Unit 3 operating systems

PREVIEW

Task 1. Name all Operating Systems you know. Write them down on the blackboard. Discuss which systems you use and why.

READING

Task 2. Study active vocabulary.

assembly line	конвейер
applications software	прикладное программное обеспечение
wordprocessing	электронная обработка текста
spreadsheet	электронная таблица
software package	пакет программ
set	набор, комплект
to interact	взаимодействовать
to manage	управлять
operating system (OS)	операционная система
supervisor program	управляющая программа
to load	загружать
command prompt	приглашение на ввод команд
resident program (ant. nonresident program)	резидентная программа (ант. нерезидентная программа)
storage	хранилище
command driven	командно-управляемый
to run	комп. выполнять, запускать программу
key	зд. кнопка
to display	отображать данные на экране
graphical user interface (GUI)	графический пользовательский интерфейс
to click	щелкать кнопкой "мыши", "кликнуть"
to execute syn. to carry out	выполнять, осуществлять
to invoke	инициировать

Task 3. Read and translate the text. Find the answers to the questions.

1. What difference is there between applications software and operating systems?

2. Why is the supervisor program called the most important operating system program?

3. What is the difference between resident and non-resident programs?

4. Compare two operating systems: command driven OS and OS with GUI. How do they differ?

5. What are the main functions of an operating system?

What is os

When a brand new computer comes off the factory assembly line, it can do nothing. The hardware needs software to make it work. Are we talking about applications software such as wordprocessing or spreadsheet software? Partly. But an applications software package does not communicate directly with the hardware. Between the applications software and the hardware is a software interface - an operating system (OS). An operating system is a set of programs that lies between applications software and the computer hardware. It allows the user to perform basic tasks like copying, moving, saving and printing files. It also provides an interface between (i.e. provides communication between) applications programs (e.g. wordprocessors or spreadsheets) and the computer hardware. As a user interacts with an applications program on the screen, the applications program communicates with the operating system and the operating system communicates with the computer hardware. The work of the operating system takes place in the background and is not always obvious to the user.

The most important program in the operating system, the program that manages the operating system, is the supervisor program. It remains in memory all the time that the computer is operating, and manages the OS. It loads into memory other operating system programs from disk storage only as needed. Programs that remain in memory while the computer is in use are known as resident programs. Programs that only stay in memory while they are being used are known as nonresident programs.

Some operating systems are command driven (i.e. the user runs a program by typing a command). The screen is usually blank except for a symbol (e. g. $) which works as a command prompt. When the command is typed at the prompt and the Enter key is pressed, the command is processed and the output is displayed on the screen. OS commands are usually short words or abbreviations (e.g., date, logout, passwd).

Some operating systems have a GUI (pronounced like 'goo-ey' - graphical user interface) that allows the user to use a mouse to click on icons on the screen or choose commands from a list of choices known as a menu.

An operating system has three main functions: (I) to manage the computer's resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drives, and printers, (2) to establish a user interface, and (3) to execute and provide services for applications software. Keep in mind, however, that much of the work of an operating system is hidden from the user. In particular, the first listed function, managing the computer's resources, is taken care of without the user being aware of the details. Furthermore, all input and output operations, although invoked by an applications program, are actually carried out by the operating system.

Task 4. Are these statements true, false, or not mentioned in the text? Correct the false statements.

1. To make computers work no software is needed.

2. Applications software must be of the best quality.

3. Wordprocessing and spreadsheet software are examples of a software interface.

4. The superior program is a resident program.

5. The supervisor program manages the OS.

6. Programmers prefer command driven operating systems.

7. The most important function of OS is to execute and to provide services for applications software.

8. Applications programs perform input and output operations.

Task 5. Complete the crossword.

^1

^2

^3

^4

^5

^6

^7

^8

^9

^10

^11

Across

Down

2. a character string which tells a program to perform a specific action 3. a document that stores data in a grid of horizontal rows and vertical columns 4. the use of a computer system to manipulate text 6. to organize and control the work of a company, organization, or group of people 8. general term that describes computer programs 9. a button 11. to press and release a button on a mouse or other pointing device

1. to copy a program from some source, such as the hard disk or CD-rom, into memory for execution 3. a device into which data can be entered, in which it can be held, and from which it can be retrieved at a later time. 5. act together or towards others or with others 7. to carry out 10. to show on a monitor

Task 6. Give the Russian equivalents to the following words and phrases from the text. Choose five of them and make up sentences of your own. Read your sentences aloud for other students to translate.

To perform tasks, to load a program into, disk storage, to manage the OS, command driven operating systems, to work as a command prompt, to type a command, Enter key, to process the command, to display on the screen, to click on icons on the screen, to provide services for, input and output operations.

Task 7. Translate the sentences into English using active vocabulary.

1. Аппаратное обеспечение не может работать без программного обеспечения.

2. ОС позволяет пользователям выполнять простые задачи, например, копирование, удаление, перемещение файлов.

3. Для работы с документами нужно загрузить программу электронной обработки текста в память компьютера.

4. При необходимости нерезидентные программы операционной системы могут быть загружены с дискового хранилища.

5. Что управляет операционной системой?

6. Для ввода команды нажмите клавишу Enter.

7. Графический пользовательский интерфейс позволяет выполнить программу, щелкая кнопкой "мыши" по иконке на мониторе.

8. ОС выполняет все операции ввода-вывода информации.

WRITING

Task 8. This description of the Mac OS X is drawn from the table below. Write similar descriptions of Linux and Windows.

Use the expressions:

- is/are designed…, it includes…, is/are provided…, is/are accessed through…, is/are (not) available….

Mac OS X is a Unix-based operating system designed for use on Apple Mac computers. It includes memory-protection and pre-emptive multitasking. Graphics are provided by a graphics engine known as Quartz. The operating system features are accessed through a graphical user interface called Aqua. The source code of Mac OS X is not available.

	Mac OS X	Linux	Windows
Type	Unix-based	Unix-based	Windows-based
Computer	Apple Mac	wide variety	IBM-compatible, wide variety
Feature	memory-protection, pre-emptive multitasking	variety of distribution kits available	variety of available software provided by other designers, symmetric multiprocessing support
Graphic engine	Quartz	XFree86	integrated into OS
User interface type	GUI	command line, GUI	command line, GUI
User interface	Aqua	KDE, Gnome	Windows Explorer
Source code availability	not available	freely available	Closed source / Shared source

PROBLEM SOLVING

Task 9. Try to find the commands from the lists below which will have these actions

Windows	Unix
ren	Is
dir	cp
del	Ipr
print	mkdir
date	date
help	rm
mkdir	man
find	grep
copy	mv

Action	Windows command	Unix command
List all the files in a directory
Delete a file
Rename a file
Copy a file
Send a file to a printer
Obtain help
Create a directory
Show date and time
Search for a string in a file