An Operating System (OS) is an interface between a computer user and computer hardware.

An
operating system is a software which performs all the basic tasks like file management, memory
management, process management, handling input and output, and controlling peripheral devices
such as disk drives and printers.

Some popular Operating Systems include Linux Operating System, Windows Operating System,
VMS, OS/400, AIX, z/OS, etc.

Definition
An operating system is a program that acts as an interface between the user and the computer
hardware and controls the execution of all kinds of programs.

Following are some of important functions of an operating System.

Memory Management
Processor Management
Device Management
File Management
Security

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POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
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Control over system performance

Job accounting
Error detecting aids
Coordination between other software and users
Memory Management
Memory management refers to management of Primary Memory or Main Memory. Main memory is
a large array of words or bytes where each word or byte has its own address.

Main memory provides a fast storage that can be accessed directly by

the CPU. For a program to be executed, it must in the main memory. An
Operating System does the following activities for memory
management −

Keeps tracks of primary memory, i.e., what part of it are in use by whom, what part are not in
use.

In multiprogramming, the OS decides which process will get memory when and how

much. Allocates the memory when a process requests it to do so.

De-allocates the memory when a process no longer needs it or has been terminated.

Processor Management
In multiprogramming environment, the OS decides which process gets
the processor when and for how much time. This function is called
process scheduling. An Operating System does the following activities
for processor management −

Keeps tracks of processor and status of process. The program responsible for this task is
known as traffic controller.

Allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.

De-allocates processor when a process is no longer required.

Device Management
An Operating System manages device communication via their
respective drivers. It does the following activities for device
management −

Keeps tracks of all devices. Program responsible for this task is known as the I/O

controller. Decides which process gets the device when and for how much time.

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POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com

Allocates the device in the efficient way.

De-allocates devices.

File Management
A file system is normally organized into directories for easy navigation and usage. These directories
may contain files and other directions.

An Operating System does the following activities for file management −

Keeps track of information, location, uses, status etc. The collective facilities are often known
as file system.

Decides who gets the resources.

Allocates the resources.

De-allocates the resources.

Other Important Activities

Following are some of the important activities that an Operating System
performs −

Security − By means of password and similar other techniques, it

prevents unauthorized access to programs and data.

Control over system performance − Recording delays between request

for a service and response from the system.

Job accounting − Keeping track of time and resources used by various

jobs and users.

Error detecting aids − Production of dumps, traces, error messages,

and other debugging and error detecting aids.

Coordination between other softwares and users − Coordination

and assignment of compilers, interpreters, assemblers and other
software to the various users of the computer systems.

Five Common Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows has existed in one form or another since 1985, and it remains the most popular
operating system for home and office computers. Its latest versions, including Windows 10, are also
used on some tablets, and the OS is used on some web and number-crunching server computers as
well. Computers from a wide variety of manufacturers can use Windows.
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Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com
Initial versions of Windows worked with an earlier Microsoft operating system called MS-DOS,
providing a modern graphical interface on top of DOS's traditional text-based commands. Signature
features of Microsoft Windows's user interface include windows themselves – rectangle-shaped, on
panel screens that represent individual applications. The Windows Start menu has helped generations
of users find programs and files on their devices.

Efforts to use versions of the Windows OS for smartphones have been less successful.

Apple iOS
Apple's iOS is one of the most popular smartphone operating systems, second only to Android. It
runs on Apple hardware, including iPhones, iPad tablets and iPod Touch media players.

Signature features of iOS include the App Store where users buy apps and download free software,
an emphasis on security including strong encryption to limit what unauthorized users can extract
from the phone, and a simple, streamlined interface with minimal hardware buttons.

Google's Android OS
Android is the most popular operating system in the world judging by the number of devices
installed. Largely developed by Google, it's chiefly used on smartphones and tablets. Unlike iOS, it
can be used on devices made by a variety of different manufacturers, and those makers can tweak
parts of its interface to suit their own needs.

Users can download custom versions of the operating system because large portions of it are open
source, meaning anyone can legally modify it and publish their own. However, most people prefer to
stick with the version that comes on their devices.

Android, like iOS, comes with an application and media store called the Play Store built by Google.
Some phone manufacturers and other organizations also offer their own stores to install software and
media.

Apple macOS
Apple's macOS, successor to the popular OS X operating system, runs on Apple laptops and
desktops. Based in part on the historic family of Unix operating systems dating back to research in
the 1960s at AT&T's Bell Labs, macOS shares some features with other Unix-related operating
systems including Linux. While the graphical interfaces are different, many of the underlying
programming interfaces and command line features are the same.

Signature elements of macOS include the dock used to find programs and frequently used files,
unique keyboard keys including the Command key, and the stoplight-colored buttons used to resize
open program windows. MacOS is known for its user-friendly features, which include Siri, a natural
voice personal assistant, and FaceTime, Apple's video-calling application.

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Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com

Linux Operating System

Unlike many other operating systems, development on Linux isn't led by any one company. The
operating system was created by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds in 1991. Nowadays,
programmers from all over the world collaborate on its open source code and submit tweaks to the
central kernel software and other programs.

A wide assortment of commercial and open source software is available for Linux, and various Linux
distributions provide custom user interfaces and tools for installing software onto machines running
the operating system. A favorite of many programmers, Linux is widely used on corporate and
scientific servers, including cloud computing environments. Linux can be run on a wide variety of
hardware and is available free of charge over the internet.

COMPUTER SYSTEM
Definition: Is a collection of entities (hardware, software and liveware) that are designed to receive,
process, manage and present information in a meaningful format.

COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM

• Computer hardware - Are physical parts/ intangible parts of a computer. eg Input devices,
output devices, central processing unit and storage devices
• Computer software - also known as programs or applications. They are classified into two
classes namely - sytem software and application software
• Liveware - is the computer user. Also kwon as orgware or the humanware. The user
commands the computer system to execute on instructions.

COMPUTER HARDWARE
Hardware refers to the physical, tangible computer equipment and devices, which provide support for
major functions such as input, processing (internal storage, computation and control), output,
secondary storage (for data and programs), and communication.

Different Types of Computer Hardware

1. RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer hardware that is used to store the information
and then process that information. The processing speed of RAM is much faster than a hard disk but
Ram is a volatile device which means when a computer system is shut down all the information
stored is wiped out from RAM whereas hard disk is non-volatile which means it stores the data
permanently in it. The data can be easily stored in RAM and can be easily fetched from RAM. The
fetch process of data is very fast in Ram compare to hard disk. There are two types of RAM SRAM
(Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic random access memory). The use of SRAM
is in a cache memory of CPU. And the DRAM is mostly used in modern computers.

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Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com
2. Hard disk
The hard disk is another type of computer hardware that is used to store the data in it. The hard disk
can be preinstalled in CPU or can be used as an external device. The hard disk is the non-volatile
component which means the data is stored permanently in hard disk and it does not wipe out when
the system is shut down. The hard disk contains electromagnet surface which is used to store huge
chunks of data and can be accessed easily. The hard disk has the capacity to store trillions of bytes of
data in its storage. In the internal of hard disk, it has a collection of stacked disks which have
electromagnetic surface used to store data in it. Every hard disk has a certain processing speed which
varies from 4200-15000 rpm. The higher the rpm more is the processing speed of a hard disk. The
high processing speed is used in supercomputers.

3. Monitor
For the computer hardware, the hardware is another device that is used to display the output, videos
and other graphics as it is directly connected to the CPU. The video displayed by the monitor uses
the video card. The monitor can be compared to the television set but the difference is the resolution
and graphics displayed by the monitor are of much high quality compare to the television set. The
desktop is connected via a cable and gets fitted in a computer video card which is installed in the
motherboard of the computer system. For laptops, tablets the monitor is pre-built in the system and
there is no separate hardware installed in these devices. There are two types of computer monitors
which are CRT and LCD. The CRT was used as an old model of computers. The LCD is used in a
modern computer as they are thinner and lighter and easy to use compared to CRT monitors.

4. CPU
CPU (Central processing unit) is the core hardware part of the computer system which is used to
interpret and execute most of the commands using other computer parts i.e. software and hardware.
The CPU is a core part of any PC, laptops, tablets, and notebooks. The CPU is also called the brain
of the computer as every operation is executed in the CPU only. The CPU is made of computer chip
which contains billions of small transistors installed on it. All the calculations are performed inside
these transistors. The other hardware components which are monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer,
sound system are connected o CPU.

5. Mouse
It is a hand operator input device that is used to point something on the screen. The mouse can be
wired or wireless. If the mouse is wired it is connected to the CPU directly. The mouse can uses the
laser o ball to scroll up or down on the screen. Any movement done from the mouse sends
instructions directly to the computer to move the cursor on the screen.

6. Keyboard
The keyboard is another type of computer hardware that is used to give input text, commands to the
computer. The keyboard can be wired or wireless. The keyboard contains, alphabets, numbers,
special characters and other buttons to give input to the computer. It is the input device that takes
input to the user and processes the commands.

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POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com

7. Printer
The printer is a type of hardware that is used to print something which is seen on the computer and
then transfer that displayed information to paper. The printers can be differentiated based on size,
processing speed, and other factors.

Advantages of computer hardware

• It will help to establish an effective mode of communication that can help the organizations to
improve their business standards.
• It will help to make the task automated and help to store the huge chunks of data that can be
beneficial for the organization or individual.
• The user can use the hardware to give the instruction to command and can obtain the output
as per the given i9nstruction.
• The processing speed of a hardware device is fast which will help to execute more operations
at one time.
• The hardware devices are multiprocessing which means the user can use more than one
hardware device at the same time.
• The hardware can be installed very easily in a computer system and also can be upgraded as
per the user requirements.

Computer Software
Computer software is programming code executed on a computer processor. The code can be
machine-level code, or code written for an operating system. An operating system is software
intended to provide a predictable and dependable layer for other programmers to build other software
on, which are known as applications. It also provides a dependable layer for hardware manufacturers.
This standardization creates an efficient environment for programmers to create smaller programs,
which can be run by millions of computers. Software can also be thought of as an expression that
contrasts with hardware. The physical components of a computer are the hardware; the digital
programs running on the hardware are the software. Software can also be updated or replaced much
easier than hardware. Additionally, software can be distributed to a number of hardware receivers.
Basically, software is the computer logic computer users interact with.

4 Main Types of Software

Application Software
This is the most common type of computer software, and can be defined as end-user programs that
help you perform tasks or achieve a desired outcome. The end-user is the person who is actually
using a product or program. (They are the one for whom the “end result” is designed.) Some
examples of application software include internet browsers, a CRM tool like Hubspot, a photo
editing software like Adobe or Lightroom, or a word processing application like Microsoft Word.

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POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
 Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com

Application software is installed on a computer or mobile device based upon a user’s need. Because
this is the most common type of software, there are many options available and users can choose the
one that best fits their needs, budget, and expectations. (For example, anyone wanting to look on the
internet could use Chrome, Safari, or even Firefox.)

System Software
System software helps the user, the computer or mobile device, and an application all work together
seamlessly. This makes system software crucial to running any kind of application software as well
as the whole computer system.

Think about when your laptop or phone has an update. This is system software in action: there is a
tweak made to the system software that helps your computer or phone continue to work well and
keep applications running. Apple’s iOS is an example of system software, as is Microsoft Windows.
System software is always running in the background of your device, but it is never something you
will use directly. In fact, the only time most people remember it’s there is when it is time for an
update.

Programming Software
While application software is designed for end-users, and system software is designed for computers
or mobile devices, programming software is for computer programmers and developers who are
writing code. These are programs that are used to write, develop, test, and debug other software
programs. It’s helpful to think of these programs as a translator of sorts: they take programming
languages like Laravel, Python, C++, and more and translate them into something a computer or
phone will understand.

Driver Software
This software is often considered to be a type of system software. Driver software operates and
controls devices that are plugged into a computer. These drivers make it possible for devices to
perform their necessary functions. A very good (and practical) example of this is your printer. When
you are first setting up your printer to work with your computer, you have to install software to
connect the two so that they communicate and print anything you need.

Liveware or Peopleware
Peopleware is a term used to describe the role of humans in the development of computers and
related devices along with the software and hardware components related. It helps to give a
perceptive to people who have a significant role in making these devices work for us.

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POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
 Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com

A term first coined by Peter G. Neuman in 1977, peopleware refers to the role people play in
technology and the development of hardware or software. It can include various aspects of the
process such as human interaction, programming, productivity, teamwork, and project management.

Examples of peopleware include various job roles that are commonly understood as parts of an IT
process. These include computer engineers, website designers, technicians and other IT specialists,
such as database administrators or networking specialists.

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POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: AE18 / IT APPLICATION TOOLS IN BUSINESS
Year/Course: 3rd / BS AIS
Teacher: MR. BRIAN F. JOSON
 Contact Details: 09491926091; bfjoson.PST@gmail.com

Name: ________________________ Course/ Year: _________________

Course Packet # : 3 – PRELIM EXAM

Module Name : The Operating System and Components of a Computer System Period
Covered : Sept. 25- 30, 2022

PRELIM EXAM
Date of Submission: September 30, 2023

A. Answer the following:

1. What is the importance of an Operating System?
2. Aside from the five common operating system, can you give other examples of an operating
system?
3. Give actual examples of the following:
a. Application Software
b. System Software
c. Programming Software
d. Driver Software
e. Peopleware

B. Research
Research on the history of Operating System. Include the important milestones, year and person/
company involved.

C. Explain the diagram below

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