What Is an Input Device? Research Paper Example

What is an operating system? Give two examples

An Operating system is a group of components that work as a means of communication between the hardware and the user. Therefore in these sense, these components are together referred to as an interface. This is because they provide the ways in which he user can request for some services from the hardware. It is the one that controls the operations of the hardware on any application. Since it is the one that gives directions and controls them in every detail, it can be seen as the host. It works as the driver to a vehicle that provides all the directives to the vehicle.  It works together with application programs and users. The application program’s can request for some services from the operating system as invoked by the user on the particular applications interface.

The two most commonly used and latest operating systems are Windows Vista and Windows XP.  Windows XP was released on 25^th October 2001 while windows Vista was released in November 2006.

What is application software? Give three examples

Application software is a computer program that is operated by using a computer. It is created specifically to perform a given specified duties in a given users work. As software, it does not provide the services by itself but has specific interfaces through which the user can provide specific detailed requests to the hardware. It is the one that is used to exercise the capabilities of a computer in a given field. Examples include media players, word processors and spreadsheets.

List the three common output devices

Output devices things used to get information from a computer. The most commonly used are:

1. Monitor
2. Compact Disk
3. Printer

What is the difference between internet and World Wide Web?

The internet is a large connection of networks in the entire world. It is a connection of millions of networks that provide a means through different computers in the world can communicate as long as they are connected to the wide network. While a World Wide Web is just one of the ways in which information is accessed on the internet medium. It is just a way in which information is shared on the internet by different computers. The World Wide Web uses a protocol or language known as HTTP.

Explain the parts of a URL

A URL has three distinct parts that include: The 1^st part is the type of resource to be accessed, the 2^nd one is the name of the website where the resource is to be found, and the 3^rd one is the directory path and resource name or sometimes directory path alone. The 1^st part gives the type of server where the document is found or sometimes the method needed to extract the document. The 2^nd part gives the machine name where the document is found while the 3^rd part gives the name and path of the needed document.

Telnet and FTP are Internet standards. Describe each of these concepts

Telnet is network protocol used for providing a bidirectional directive communications on the internet. It is one of the first internet standards developed in the beginning of 1969. The term can also be used to mean the software that is used in implementing the client part on an internet protocol.

FTP or rather File Transfer Protocol is the most commonly used internet protocol. It is used to exchange file on the Internet. It is built on the architecture of the client-server. It uses data connections and separate controls between the server and the client.

Describe the three categories of operating systems

GUI is an operating system that has icons and graphics. It is normally navigated using a mouse. It uses windows, menus, and icons to perform commands such as deleting files, moving or opening files.

Multi-user operating system provides for an ability of different users to use the same computer at the same or different times.

Multiprocessor operating systems allows for the computer to support and utilize one or more computer processors.

What is the difference in proprietary operating systems and nonproprietary operating systems?

Proprietary operating systems operate only on one type of computer. They limit any software and its market. The source code of these operating systems is locked and not easily accessible by anyone except for a few. The best category to these systems is the Microsoft windows. While nonproprietary operating systems are the direct opposite of proprietary operating systems. They allow anyone to access their source code and even be able to modify it. For this reason are therefore referred to as ‘free’ operating systems. The best example to them is Linux.

How are Windows and Macintosh similar? How are they different?

Windows are the most popular and cheap operating systems than the Macintosh. Windows have a wide selection of title software as compared to Macintosh that have very limited of the selection titles. Windows has a poor stability operating system than Macintosh. The programs in a windows system are highly interlocked such that when one program switches of, all the others also stops requiring another restart, which is a common feature in the system. However this is rarely witnessed in the Macintosh. The Macintosh systems are more secure than Windows since they are less prone to viruses and have less security holes. They are also more reliable and easy to solve emerging problems than Windows.

How important are device drivers?

Device drivers are computer programs that act as translators between the hardware devices and the operating systems in place. They communicate with the devices through the communication subsystems connected to the devices. They are normally specific to certain operating systems and highly depend on the hardware.