Operating Systems (continued)
• Activities performed by the operating system:
– Perform common computer hardware functions
– Provide a user interface and input/output
management
– Provide a degree of hardware independence
– Manage system memory
– Manage processing tasks
– Provide networking capability
– Control access to system resources
– Manage files
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition 45
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition 46
Operating Systems (continued)
• Common hardware functions:
– Get input from keyboard or another input device
– Retrieve data from disks
– Store data on disks
– Display information on a monitor or printer
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition 47
Operating Systems (continued)
• User interface and input/output management:
– User interface:
• Allows individuals to access and command the
computer system
– Command-based user interface:
• Requires that text commands be given to the
computer to perform basic activities
– Graphical user interface (GUI):
• Uses icons and menus displayed on screen to send
commands to the computer system
Fundamentals of Information Systems, Sixth Edition 48
Operating Systems (continued)
• Hardware independence:
– Application program interface (API):
• Allows applications to make use of the operating
system
• Memory management:
– Allows computer to execute program instructions
effectively and to speed processing