Learning About Computer Operating System

CHAPTER 1: Getting Around Knowing Computers

The term computer has been borrowed from the word “compute” which means calculate. It is capable of receiving information in a particular form and of performing a sequence of operations in accordance with a valuable set of procedural instructions to produce a result in a form of information or signals. It is used to perform arithmetic calculations in fast speed.

Most of us used computers every day. We can use them for work, when we want to edit a word document, attend a video conference, or send an important email. A computer is a tool that accepts some input and then can easily manipulate and process the different kind of data it receives. It performs complete calculation and produces some out puts. The output can be stored for latter retrieval and use.

Specifically, a computer is an electronic device or machine that follow certain specified rules and completes a standard set of function such as creating information, taking data as input from anti external recourse, processing the data into something useful, storing all kinds of information and instruction to the memory and retrieve them when required or requested.

When we trying to define what computer is and how it works, we often use the analogy of human brain. We think of our brain more advanced and more sophisticated computers. And they are actually of much more and a far more complex than computer.

Human mental processing and the way we handle the information is kind the similar to how computer use it. Our brains receive input, transmit information and produced output based on the input they receive.

 

 CHAPTER 2: FUNCTIONS OF COMPUTER

Every computer is comprises of both hardware and software. Hardware is all the physical parts that a computer is built from and is what makes a computer a computer. Hardware is the physical component we can touch and they are located on both outside and inside of the computer. They are also the parts that perform all the operations and execute instructions.

Software is made up of all the digital parts – the components that we cannot see or touch in a computer. Software is collections of programs that tell the hardware components what to do and how to behave. They give the hardware the instructions it needs to execute in order to get things done.

However some of the hardware components that we can find on the outside of the computer are,

(2.A)  THE COMPUTER CASE

The computer case is also known as the tower which contains the important hardware pieces that are found inside of the computer. This external physical part stores the internal circuits and digital structure of a computer.

(2.B) CENTRAL PROCESING UNIT (CPU)

The CPU is also known as the processor and it often refers to as the brain of the computer since it process large amount of information in high speed. It carries out arithmetic and logical function.

(2.C) MOTHER BOARD

The mother board is the main circuit board which connects all the important hardware component together.

(2.D) GRAPHICS PROCESSING UNIT (GPU)

The GPU reads and manipulates images, graphic videos and all kind of visual data.

 (2.E) RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)

In a computer, RAM is a main memory. It is volatile short term memory that only stores information temporarily while a computer is powered by electricity. It is used when we open and use the applications or files. When the power turns out, any files we created or update we didn`t save, will be lost and will hard to retrieve.

(2.F) HARD DISK DRIVE (HDD)

Hard Disk Drive is storage devise and is nonvolatile. This means that they stores and saved data permanently even when the computer is shut down and there is no power supply.

(2.G) A Power Supply Unit

All components required electricity in order to operate and function correctly. The power supply connects to some type of power source whether it is power outlet or a battery.

Some important software components are packages that contain word programs and number processing and giving presentation such as the micro soft office suits. Other examples of software are E mail programs, such as Google, G mail web browser and Google chrome. However, the most important piece of software for computer is the operating system. It controls all the function of the computer and managers both hardware and software component. It is the interference between software and hardware components. The way that those two communicate with one and other and the way we interact with a computer.

 

CHAPTER 3: PERSONAL COMPUTER

A personal computer is a small multipurpose computing device that contains a CPU processor. It designed in such a way that it intended for individual use only - one person at a time. It emphasizing the single use nature of PC as it is in contrast to massive main frame computers which were widely used in the early days of computing.

A mainframe is a very large and powerful super computer capable of taking up an entire room.

However in further elaboration, personal computer comes in two main categories depending on size and how we use them.

(3.a) Laptop computers

Portable pc or laptop computer are computers of choice users who often work “on the go” or digital nomads. They are useful when you want to work while travelling or when you simply want to work from coffee shop for a day. Laptops and other personal computers are also good choice for students who can take their work from one class to one another.

Laptop typically has a higher price tag both initially and when you want to upgrade them. They are also a bit harder to customize. But their main selling point is definitely their portability.

You can do same work as you would in a desktop computer such as edit documents and spread sheet, play games, edit videos, create compelling, graphics and cause a variety of software.

(3.b) The Stationary or Desktop computers

The stationary pc’s are Desktop computer. They are relatively large in size and stay in one set place. It mainly used in home office or office at work. Desktop computers are usually very fast and powerful. And they typically have higher performance and better functionality than portable pc.

In addition, desktop typically cost less and they are cheaper to upgrade. Users may prefer a desktop computer because they are relatively flexible and versatile. This means the user can customize to best fit and suit individual needs and tastes.

Desktop are used mainly in enterprise computing and you can do anything at once. They are the computer of choice when you are working from home or an office since you cannot move them easily.

Desktop are also popular choice for gaming as well as for using graphic design and video editing software. This is because they have higher processing power and capabilities which results in higher quality graphics.

 

CHAPTER 4: OPERATING SYSTEM

An operating is the program that offers being initially loaded to the computer by a boot program and manages the other entire application program in a computer. The application program make use of the operating system by making request for services through a define application program interface.

Users can interact directly with operating system through a user interface such as Command Line Interface (CLI) or Graphical UI. And we also use an operating system because it brings powerful benefit to computer software and software development. Without any operating system, every application would need to include its own UI as well as the comprehensive code needed to handle all low level functionality of the computer such as disk storage and network interfaces. Considering the vast array of underlying hardware available, this would vastly boot the size of every application and make software development impractical.

Instead many common tasks such as sending a network package or displaying text on a standard output device such as displaying can be offloaded to system software that serves as an intermediary between the application and the hardware. The system software provides a consistent and repeated way for application to interact with the hardware without the application needed to know any details about the hardware.

As long as each application accesses the same resources and services in the same way, the system software – The operating system can service almost any number of applications. This vastly reduces the amount of time and coding required to develop and debug an application, while ensuring that users can control  configure and manage the system hardware through a common and well understood interface.

 

CHAPTER: 5 FUNCTIONS OF AN OPERATING SYSTEM

An operating system provides three essential capabilities. It offers AI UI through a CLI or GUI, it   launches and manages the application execution, and it identifies and expose system and hardware resources to those application typically through a standardize API.

Every operating system requires UI to enable users and administration to interact with the operating system in order to set up, configure and even trouble shoot the operating system and its underlying hardware. There are two types of UI available.

(5.1) Terminal Mode Window

The Terminal Mode Windows provide a text based interface, where users rely on traditional keyboard to enter specific commands particulars and arguments related to specific tasks.

(5.2) GUI Desktop

The GUI desktop provides a visual interface based on icons and symbols where users rely on gestures delivered by human interface devices such as touch pads, touch screens and mouse devices.

The GUI is most frequently used by casual or end users that are primarily interested in manipulating files and application, such as double clicking a file icon to open it in its default applications. The CLI remains popular among advanced users and system administrators that must handle a series of highly granular and respective command on a regular basis, such as creating and running scripts to set up new personal computers for employees.

All major computer platforms hardware and software required and sometimes include anti operating system to develop with different features to meet the specific needs of various form factors. And below are some of them.

 

(5.3) DEVICE MANAGEMENT

This operating system is responsible for identifying, configuring and providing application with common access to underlying computer hardware device. As the operating system recognizes and identifies hardware, the OS will install corresponding devices.

This particular operating system is responsible for identifying the correct printers and installing the appropriate printer device so that an application need to only make calls to printers without having to use codes or commands that is specific to the printer- that is the operating system job. The situation is similar to other devices such as USB ports. Networking ports, Graphic devices such as Graphic Processing unit, Motherboard chipset, Disk adapter, and the disk that are formatted with the suitable file system.

This operating system identifies and configures physical and logical devices for services and typically records them in a standardized structure such as window registry. Device manufactures periodically patch and update drives, and the operating system should update them to ensure best device performance and security. When devices are replaced, the operating system also installs and configures new drives.

(5.4) APPLICATION MANAGEMENT

Particularly, this operating system handles the launch and management of every application.This typically support an array of behaviors including the time sharing  multiple processors so that various tasks can share the available processors, time handling, interruptions that application produce to gain a processor immediate attention, ensuring them is enough memory to execute the application and its corresponding data without interfering with other processes carrying out errors handling gracefully remove an application processes and performing memory management without disrupting other application.

This operating system can also support APIs that enables application to visualize operating system and hardware function without the need to know anything about the low level OS or hardware state. For instance a window API can enables programs to obtain information from a keyboard or mouse such as dialogue windows and batons, read and write files to a storage device.

Applications are almost always tailored to use the operating system on which the application intends to run. An operating system can perform certain services for the application as required.

 

CHAPTER 6: MAJOR USES OF COMPUTER

Different usages of computers can be seen in different places or areas in daily lives. We can also say that the use of computer can be found in different fields. However the usages of computers are unlimited and seen for specific purposes other than those discussed below.

The computer plays an important role in activity of daily life of human beings. Due to the significant advantages, the computers can be used in almost every field and they could be,

(6.1) USE OF COMPUTER IN BUSINESS

 In business, computers are part of the set up. There will hardly be any business in which computer is not used generally , computers is used to maintain inventory, manages accounts, preparing and displaying presentation as well as maintaining employees data. They allow liquids transactions processing directly from bank account which is much faster and more accurate than human.

(6.2) USE OF COMPUTER IN PUBLISING

Computer have becoming very useful in advertising or publishing and can be seen for both online and offline publishing methods. Nowadays all printing and press content is typed on a computer and then print using a computer output device such as a printer.

 

(6.3) USE OF COMPUTER IN SAFETY AND SECURITY

Computer can be equipped with a variety of tools and technology. When combined with the security cameras computers can help us track real time activities in specific areas. Many government and private organization nowadays use security cameras for their security as well as for monitoring goods and people.

(6.4) USE OF COMPUTER IN SPORTS

 Computer plays an important role in almost every game. They help maintain scoreboard, private commentary and other statistics. In addition computer helps in designing security materials used in various games. For example designing hand gloves and helmets.

(6.5) USE OF COMPUTER IN TRAINING

Computers are also widely used for training purposes. At present, most of the company are recruiting employees online and conducting training sessions using computer software and tools. This generally helps employers reduce time and increase overall productivity.

(6.6) USE OF COMPUTER IN MEDICAL

In hospitals, computers are widely used to maintain records of patients, generate bills, and make opportunity with doctors. Almost everything is digitalized with computers. On present, many online medical pharmacies enable users to get their prescribed medicine home delivered patient just have to upload their medicine online using a computer and place the order like any other commerce order.

All in all there were analog computers that were helpful in performing numerical calculations. But currently, computers have become digitally advanced and help in performing many different tasks. computer have help and continue to help human performs a divers set of complex calculations or high level performing and development or play high graphics gaming , generate formatted bills, and create automated business workflows.

 

CHAPTER: 7 SUMMARRY

In today’s worlds, we use computers for all our tasks. Our day to day activities, paying bills, using social media, seeking entertainment, working at home and communicating with friends. All these can be done using a computer. So it is not important only to know how to use a computer but also to understand the component of computer and what they do.

This write up explains some of the related concepts of computer. The idea of computer is literally discussed which include brief history, definition, functions, operating system and the usages of computer in various respective fields.

This write up also help me personally learned and understand some components of a computer, the concepts of hardware and software, representation of data / information the concepts of data, processing and applications.

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgement

1.     Google internet search, 2023. PNG

2.     Lecture notes Mr. Wamsi, PNGCTTI-2023.