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Ch. 5-System Software
N/A
71
Computer Science
Undergraduate 1
12/11/2014

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Term
App Bars
Definition
Bars that float above the screen and contain applications such as the Tabs bar & the Address bar; a new feature of Internet Explorer 10.
Term
Application Programming Interface (API)
Definition
A set of software routines that allows one software system to work with another.
Term
Application Software
Definition
The set of programs on a computer that helps a user carry out tasks such as word processing, sending e-mail, balancing a budget, creating presentations, editing photos, taking an online course, & playing games.
Term
Authentication
Definition
The process of identifying a computer user, based on a login or username & password. The computer system determines whether the computer user is authorized & what level of access is to be granted on the network.
Term
Basic Input/Output System
Definition
A program that manages the data between a computer's operating system & all the input/output devices attached to the computer; it is responsible for loading the operating system from its permanent location on the computer to random access memory (RAM).
Term
Boot Process
Definition
The process for loading the operating system (OS) into random access memory (RAM) when the computer is turned on.
Term
Charms
Definition
Special shortcuts for performing common tasks, such as searching or sharing information; created for Windows 8.
Term
Cluster
Definition
The smallest increment in which data is stored on hard disks; hard disks are divided into tracks, then wedges, then sectors, then clusters.
Term
Command-Driven Interface
Definition
Interface between user & computer in which the user enters commands to communicate with the computer system.
Term
Device Driver
Definition
Software that facilitates the communication between a device & its operating system or between a network computer & a server's operating system on the operating system of the computer in which the adapter is installed.
Term
Directory
Definition
A hierarchical structure that includes files, folders, & drives used to create a more organized & efficient computer.
Term
Disk Cleanup
Definition
A Windows utility that removes unnecessary files from the hard drive.
Term
Disk Defragmenting
Definition
A utility that regroups related pieces of files on the hard drive, enabling faster retrieval of the data.
Term
Distributions (Distros)
Definition
Linux download packages.
Term
Error-Checking
Definition
A Windows utility that checks for lost files & fragments as well as physical errors on a hard drive.
Term
Event
Definition
The result of an action, such as a keystroke, mouse click, or signal to the printer, in the respective device (keyboard, mouse or printer) to which the operating system responds.
Term
Extension (File Type)
Definition
In a file name, the three letters that follow the user-supplied file name after the dot. The extension identifies what kind of family of files the file belongs to, or which application should be used to read the file.
Term
File
Definition
A collection of related pieces of information stored together for easy reference.
Term
File Allocation Table (FAT)
Definition
An index of all sector numbers that the hard drive stores in a table to keep track of which sectors hold which files.
Term
File Compression Utility
Definition
A program that takes out redundancies in a file in order to reduce the file size.
Term
File Explorer
Definition
The main tool for finding, viewing, & managing the contents of your computer by showing the location & contents of every drive, folder, and file; called Windows Explorer prior to Windows 8.
Term
File History
Definition
A Windows utility that automatically creates a duplicate of your libraries, desktop, contacts, & favorites & copies it to another storage device, such as an external hard drive.
Term
File Management
Definition
The process by which humans or computer software provide organizational structure to a computer's contents.
Term
File Name
Definition
The first part of the label applied to a file; generally the name a user assigns to the file when saving it.
Term
File Path
Definition
The exact location of a file, starting with the drive in which the file is located and including all folders, subfolders (if any), the file name, and the extension (example: C:\Users\username\Documents\Illustrations\EBronte.jpg).
Term
Folder
Definition
A collection of files stored on a computer.
Term
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Definition
Unlike the command and menu-driven interfaces used in earlier software, GUIs display graphics & use the point-and-click technology of the mouse & cursor, making them much more user friendly.
Term
Interrupt
Definition
A signal that tells the operating system that it's in need of immediate attention.
Term
Interrupt Handler
Definition
A special numerical code that prioritizes requests from various devices. These requests then are placed in the interrupt table in the computer's primary memory.
Term
Kernel (Supervisor Program)
Definition
The essential component of the operating system that's responsible for managing the processor & all other components of the computer system. Because it stays in random access memory (RAM) the entire time the computer is powered on, the kernel is called memory resident.
Term
Library
Definition
Introduced with Windows 7, a folder that's used to display files from different locations as if they were all saved in a single folder, regardless of where they are actually stored in the file hierarchy.
Term
Linux
Definition
An open-source operating system based on UNIX. Because of the stable nature of this operating system, it's often used on web servers.
Term
Mac OS
Definition
The first commercially available operating system to incorporate a graphic user interface (GUI) with user-friendly point-and-click technology.
Term
Menu-Driven Interface
Definition
A user interface in which the user chooses a command from menus displayed on the screen.
Term
Microsoft Account
Definition
A single sign-on that enables users to log in to Microsoft services.
Term
Multitask
Definition
The ability of an operating system to perform more than one process at a time.
Term
Multiuser Operating System (Network Operating System)
Definition
An operating system that enables more than one user to access the computer system at one time by efficiently juggling all the requests from multiple users.
Term
Operating System (OS)
Definition
The system software that controls the way in which a computer system functions, including the management of hardware, peripherals, & software.
Term
Paging
Definition
The process of swapping data or instructions that have been placed in the swap file for later use back into active random access memory (RAM). The contents of the hard drive's swap file then become less active data or instructions.
Term
Path Separator
Definition
The backslash mark(\) used by Microsoft Windows & DOS in file names; Mac files use a colon (:), and UNIX & Linux use the forward slash (/) as the path separator.
Term
Pinning
Definition
The process through which you choose which applications are visible on the Windows Start screen.
Term
Platform
Definition
The combination of a computer's operating system & processor. The two most common platform types are the PC & the Apple.
Term
Plug and Play (PnP)
Definition
The technology that enables the operating system, once it is booted up, to recognize automatically any new peripherals & to configure them to work with the system.
Term
Power-On Self-Test
Definition
The first job the basic input/output system (BIOS) performs, ensuring that essential peripheral devices are attached & operational. This process consists of a test on the video card & video memory, a BIOS identification process (during which the BIOS version, manufacturer, & data are displayed on the monitor), & a memory test to ensure memory chips are working properly.
Term
Preemptive Multitasking
Definition
When the operating system processes the task assigned a higher priority before processing a task that has been assigned a lower priority.
Term
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
Definition
A program with a specific purpose that must guarantee certain response times for particular computing tasks or else the machine's application is useless. Real-time operating systems are found in many types of robotic equipment.
Term
Recycle Bin
Definition
A folder on a Windows desktop in which deleted files from the hard drive are held until permanently purged from the system.
Term
Refresh Your PC
Definition
A new utility program in Windows 8 that attempts to diagnose & fix errors in your Windows system files that are causing your computer to behave improperly.
Term
Registry
Definition
A portion of the hard drive containing all the different configurations (settings) used by the Windows operating system as well as by other applications.
Term
Root Directory
Definition
The top level of the filing structure in a computer system. In Windows computers, the root directory of the hard drive is represented as C:\.
Term
Sector
Definition
A section of a hard drive platter, wedge-shaped from the center of the platter to the edge.
Term
Source Code
Definition
The instructions programmers write in a higher-level language.
Term
Spooler
Definition
A program that helps coordinate all print jobs being sent to the printer at the same time.
Term
Start Screen
Definition
The first interaction you have with the Windows operating system & the place where you begin your computing activities.
Term
Swap File (Page File)
Definition
A temporary storage area on the hard drive where the operating system "swaps out" or moves the data or instructions from random access memory (RAM) that haven't recently been used. This process takes place when more RAM space is needed.
Term
System Files
Definition
The main files of an operating system.
Term
System Restore
Definition
A utility in Windows that restores system settings to a specific previous date when everything was working properly.
Term
System Restore Point
Definition
In Windows, a snapshot of your entire system's settings used for restoring your system to a prior point in time.
Term
System Software
Definition
The set of programs that enables a computer's hardware devices & application software to work together; it includes the operating system & utility programs.
Term
Taskbar
Definition
In later versions of Windows operating systems, a feature that displays open & favorite applications for easy access.
Term
Task Manager
Definition
A Windows utility that shows programs currently running & permits you to exit nonresponsive programs when you click End Task.
Term
Thrashing
Definition
A condition of excessive paging in which the operating system becomes sluggish.
Term
Track
Definition
A concentric circle that serves as a storage area on a hard drive platter.
Term
UNIX
Definition
An operating system originally conceived in 1969 by Ken Thompson & Dennis Ritchie of AT&T's Bell Labs. In 1974, the UNIX code was rewritten in the standard programming language C. Today there are various commercial versions of UNIX.
Term
User Interface
Definition
Part of the operating system that enables individuals to interact with the computer.
Term
Utility Program
Definition
A small program that performs many of the general housekeeping tasks for the computer, such as system maintenance & file compression.
Term
Virtual Memory
Definition
The space on the hard drive where the operating system stores data if there isn't enough random access memory to hold all of the programs you're currently trying to run.
Term
Windows
Definition
An operating system by Microsoft that incorporates a user-friendly, graphical interface.
Term
Windows 8
Definition
Newest release of Microsoft's operating system that provides a new interface optimized for touch-screen devices.
Term
Windows 8 Apps
Definition
Applications specifically designed to run in the Windows 8 interface; these apps are displayed full screen, without borders or controls.
Term
Windows 8 Interface
Definition
New interface designed for Windows 8; features large type with clean, readable block images inspired by metropolitan service signs such as those found on bus stations & subways.
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