Activity 2.

1
In ICT
Title: What is an Operating System?
Target: Identify the function of an operating system and its classifications.
The operating system is the most important program that runs on a computer. Everygeneral-purpose computer must have an operating
system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display
screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. For large systems, the
operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different program and users running at the
same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access
the system.

Operating systems can be classified as follows:

1. Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of
concurrent users.
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000
2. Multiprocessing : Supports running a program on more than one CPU.
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000
3. Multitasking : Allows more than one program to run concurrently.
 Unix
 Windows 2000 and Windows multi point
4. Multithreading : Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000 and Windows 7
5. Real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time. Operating systems
provide a software platform on which other application programs can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a
particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs,
the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such
as Linux.

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Activity 2.1
In ICT
Title: What is an Operating System?
Target: Identify the function of an operating system and its classifications.
The operating system is the most important program that runs on a computer. Everygeneral-purpose computer must have an operating
system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display
screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. For large systems, the
operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different program and users running at the
same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access
the system.

Operating systems can be classified as follows:

1. Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of
concurrent users.
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000
2. Multiprocessing : Supports running a program on more than one CPU.
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000
3. Multitasking : Allows more than one program to run concurrently.
 Unix
 Windows 2000 and Windows multi point
4. Multithreading : Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000 and Windows 7
5. Real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time. Operating systems
provide a software platform on which other application programs can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a
particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs,
the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such
as Linux.
 Activity 2.1
In ICT
Title: What are the devices of a computer?
Target: Identify the devices of a computer.
The physical, touchable, electronic and mechanical parts of a computer are called the hardware which is composed
of different devices attached to the computer.

The following list represents a basic set of devices found in most Personal Computers.
1. System Unit- The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes called the chassis. It includes the following parts:
Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory Chips, Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and Cards.
2. Motherboard / Mainboard / System Board- The main circuit board of a computer. It contains all the circuits and
components that run the computer.
3. CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a computer system. It performs all of the
instructions and calculations that are needed and manages the flow of information through a computer.
4. Primary storage- (internal storage, main memory or memory) is the computer's working storage space that holds
data, instructions for processing and processed data (information) waiting to be sent to secondary storage.
Physically, primary storage is a collection of RAM chips.
5. Expansion Bus - A bus is a data pathway between several hardware components inside or outside a computer. It
does not only connect the parts of the CPU to each other, but also links the CPU with other important hardware.
6. Adapters- Printed-circuit boards (also called interface cards) that enable the computer to use a peripheral device for
which it does not have the necessary connections or circuit boards. They are often used to permit upgrading to a
new different hardware.
7. Power Supply Unit (PSU) - Installed in the back corner of the PC case, next to the motherboard. It converts 120vac
(standard house power) into DC voltages that are used by other components in the PC.
8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - Also known as hard drive, is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside the computer. The
hard drive is used as permanent storage for data. In a Windows computer, the hard drive is usually configured as the
C: drive and contains the operating system and applications.
9. Optical Drive- An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the optical media. There are
three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD).
10. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) - Designed to optically access data stored on a DVD. A laser moves back and forth near the disk
surface and accesses data at a very fast rate.

Exercises: What are the devices of a computer?

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Activity 2.1
In ICT
Title: What are the devices of a computer?
Target: Identify the devices of a computer.

The physical, touchable, electronic and mechanical parts of a computer are called the hardware which is composed of
different devices attached to the computer.

The following list represents a basic set of devices found in most Personal Computers.
1. System Unit- The main part of a microcomputer, sometimes called the chassis. It includes the following parts:
Motherboard, Microprocessor, Memory Chips, Buses, Ports, Expansion Slots and Cards.
2. Motherboard / Mainboard / System Board- The main circuit board of a computer. It contains all the circuits and
components that run the computer.
3. CPU (Central Processing Unit) - The processor is the main “brain” or “heart” of a computer system. It performs all of the
instructions and calculations that are needed and manages the flow of information through a computer.
4. Primary storage- (internal storage, main memory or memory) is the computer's working storage space that holds
data, instructions for processing and processed data (information) waiting to be sent to secondary storage.
Physically, primary storage is a collection of RAM chips.
5. Expansion Bus - A bus is a data pathway between several hardware components inside or outside a computer. It
does not only connect the parts of the CPU to each other, but also links the CPU with other important hardware.
6. Adapters- Printed-circuit boards (also called interface cards) that enable the computer to use a peripheral device for
which it does not have the necessary connections or circuit boards. They are often used to permit upgrading to a
new different hardware.
7. Power Supply Unit (PSU) - Installed in the back corner of the PC case, next to the motherboard. It converts 120vac
(standard house power) into DC voltages that are used by other components in the PC.
8. Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - Also known as hard drive, is a magnetic storage device that is installed inside the computer. The
hard drive is used as permanent storage for data. In a Windows computer, the hard drive is usually configured as the
C: drive and contains the operating system and applications.
9. Optical Drive- An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the optical media. There are
three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD).
10. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) - Designed to optically access data stored on a DVD. A laser moves back and forth near the disk
surface and accesses data at a very fast rate.

Exercises: What are the devices of a computer?