IV. Interpret the meaning of the following words and word-combinations. Use them in the sentences of your own.

To manage the overall operation of the computer system; primary purpose; to support application programmes; a functional category; multiple tasks; the flow of information; to run smoothly; to share tasks; to make sure; to occur; to be required; to allocate; appropriate instructions; to provide; to accomplish; might contain; to allow.

V. Match terms with their definitions.

Driver; computer network; multimedia; local area network; JPEG; Web site; GIF; multitasking; client-server architecture; operating system.

a) computer programmed that acts as an intermediary between the operating system and a device such as a disk drive, video card, printer, keyboard;

b) architecture of a computer network in which many clients (remote processors) request and receive service from a centralized server (host computer);

с) communication network consisting of many computers within a local area such as a single building or company complex; an individual can share data or files on it as if the data or files resided on their respective computers;

d) software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs;

e) mode of computer operation in which the computer works on multiple tasks at the same time;

f) computer-delivered electronic system that allows the user to control, combine, and manipulate different types of media, such as text, sound, video, computer graphics, and animation;

g) collection of files and related resources accessible through the World Wide Web and organized under a particular domain name;

h) two or more computers and peripheral equipment (e.g., printers) that are connected with one another for the purpose of exchanging data electronically;

i) standard computer file format for graphic images;

j) standard computer file format for storing graphic images in a compressed form for general use;

VI. Read the text and find:

a) the text-based operating system delivered with most PCs;

b) the mail package included with Windows ‘98;

c) the function of the Finder in Macintosh computers;

d) the meaning of “multitasking”;

e) the operating system which is written in C language and has been adopted by many corporate installations as standards;

f) the OS that is freely redistributable under the GNU general public license;

g) the OS used by Digital computers;

h) the OS created to run Java applications.

MS-DOS This is the disk operating system developed in 1981 by Microsoft Corp. it is the standard OS for all IBM PC compatibles or clones. In this text-based operating system, you communicate with the computer by typing commands that exist within its library. For example, some basic DOS commands include DIR (shows a list of all the files in a directory), COPY (makes a duplicate of a file), DEL (deletes files).

Windows ‘95 is a bootable operating system in its own right. It has a graphical interface with many Macintosh-like features it supports multimedia applications and comes with Internet software. The program manager is called Windows Explorer. Buttons and scroll-bars have an attractive, three-dimensional look.

With Windows ‘98, Internet access becomes part of the user interface. Its active desktop lets you find information easily with the same view of content on your PC, network or the Web. The system includes Outlook Express for e-mail, NetMeeting conferencing software, a chat program and a Web-page editor. It offers support for new technologies like DVD and it also enables you to watch TV on your PC.

Window 2000 is an update to windows versions, including Windows NT.

Mostof the Mac OS code is in the ROM chips. These contain hundred routines (sequences of instructions) which perform such tasks as starting up the computer, transferring data from disks to peripherals and controlling the RAM. Large parts of the Mac OS are also inside the System file and the Finder, kept in the System folder. The content of the System file is loaded automatically at start-up, and contains information which modifies the routines of the OS in the ROM chips. The Finder displays the Macintosh’s desktop and enables the user to work with disks, programs, files. It allows multitasking. It has an Internet set-up assistant, an e-mail program and a Web browser.

OS/2 Warp This is the PC world’s most technically sophisticated operating system. It provides true multitasking, allowing a program to be divided into “threads”, many of which can be run at the same time. Thus, not only can numerous programs run simultaneously but one program can perform numerous tasks at the same time. The IBM OS/2 Warp includes easy access to networks via modem, support for Java applications and voice recognition technology.

UNIX The operating system, designed by Bell Laboratories in the USA for minicomputers, has been widely adopted by many installations. From the very first, it was designed to be a multitasking system. It is written in C language. It has become an operating environment for software development, available for any type of machine, from IBM PS/2s to Mac to Cray supercomputers. UNIX is the most commonly used system for advanced CAD programs.

Linux Protected under the GNU general public license, Linux is the open source, cooperatively-developed POSIX-based, multitasking operating system. Linux is used as a high value, fully-functioned UNIX® workstation for applications ranging from Internet Servers to reliable work group computing. Linux is available for Intel®, AlphaTM and Sun SPARC® platforms.

Open VMS This operating system is Digital’s popular general purpose OS for all VAX computers. It provides data and access security. Open VMS supports all types of Digital and multivendor networks.

Java OS is designed to execute Java programs on Web-based PCs. It’s written in Java, a programming language that allows Web pages to display animation, play music, etc. The central component of Java OS is known ad the Java Virtual Machine.