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System Sorter

What an operating system does (file, process, peripheral and user management), the utility software that keeps a computer healthy, and the difference between system and application software.

⏱️ 15 min 🎯 12 activities Teachers Not yet rated Students Not yet rated

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What you'll cover

Meet the operating system 💻

Every computer runs an **operating system (OS)**, such as Windows, macOS, Android or Linux. The OS is the **system software** that sits between you and the hardware, managing everything. This module sorts out what the operating system does, the **utility software** that keeps a computer healthy, and the difference between **system** and **application** software.

What the OS manages 🔑

The operating system has several jobs:

Match the OS job 🔗

  • File management
  • Process management
  • Peripheral management
  • User management
  • Saving and organising files and folders
  • Sharing the CPU between running programs
  • Controlling devices using drivers
  • Handling accounts and permissions

Which OS job? 🎯

A printer, a mouse and a webcam are all connected to a computer. Which job of the operating system controls them?

  • Peripheral management
  • File management
  • Process management
  • User management

System vs application software ⚖️

All software falls into one of two groups.

Jobs of the OS ✅

Select the TWO tasks that are jobs of the operating system.

  • Managing memory by sharing RAM between programs
  • Managing files and folders
  • Writing a student's history essay
  • Soldering the circuit board

Utility software 💡

**Utility software** is a set of small programs that keep a computer running smoothly. Common examples include: - **Backup**: making copies of files in case of loss - **Compression**: making files smaller to save space - **Defragmentation**: tidying files on a hard disk so it runs faster - **Anti-malware**: finding and removing harmful software Utilities are part of the system software, not application software.

Software in words 🧱

The _____ system is the system software that manages the computer. It handles files, runs programs by sharing the _____, and controls devices using _____. Small maintenance programs, such as backup and anti-malware, are called _____ software. A web browser, which the user runs to do a job, is _____ software.

operating CPU drivers utility application hardware RAM cables system spreadsheet

Spot the utilities 🖍️

An interactive activity.

System or application? 📋

Which of these is application software?

  • A word processor
  • The operating system
  • A device driver
  • An anti-malware utility

Sort the software 🧭

An interactive activity.

What the OS does ✍️

An interactive activity.