System Software

Characteristics of different types of operating systems and their uses: batch, real-time, single-user, multi-user, multi-tasking and network systems.

• Batch: grouping data together and processing them at the same time. for example: printing bills, data is sent to the printer and when a certain number or a certain time is reached they are all processed together

• Real-time: there is continual input, processing and  output as data is sent to be processed. For example, withdrawing money from your bank account and the money is deducted from your account balance straight away

• Single-user: It is an Operating System that is developed and intended for use on a  machine that can only have a single user at anyone time. for example these can be found on home computers or other work environments.

• Multi-user: This is an OS that allows multiple users on different computers to access a single system with the same OS on it at the same time. This means it can receive multiple instructions at the same time and manage and process all of them. For example, a mainframe or a server is an example of multi-user OS. A server where or example multiple personal accounts send print jobs to a printer at the same time and then can manage and print all of the tasks told too.