Interfaces, Essay Example

An interface is a concept and tool that refers to a position of interaction among components, and is appropriate at the level of both software and hardware. The system interface is developed to assist users operate the chief operating system of a central processing unit like Windows XP, Linux and other types of system interfaces. The application interface is constructed to help users operate application software such as application packages (Frederick, 2007).

Functionality sometimes application is a matter of what software actually execute. Data refers to raw materials the system uses to produce information that can be accessed and comprehend by the users. System interface are responsible for the management of resources of the system such as memory management, file management secondary storage devices management, input and output management, user management and in addition, security and protection of the system. Application interfaces are basically linkage path between user interface and system interface; for example, they help input data into the system for processing (Patterson, & Hennessey, 2008).

System interface uses low-level programs that are normally supported by hardware to enable functionality of the system. Low-level programs are referred to as programs, which are not user friendly and can only be interpreted by the system. Application interfaces act with word processors and databases to enable users input data to be processed by the system (Ceruzzi, 2000).

Conclusion

System interface concerns the interaction of components of the system in order for it to function as a unit. However, application interfaces are user’s linkage path between users and system to enable users input data to be processed into the system. In addition, the system interface uses low-level programs.

References

Ceruzzi, Paul E. (2000). A History of Modern Computing. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. ISBN 0262032554.

Frederick P., (2007). “Chapter 8.6, Device Interfaces”, Computer Architecture-Concepts and Evolution, Addison-Wesley, pp. 489–493, ISBN 0-201-10557-8

Patterson, David A.; Hennessey, John L., (2008). “Chapter 8.5, Interfacing I/O Devices to the   Processor, Memory and Operating System”, Computer Organization and Design – The Hardware/Software Interface, Third Edition, Morgan Kaufmann, pp. 588–596, ISBN 1- 55860-604-1