Computing

Lesson 1: Computer systems and system

software
Computer systems

Mac Bowley

Materials from the Teach Computing Curriculum created by the National Centre for Computing Education
In this lesson you will:

Identify computer systems

Explain the role of system software

Describe Operating systems

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Identifying computer systems

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What is a computer system?

Computer systems are a combination of;

● Hardware
– Internal
– Peripheral
● Software

That work together to make up a computer

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What is a computer?
What is a computer?

A programmable device
that takes in data,
processes it into useful
information, and then
outputs the information so
it can be used.

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Categorising computers

A mobile phone and a coffee maker are

both computers, but they are very different
devices.

We categorise computers as either:

● General purpose
● Embedded

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Mobile phone?

General Purpose Embedded

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Mobile phone?

General Purpose Embedded

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Coffee maker?

General Purpose Embedded

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Coffee maker?

General Purpose Embedded

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General purpose computers Embedded systems

Devices that have a variety of uses, the user More specialised, they can only do a limited
chooses the task for the computer to number of things, but they do them very
complete. well.

Mobile phone Coffee maker

● Lots of apps ● No apps

● Can make phone calls ● Very good at making coffee
● App selected by the user ● User cannot change the task it completes.

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Spot the embedded systems

The computers around us are either general

purpose or embedded systems.

Can you spot all the computers in this

room and categorise them as either;

● General purpose
● Embedded systems

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Pause the video to
complete your task
Spot the embedded systems

Can you spot all the computers in this room

and categorise them as either;
● General purpose
● Embedded systems

Resume once you’re finished

Spot the embedded systems

General purpose

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Spot the embedded systems

General purpose
● Mobile phone

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Spot the embedded systems

General purpose
● Mobile phone
● Laptop

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Spot the embedded systems

General purpose
● Mobile phone
● Laptop
● Tablet

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Spot the embedded systems

General purpose
● Mobile phone
● Laptop
● Tablet
● Games console

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Spot the embedded systems

Embedded systems

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Spot the embedded systems

Embedded systems
● Coffee maker

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Spot the embedded systems

Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot

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Spot the embedded systems

Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
● Thermostat

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Spot the embedded systems

Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
● Thermostat
● Security system

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Spot the embedded systems

Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
● Thermostat
● Security system
● Bluetooth speaker
● Printer
● Smoke alarm
● TV

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General purpose computers Embedded systems

Key characteristics Key characteristics

● Used for many different types of tasks ● ???

● Lots of resources — memory, storage, ● ???
CPU cores ● ???
● Most uses require a user

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General purpose computers Embedded systems

Key characteristics Key characteristics

● Used for many different types of tasks ● Specialised to a small number of tasks
● Lots of resources — memory, storage, ● Limited resources - just enough
CPU cores ● Users are not always necessary
● Most uses require a user

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The startup sequence

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The startup sequence

Computers are a combination of:

● Hardware components
● Software

You are going to examine how they work

by looking at what happens when you
press the power button.

Credit: Pixabay

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The startup sequence

The CPU

The Central Processing Unit, is a large chip

inside the computer.

It is the brains of the computer: it controls

everything.

Credit: Pixabay

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The startup sequence

RAM

Random Access Memory

● RAM is both readable and writable. You

can add, change, and delete data stored in
RAM.
● It is volatile. Without power all the data
stored in RAM is lost.
● It is fast to read/write. Credit: Pixabay

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The startup sequence

ROM

Read-Only Memory

● ROM is read-only
● ROM is non-volatile memory, which
means it does not need power to keep the
data inside it
● It is also fast

Credit: MOS6502, Wikimedia Commons

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The startup sequence

Hard drive

The hard drive (sometimes called the hard

disk) is the main storage device in your
computer.

If you have files and folders on your

computer, they are stored on the hard drive.
The Operating system is also stored on the
hard drive. Credit: Pixabay

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The startup sequence

BIOS

Contains all the basic code for controlling

your computer hardware.

When you startup your computer, you may

see a black screen displaying ‘Press F2 for
Setup’. This is the BIOS.

Credit: Pixabay

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

Your challenge. 2

On your worksheet you have two tasks to 3

complete. 4

1. Match the components to the definitions 5

2. Put the steps of the startup sequence in 6

the correct order. 7

The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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 Pause the video to
complete your task

Resume once you’re finished

The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

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The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM

7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM

4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard

7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM

4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard

5 BIOS checks the computer is working

7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM

4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard

5 BIOS checks the computer is working

Operating system is fetched from secondary
6
storage
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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The startup sequence

1 The boot sequence begins

2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM

3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM

4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard

5 BIOS checks the computer is working

Operating system is fetched from secondary
6
storage
7 Operating system is loaded into RAM
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system

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System software

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System software

Most computer systems require more than just a

program to run.

Another layer of software is required called

system software.

There are two main types of system software

● Operating systems
● Utility software

Credit: Pixabay

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System software
Software
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Vid
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System software de
og
it or s am
es
d
x te s Encryption Interpreters
Te m
ts e
sy BI
ti ng Hardware OS
r a
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CPU Peripherals
Storage Memory

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Operating systems

Operating systems are pieces of software that

regulate interactions between software and
hardware.

There are lots of different Operating systems.

The most popular are:

● Windows
● macOS
Credit: Pixabay
● Linux
● Android

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 Pause the video to
complete your task

Resume once you’re finished

Operating systems

Roles of the Operating system:

● Error handling
● Program management
● Memory management
● Interaction with the user
● Processor management
● Input and output
Credit: Pixabay
● Security
● File management

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The Operating system controls where each piece of data is stored
in RAM.

Program management Security

Memory management File handling

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The Operating system controls where each piece of data is stored in
RAM.

Program management Security

Memory management File handling

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Instructions are executed by the CPU, but the Operating system
controls which instructions are fed in to be executed.

Input and Output Processor management

File management Interaction with the user

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Instructions are executed by the CPU, but the Operating system
controls which instructions are fed in to be executed.

Input and Output Processor management

File management Interaction with the user

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The Operating system captures data from peripherals and provides
data to the output devices to display to the user.

Error handling Security

Interaction with a user Input and Output

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The Operating system captures data from peripherals and
provides data to the output devices to display to the user.

Error handling Security

Interaction with a user Input and Output

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When you save data to your hard drive, the Operating system will
find an available section of storage and send the data to be written
to that location.

File management Input and Output

Error handling Interaction with the user

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When you save data to your hard drive, the Operating system will
find an available section of storage and send the data to be written
to that location.

File management Input and Output

Error handling Interaction with the user

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The Operating system stops unauthorised individuals from
accessing data on secondary storage or the data in memory.

Processor management File management

Memory management Security

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The Operating system stops unauthorised individuals from
accessing data on secondary storage or the data in memory.

Processor management File management

Memory management Security

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When a program fails or encounters a problem, the Operating
system protects the wider system from crashing.

Interaction with the user Error handling

Security Memory management

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When a program fails or encounters a problem, the Operating
system protects the wider system from crashing.

Interaction with the user Error handling

Security Memory management

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Often our computers are running multiple processes at once. The
Operating system makes sure that each application has enough
resources to accomplish its tasks.

Program management Input and Output

Processor management Security

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Often our computers are running multiple processes at once. The
Operating system makes sure that each application has enough
resources to accomplish its tasks.

Program management Input and Output

Processor management Security

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The Operating system provides a graphical user interface which
makes operating the computer much simpler.

Error handling Interaction with the user

File management Processor management

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The Operating system provides a graphical user interface which
makes operating the computer much simpler.

Error handling Interaction with the user

File management Processor management

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