The Operating System (OS) sits between your hardware and software, the OS is a software too. It controls, organises and manages the interactions between all hardware and software. If something is plugged in to your computer, the OS is controlling it. The general tasks for a typical operating system include:
- Controlling the operation of the input, output and backing storage devices
- Managing resources
- Supervising the loading, running and storage of application programs
- Dealing with errors that occur in applications programs
A interface is when the user and the computer exchange information and instructions. The important part of the Interface is:
- be attractive and pleasing to the eye
- allow the user to try out different options easily
- be easy to use
- use suitable colours for key areas
- use words that are easy to understand aimed at the type of user
- have help documentation
- Its responsible for displaying information and getting commands and input from the user
Types of interfaces
- Uses Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers to organise information and allow user interactions
- A window is an are on the screen that displays information for specific program- to help multi task
- An icon represents a folder or a program
- A menu is used to help the user choose options
- A pointer helps navigate around the screen/ to click open files/software
- dir - directory
- md - make directory
- cd c:/ - change directory
- rd - delete file
- Allows the user to interact with the device by typing written instructions/commands- the syntax has to be precise
- With a CLI it is more important that the user understands how a computer works
- Can write lists of commands called "scripts" to automate repetitive
- takes up very little memory and storage, good for embedded systems
- Many people use it, meaning it must be easy to use if the majority people use it
- Difficult if you have dyslexia/ sight problem
- Not intuitive
- Commands are difficult to edit once entered
- The user would have to learn a whole set of strange commands so that they could
make use of the computer system - This meant computers used to
be quite difficult to use, so this type of interface is only
really suitable for expert users
I think this OS would be used for to copy a text file called "NOTES" from a floppy disc to the hard drive.