Computing
Lesson 1: Computer systems and system
software
Computer systems
Mac Bowley
Materials from the Teach Computing Curriculum created by the National Centre for Computing Education
In this lesson you will:
Identify computer systems
Explain the role of system software
Describe Operating systems
2
Identifying computer systems
3
What is a computer system?
Computer systems are a combination of;
● Hardware
– Internal
– Peripheral
● Software
That work together to make up a computer
4
What is a computer?
What is a computer?
A programmable device
that takes in data,
processes it into useful
information, and then
outputs the information so
it can be used.
6
Categorising computers
A mobile phone and a coffee maker are
both computers, but they are very different
devices.
We categorise computers as either:
● General purpose
● Embedded
7
Mobile phone?
General Purpose Embedded
8
Mobile phone?
General Purpose Embedded
9
Coffee maker?
General Purpose Embedded
10
Coffee maker?
General Purpose Embedded
11
General purpose computers Embedded systems
Devices that have a variety of uses, the user More specialised, they can only do a limited
chooses the task for the computer to number of things, but they do them very
complete. well.
Mobile phone Coffee maker
● Lots of apps ● No apps
● Can make phone calls ● Very good at making coffee
● App selected by the user ● User cannot change the task it completes.
12
Spot the embedded systems
The computers around us are either general
purpose or embedded systems.
Can you spot all the computers in this
room and categorise them as either;
● General purpose
● Embedded systems
13
Pause the video to
complete your task
Spot the embedded systems
Can you spot all the computers in this room
and categorise them as either;
● General purpose
● Embedded systems
Resume once you’re finished
Spot the embedded systems
General purpose
15
Spot the embedded systems
General purpose
● Mobile phone
16
Spot the embedded systems
General purpose
● Mobile phone
● Laptop
17
Spot the embedded systems
General purpose
● Mobile phone
● Laptop
● Tablet
18
Spot the embedded systems
General purpose
● Mobile phone
● Laptop
● Tablet
● Games console
19
Spot the embedded systems
Embedded systems
20
Spot the embedded systems
Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
21
Spot the embedded systems
Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
22
Spot the embedded systems
Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
● Thermostat
23
Spot the embedded systems
Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
● Thermostat
● Security system
24
Spot the embedded systems
Embedded systems
● Coffee maker
● Vacuum robot
● Thermostat
● Security system
● Bluetooth speaker
● Printer
● Smoke alarm
● TV
25
General purpose computers Embedded systems
Key characteristics Key characteristics
● Used for many different types of tasks ● ???
● Lots of resources — memory, storage, ● ???
CPU cores ● ???
● Most uses require a user
26
General purpose computers Embedded systems
Key characteristics Key characteristics
● Used for many different types of tasks ● Specialised to a small number of tasks
● Lots of resources — memory, storage, ● Limited resources - just enough
CPU cores ● Users are not always necessary
● Most uses require a user
27
The startup sequence
28
The startup sequence
Computers are a combination of:
● Hardware components
● Software
You are going to examine how they work
by looking at what happens when you
press the power button.
Credit: Pixabay
29
The startup sequence
The CPU
The Central Processing Unit, is a large chip
inside the computer.
It is the brains of the computer: it controls
everything.
Credit: Pixabay
30
The startup sequence
RAM
Random Access Memory
● RAM is both readable and writable. You
can add, change, and delete data stored in
RAM.
● It is volatile. Without power all the data
stored in RAM is lost.
● It is fast to read/write. Credit: Pixabay
31
The startup sequence
ROM
Read-Only Memory
● ROM is read-only
● ROM is non-volatile memory, which
means it does not need power to keep the
data inside it
● It is also fast
Credit: MOS6502, Wikimedia Commons
32
The startup sequence
Hard drive
The hard drive (sometimes called the hard
disk) is the main storage device in your
computer.
If you have files and folders on your
computer, they are stored on the hard drive.
The Operating system is also stored on the
hard drive. Credit: Pixabay
33
The startup sequence
BIOS
Contains all the basic code for controlling
your computer hardware.
When you startup your computer, you may
see a black screen displaying ‘Press F2 for
Setup’. This is the BIOS.
Credit: Pixabay
34
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
Your challenge. 2
On your worksheet you have two tasks to 3
complete. 4
1. Match the components to the definitions 5
2. Put the steps of the startup sequence in 6
the correct order. 7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
35
Pause the video to
complete your task
Resume once you’re finished
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
37
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
38
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
39
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM
4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
40
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM
4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard
5 BIOS checks the computer is working
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
41
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM
4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard
5 BIOS checks the computer is working
Operating system is fetched from secondary
6
storage
7
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
42
The startup sequence
1 The boot sequence begins
2 CPU starts up and fetches the BIOS from ROM
3 Instructions from BIOS are loaded into RAM
4 BIOS starts up the monitor and keyboard
5 BIOS checks the computer is working
Operating system is fetched from secondary
6
storage
7 Operating system is loaded into RAM
The BIOS hands control over to the Operating
8
system
43
System software
44
System software
Most computer systems require more than just a
program to run.
Another layer of software is required called
system software.
There are two main types of system software
● Operating systems
● Utility software
Credit: Pixabay
45
System software
Software
s IDE
er s
lay Browsers
eo p
Vid
Vi
System software de
og
it or s am
es
d
x te s Encryption Interpreters
Te m
ts e
sy BI
ti ng Hardware OS
r a
p e
O
CPU Peripherals
Storage Memory
46
Operating systems
Operating systems are pieces of software that
regulate interactions between software and
hardware.
There are lots of different Operating systems.
The most popular are:
● Windows
● macOS
Credit: Pixabay
● Linux
● Android
47
Pause the video to
complete your task
Resume once you’re finished
Operating systems
Roles of the Operating system:
● Error handling
● Program management
● Memory management
● Interaction with the user
● Processor management
● Input and output
Credit: Pixabay
● Security
● File management
49
The Operating system controls where each piece of data is stored
in RAM.
Program management Security
Memory management File handling
50
The Operating system controls where each piece of data is stored in
RAM.
Program management Security
Memory management File handling
51
Instructions are executed by the CPU, but the Operating system
controls which instructions are fed in to be executed.
Input and Output Processor management
File management Interaction with the user
52
Instructions are executed by the CPU, but the Operating system
controls which instructions are fed in to be executed.
Input and Output Processor management
File management Interaction with the user
53
The Operating system captures data from peripherals and provides
data to the output devices to display to the user.
Error handling Security
Interaction with a user Input and Output
54
The Operating system captures data from peripherals and
provides data to the output devices to display to the user.
Error handling Security
Interaction with a user Input and Output
55
When you save data to your hard drive, the Operating system will
find an available section of storage and send the data to be written
to that location.
File management Input and Output
Error handling Interaction with the user
56
When you save data to your hard drive, the Operating system will
find an available section of storage and send the data to be written
to that location.
File management Input and Output
Error handling Interaction with the user
57
The Operating system stops unauthorised individuals from
accessing data on secondary storage or the data in memory.
Processor management File management
Memory management Security
58
The Operating system stops unauthorised individuals from
accessing data on secondary storage or the data in memory.
Processor management File management
Memory management Security
59
When a program fails or encounters a problem, the Operating
system protects the wider system from crashing.
Interaction with the user Error handling
Security Memory management
60
When a program fails or encounters a problem, the Operating
system protects the wider system from crashing.
Interaction with the user Error handling
Security Memory management
61
Often our computers are running multiple processes at once. The
Operating system makes sure that each application has enough
resources to accomplish its tasks.
Program management Input and Output
Processor management Security
62
Often our computers are running multiple processes at once. The
Operating system makes sure that each application has enough
resources to accomplish its tasks.
Program management Input and Output
Processor management Security
63
The Operating system provides a graphical user interface which
makes operating the computer much simpler.
Error handling Interaction with the user
File management Processor management
64
The Operating system provides a graphical user interface which
makes operating the computer much simpler.
Error handling Interaction with the user
File management Processor management
65
