Introduction to Computers

Section 6ASection 6A

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The Operating System (OS)

The operating system (OS) is software

that controls the interaction between

hardware and user software

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User Interface

The items you see on the computer

screen are the user interface

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Graphical User Interface (GUI)

A GUI is a user interface that is made

up of graphic objects instead of text

commands

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Desktop

The computer’s main interface

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Icons

The graphic objects that you see on the

desktop are called icons

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Taskbar

The taskbar appears at the bottom of

the Windows desktop and lets you

launch and manage software programs

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Start Button and Start Menu

Click the Start button to open the Start

menu, which provides access to your

software programs

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Shortcut or Context Menu

Right-click on an object to access a

shortcut or context menu that has the

object’s most-used commands

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Window

When a software program runs, it

appears in a rectangular frame, called a

window

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Parts of a Window

Title bar

Minimize, Maximize and Close buttons

Scroll bars

Toolbars

Menu bar

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Active Window

The window that is currently in use

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Menus and the Menu Bar

You choose some tasks from

commands in lists called menus,

accessed from the menu bar

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Dialog Box

Gives you choices for what you want

the software to do next

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Clipboard

Temporary holding area for data that is being copied or moved

Choosing Edit: Cut or Copy places information on the Clipboard

Edit: Paste places the information from the Clipboard into the document

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Multitasking

The computer’s ability to perform two or

more procedures simultaneously

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Two Kinds of Multitasking

Cooperative multitasking

Preemptive multitasking

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File Management

Manage files by saving them in folders

in a hierarchical file system

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How the Operating System Manages Hardware

Processing Interrupts

Providing Drivers

Networking computers

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Utility

A utility is a software program that

enhances or extends the operating

system’s capabilities

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Kinds of Utilities

Disk defragmenter

Data compression

Backup

Disk management

Screen savers

Section 6ASection 6A

Operating System BasicsOperating System Basics

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Review Questions

What is the Operating System?

What is a Graphical User Interface?

What is the Clipboard?

What are the two kinds of

multitasking?