in 2012

2. OS X Mavericks – released in 2012

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UNIX (key term) – originally designed to run on minicomputers but now is used in
network environments
•Used by powerful microcomputers and by servers on the Web
•There are a large number of different versions of UNIX
LINUX – operating system that is similar to UNIX
• Free distribution of the operating system code – Open source (key term)
• Google’s Chrome OS (key term) is based on Linux

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Virtualization (key term) – supporting multiple OS that operate independently by
running virtualization software (key term)
Each OS is known as a virtual machine (key term)
Host operating system (key term) - OS of the physical machine
Guest operating system (key term) - OS of virtual machine

Hyper-V (key term) is an example of a virtual software program that is included with
Windows 8 Professional edition

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•Utilities (key term) – specialized programs designed to make computing easier
•Troubleshooting program (key term) or diagnostic program (key term)
recognize and correct problems; examples: 1) printer problems, 2) internet
problems
•Antivirus program (key term) guard your computer against viruses
•Backup program (key term) makes copies of files to restore if the originals
are damaged
•File compression program (key term) reduces the size of the file requiring
less storage space

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•File History (key term) – can create a backup for your hard drive
•Disk Cleanup (key term) can assist in getter rid of unnecessary files; for example:
internet cache, files in trash bin (marked for deleted, but not delete yet)
•Disk Defragmenter (key term) rearranges files and unused disk space to optimize
performance

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You can select File History from the Windows 8 System and Security window and
create a backup for your hard disk.

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•When you search the Web, a variety of programs and files are saved to your hard
drive
•Use disk cleanup (Key Term) to get rid of these unnecessary files

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Utility Suites (key term) combine several programs into one package

Suites provide a variety of utilities:

• Programs to protect your system against viruses (key term)

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Have students turn to the end of Chapter 4 in their textbooks to view the same
“Open-Ended” questions/statements

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