Transcript Operating Systems

Operating Systems
Computer Technology
Day 3
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Development of computers
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
1st Generation computers

Used vacuum tubes.


Vacuum tubes are electronic devices that control the flow of
electrons.
Had no operating systems.

Used custom application programs, which were made for the
specific task that the computer was to perform.

M. Guymon
Instructions were necessary for every aspect of the computing job.
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
2nd Generation computers

Used transistors.


Transistors performed
functions similar to vacuum
tubes, but they were smaller,
cheaper, less power-hungry,
and more reliable.
Ran programming language
compilers.

Used English like commands
rather than binary numbers.
 Made it possible to develop
software.
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
3rd Generation computers


Used integrated circuits.
Minicomputers were introduced.
and less powerful than 1st and 2nd generation
computers, but had the ability to run multiple
programs for multiple users simultaneously.
 Smaller
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
4th Generation computers

Used general-purpose microprocessors.
 Computer
systems were smaller, faster, and less
expensive than 3rd generation computers.
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Operating System Software
Master controller for all activities that take
place within a computer; primary purpose
is to help the computer system monitor
itself in order to function efficiently.
 Interacts with application software, device
drivers, and hardware to manage a
computer’s resources.
 Ensures that input and output proceed in
an orderly manner.

M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Platform
Underlying hardware and software of the
computer system.
 Two popular platforms

 PC
 Mac
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Multitasking
Running more than one program at a time.
 Making sure that the instructions and data
from one area of memory don’t interfere
with memory allocated for other programs.

M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
A type of user interface that features onscreen objects, such as menus and icons,
manipulated by a mouse.
 Abbreviation is pronounced “gooey”.

M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Definitions

Program
 Set
of detailed, step-by-step instructions that
tell a computer how to solve a problem or
carry out a task.

Application Software
 Set
of computer programs that help a person
carry out a task.
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Basic definitions

Drive
 A location
on a network that is set aside for the
collection of data.

Folder
 The
subdirectory or subdivision, of a drive that can
contain files or other folders.

File
 A named
collection of data that exists on a storage
medium.
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003
Resources
Parsons, June Jamrich, and Dan Oja.
Computer Concepts. Boston: Course
Technology - Thompson Learning, 2002.
M. Guymon
Pleasant Grove High School
Spring 2003