GO! All in One. Computer Concepts
and Applications, 3-e Chapter 3.
System Software
System software - answerThe programs that provide the infrastructure and hardware
control necessary for the computer and its peripheral devices.
Operating system (OS) - answerA computer program that manages all the other
programs on your computer, stores files in an organized manner, enables you to use
software programs, and coordinates the use of computer hardware such as the
keyboard and mouse.
Utility software - answerSoftware that helps maintain, repair, and protect the computer;
it may be included with the operating system or supplied by another organization.
User interface - answerThe part of the operating system that you see and with which
you interact.
Graphical user interface (GUI) - answerThe system by which you interact with your
computer and which uses graphics such as an image of a file folder or wastebasket that
you click to activate the item represented.
Command-line interface - answerAn operating system interface that requires the user to
type all commands.
System resources - answerThe processor and memory on your computer.
Multitasking - answerThe ability to do more than one task at a time.
Buffer - answerAn area of memory that temporarily holds data and instructions.
Print buffer - answerAn area of memory that holds documents until they can be sent to
the printer.
Spooling program - answerA program that monitors the print requests in the buffer and
the busy state of the printer.
Print queue - answerThe list of documents in the print buffer waiting to be printed.
Virtual memory - answerA technique that uses a portion of the computer's hard disk as
an extension of RAM.
, Swap file - answerA virtual memory file on the hard disk used as a temporary storage
space for instructions that the operating system can access as you do your work. Also
known as the paging file.
Paging file - answerA virtual memory file on the hard disk used as a temporary storage
space for instructions that the operating system can access as you do your work. Also
known as the swap file.
Paging - answerThe process of transferring files from the virtual memory file on the hard
disk to RAM and back.
Boot - answerThe process of turning on a computer that has been completely shut
down and during which the BIOS program will run.
Plug and Play (PnP) - answerAn operating system feature that you can use to easily
add new hardware to a computer system. When you plug in a new piece of hardware,
the operating system detects it and helps you set it up.
Device driver - answerSoftware that acts as a translator, which enhances the
capabilities of the operating system by enabling it to communicate with hardware.
Firmware - answerSoftware stored on a flash ROM (read-only memory) chip in a piece
of hardware that provides instructions for how the device communicates with the other
computer hardware.
Application programming interface (API) - answerThe feature of an operating system
that enables an application to request services from the operating system, such as a
request to print or save a file.
Desktop operating system - answerAn operating system that runs on a personal
computer.
Microsoft Windows - answerThe most common desktop operating system.
OS X - answerThe desktop operating system that runs on Apple Mac computers.
Unix - answerA pioneering operating system that was developed at AT&T's Bell
Laboratories in 1969.
Linux - answerAn open source operating system distribution that contains the Linux
kernel and bundled utilities and applications.
Open source - answerSoftware that has its source code published and made available
to the public, enabling anyone to copy, modify, and redistribute it without paying fees.
and Applications, 3-e Chapter 3.
System Software
System software - answerThe programs that provide the infrastructure and hardware
control necessary for the computer and its peripheral devices.
Operating system (OS) - answerA computer program that manages all the other
programs on your computer, stores files in an organized manner, enables you to use
software programs, and coordinates the use of computer hardware such as the
keyboard and mouse.
Utility software - answerSoftware that helps maintain, repair, and protect the computer;
it may be included with the operating system or supplied by another organization.
User interface - answerThe part of the operating system that you see and with which
you interact.
Graphical user interface (GUI) - answerThe system by which you interact with your
computer and which uses graphics such as an image of a file folder or wastebasket that
you click to activate the item represented.
Command-line interface - answerAn operating system interface that requires the user to
type all commands.
System resources - answerThe processor and memory on your computer.
Multitasking - answerThe ability to do more than one task at a time.
Buffer - answerAn area of memory that temporarily holds data and instructions.
Print buffer - answerAn area of memory that holds documents until they can be sent to
the printer.
Spooling program - answerA program that monitors the print requests in the buffer and
the busy state of the printer.
Print queue - answerThe list of documents in the print buffer waiting to be printed.
Virtual memory - answerA technique that uses a portion of the computer's hard disk as
an extension of RAM.
, Swap file - answerA virtual memory file on the hard disk used as a temporary storage
space for instructions that the operating system can access as you do your work. Also
known as the paging file.
Paging file - answerA virtual memory file on the hard disk used as a temporary storage
space for instructions that the operating system can access as you do your work. Also
known as the swap file.
Paging - answerThe process of transferring files from the virtual memory file on the hard
disk to RAM and back.
Boot - answerThe process of turning on a computer that has been completely shut
down and during which the BIOS program will run.
Plug and Play (PnP) - answerAn operating system feature that you can use to easily
add new hardware to a computer system. When you plug in a new piece of hardware,
the operating system detects it and helps you set it up.
Device driver - answerSoftware that acts as a translator, which enhances the
capabilities of the operating system by enabling it to communicate with hardware.
Firmware - answerSoftware stored on a flash ROM (read-only memory) chip in a piece
of hardware that provides instructions for how the device communicates with the other
computer hardware.
Application programming interface (API) - answerThe feature of an operating system
that enables an application to request services from the operating system, such as a
request to print or save a file.
Desktop operating system - answerAn operating system that runs on a personal
computer.
Microsoft Windows - answerThe most common desktop operating system.
OS X - answerThe desktop operating system that runs on Apple Mac computers.
Unix - answerA pioneering operating system that was developed at AT&T's Bell
Laboratories in 1969.
Linux - answerAn open source operating system distribution that contains the Linux
kernel and bundled utilities and applications.
Open source - answerSoftware that has its source code published and made available
to the public, enabling anyone to copy, modify, and redistribute it without paying fees.
